Convoy HX 116 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 116
Departed Halifax on March 21-1941 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 9.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" agrees with 28 ships.
Notes:
Commodore R. P. Galer was in Kaipara, Vice Commodore was the captain of San Arcadio.
Commodore to Clyde was in Port Campbell.
The convoy had 28 ships
* Nellie fell out of convoy at about 08:00 on Apr. 2 to repair engine defects. Repairs completed 10:00, rejoined, but gradually dropped astern - was last seen at 15:45 that day in approx. position 59 45N 32 25W.
** Richmond Hill joined convoy at 15:00 on Apr. 4, approximate position 62 42N 23 10W (as previously arranged).
The Commodore says that
Innerton reported periscope bearing 150 (60 10N 32 09W) at 19:08 on Apr. 2. Tetela and Innerton opened fire. At 19:12 an emergency turn to port was ordered. Ascania went to investigate, and at 20:30 she reported a periscope sighted by 3rd officer of Tetela, as well as by the captain and chief officer of Innerton. No torpedoes seen. Estimated range 2500 yards.
Kites:
Ten ships in convoy with kites - flown for 4 days, first 3 of which weather unsuitable owing to lack of wind and several kites crashed. Last day suitable weather - flown for 12 hours.
Apr. 6
22:30 - Flare (white) apparently from aeroplane, some distance to northward - 59 00N 10 40W.
23:35 - Flare (white) apparently from aeroplane, some distance to northward - 59 00N 10 25W.
The convoy arrived at rendezvous on Apr. 4.
Ocean Escort: HMS Ascania, from Halifax at 18:00 March 21, parted company at 09:00 on Apr. 4, approximate position 62 28N 25 00W. HMS Royal Sovereign joined at 12:00 on March 23, approx. position 42 28N 55 53W - parted company at 23:00 on March 31, approx. position 58N 35 1/2W. (Roger Griffiths has told me that Royal Sovereign's logbook states she sighted HX 116 at 13:38 on March 23. Her position at noon, taken by astro observation was 43 37N 47 47W. She had left Halifax at 09:10 on March 22).
Local Escort was met at 19:30 on Apr. 3, approx. position 62 26N 28 44W (about 85° west from [pre-arranged?] rendezvous). HMS Vanquisher, HMS Bulldog, HMS Ambuscade, HMS Heartsease, HMS Campanula, HMS Freesia, HMS Pimpernel, St. Appola, HMS Winchelsea and HMS Whitehall. Escort in N.W. Approaches was A/A Cruiser HMS Dido.
Air Escort: From 13:00 on Apr. 5, 61 56N 17 44W - and daily from then on.
To the next HX convoy in my list HX 117