Convoy HG 61 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HG 61 Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper, England (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).
Convoy HG 61 Cruising Order
Departed Gibraltar on May 6-1941 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th (Arnold Hague says 23 ships).
Additional details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets", R. W. Jordan
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I.
† = dead
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
11
Cape Corso
Middlesbrough
(Br)
21
Baron Cochrane
Oban
(Br)
31
Baron Stranraer
Glasgow
(Br)
41
Aguila
Glasgow
(Br)
51
Torfinn Jarl
Garston
(Norw)
61
Empire Ridge
Workington
sunk - 31 †
(Br)
71
South Wales
Cardiff
(Br)
12
Baron Yarborough
Middlesbrough
(Br)
22
Bifrost
Oban
(Sw)
32
Auk
Glasgow
(Br)
42
City of Lancaster
Glasgow
(Br)
52
Bruse Jarl
Barrow
(Norw)
62
Alva
Workington
(Br)
72
Empire Tern
Barry Roads
(Br)
13
Marklyn
Oban
(Br)
23
Meta
Oban
(Br)
33
Caverock
Glasgow
(Br)
43
Sarastone
Glasgow
(Br)
53
Milos
Barrow
(Sw)
63
Fort Richepanse
Belfast
(Br)
73
Pinzon
Llanelly
(Br)
14
HMS Cavina
24
34
Lanahrone
Belfast
(Ir)
44
HMS Fidelity
54
64
Gianna M*
Liverpool
(Br)
74
HMS Corinthian
South Wales was delayed at Gibraltar for fresh water - joined at 18:00, May 6.
HMS Cavina and Corinthian joined at 11:30 on May 14, parted company at 07:00 on May 20 in 55 25N 06 27W (Commodore's narrative gives 06 45W).
* This ship is not included in the Advance Sailing Telegram. It was an Italian ship, seized by HMS Hilary off Las Palmas and taken to Belfast by prize crew (later became British Empire Control). HMS Hilary and her prize joined the convoy at 07:40 on May 13, left at 17:00 on May 14 in 47 04N 21 42W. Listed as Gianna M throughout narrative and convoy documents, but as Gianni M in some other sources.
Notes:
Commodore E. W. R. Avery, R.N.R., was in Aguila, Vice Commodore was J. S. Cameron in Baron Cochrane, and Rear Commodore was S. Grice in South Wales.
The convoy had 22 ships and departed Gibraltar at 05:45 BST on May 6-1941. All 22 were present at rendezvous, + 2 A.M.C.'s and the prize mentioned in the first table above.
Average speed: 7 1/4 knots.
The Rescue Vessel Zaafaran was also with this convoy for a while. She was on her 3rd voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde with Convoy OB 321 on May 12-1941, until dispersed on May 16, then joined HG 61 that same day to return to Clyde, with arrival May 20. On her voyage with OB 321 she was attacked and bombed. While avoiding damage she had to rescue the crew from the Norwegian Karlander, which was bombed and sunk in this convoy - follow link for details.
The rescue Vessel Zaafaran is said to have left at 06:33 on May 20 in 55 27N 06 45W (Commodore's narrative gives 55 31N 06 33W).
Sarastone, Captain J. Herbert, had to slow down twice daily to adjust engines. Her station keeping was "most erratic" and signalling capabilities "very poor, apparently has not an efficient lamp for use in daylight".
Milos, Captain A. M. Linderoth, had occasional boiler trouble with resulting erratic steering.
Lanahrone was also occasionally unable to maintain prearranged speed - cause unknown.
City of Lancaster, Captain S. W. Taggart, Bruse Jarl, Captain B. Pedersen, Torfinn Jarl, Captain R. Manseth, and Baron Stranraer, Captain J. H. Anderson - good station keeping and signalling.
Cape Corso, Captain W. Montgomery, Marklyn, Captain H. W. Paske - quick at sighting and opening fire on suspicious object (see narrative, Page 2).
Empire Ridge was missing "after explosion" at 03:25 on May 19 in 54 57N 11 10W. She was on a voyage from Melilla for Workington with 3500 tons of iron ore, and was sunk by U-96 on May 19-1941. She had a crew of 29 and 4 gunners - 28 crew and 3 gunners died; the 2 survivors were picked up by HMS Vanquisher, later transferred to HMS Legion (see Page 2).
Narrative of voyage is available on Page 2
Escorts:
Local: HMS Jonquil, Geranium, Azalea, 12:00 May 6 in 35 53N 05 55W - parted company at 21:30 on May 12 in 41 54N 21 54W.
Ocean: HMS Sandwich (07:16, May 6 - off Carnero Point), Fidelity (07:00, May 7 - 34 51N 08 24W), and Dutch submarine O 21 - the latter parted company at 06:00 on May 13 in 42 51N 22 00W.
Local: HMS Vanquisher (S.O.), Freesia, Hibiscus, Londonderry, Pimpernel, Campanula, Winchelsea, Gentian, Rhododendron, Reading - the latter joined at 21:40 on May 17, the others at 15:45 GMT May 16, 52 23N 21 14W, 1 hr and 45 mins earlier than pre-arranged, and 9 miles south of arranged position (the last sentence is somewhat garbled in the original document, some guessing has taken place - narrative on Page 2 states that local escort joined at 17:45 MST, May 16, clocks having been advanced 1 hr the day before).
Vanquisher and Winchelsea left at 05:30 on May 20 in 55 31N 06 33W (Commodore's narrative gives 06 45W).
HMS Legion is also mentioned - see May 15, Page 2.
Air Escort:
May 7 from 07:00 in 34 51N 08 24W to 12:00 in 34 46N 09 08W.
May 16 at 16:15 - 1 plane met convoy in 52 11N 21 16W.
1 plane sighted daily after this until May 19 - see also May 19 in narrative on Page 2.
Related external links:
HG (& SL) Convoys - In chronological order.
To the next HG convoy in my list HG 62