Convoy HX 126 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Convoy HX 126 Cruising Order
Departed Halifax on May 10-1941 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th (Arnold Hague says 29 ships).
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).
Additional details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan.
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I.
"Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague
Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Du=Dutch
s=sunk, † = dead (number of casualties varies according to source, hence my question marks)
Underlined ships returned to port
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
Ribera
grain - flour
Loch Ewe
(Br)
21
Rothermere
steel - paper
Loch Ewe
(Br)
s - 22 †
31
Dorelian
general
Glasgow
(Br)
41
Tongariro
general - refrig.
Clyde
(Br)
51
Hindustan
wheat
Liverpool
(Br)
61
British Splendour
benzine
Manchester
(Br)
71
Darlington Court
wheat
Liverpool
(Br)
s - 28 (25?) †
81
Regent Panther
gasoline
Avonmouth
(Br)
91
Norman Monarch
grain
Barry Roads
(Br)
s - 0 †
(later 26 † - see Notes)
12
Gretavale
steel
Hull
(Br)
22
Bente Mærsk
crude oil
Loch Ewe
(Da / MOWT 1940)
32
British Freedom
fuel oil
Clyde
(Br)
42
British Security
gasoline
Clyde
(Br)
s - 53 †
52
Elusa
gas oil
Manchester
(Du)
s - 5 (3?) †
62
Athelprincess
molasses
Liverpool
(Br)
72
Havsten
fuel oil
Manchester
(Norw)
82
Morgenen
gasoline
Barry Roads
(Norw)
92
Nicoya
general
Liverpool
(Br)
13
Barnby
flour
Loch Ewe
(Br)
s - 1 (2?) †
23
Winona County
wheat
Loch Ewe
(Am/MOWT 1941)
33
John P. Pedersen
fuel oil
Clyde
(Norw)
s - 22 †
43
Rosewood
fuel oil
Clyde
(Br)
53
Empire Kudu
phosphates
Garston
(Br)
63
Cockaponset
steel
Liverpool
(Br)
s - 0 †
73
Baron Carnegie
wheat
U.K.
(Br)
83
Hada County
general
Liverpool
(Norw)
93
Harpagus
wheat
Barry Roads
(Br)
s - 32 †
14
24
34
Eemland
general
Loch Ewe
(Du)
44
Salando
steel
Clyde
(Du)
54
64
Norefjord
grain
U.K.
(Norw)
cancelled?
see table below
74
84
94
Note that Baron Elgin and Karabagh are not included in this form.
Advance Sailing Telegram
Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Destination
Remarks
Suderholm
Norwegian
Tanker B
Manchester
Bente Mærsk
Danish / MOWT 1940
Tanker B
Manchester
From HX 125
John P. Pedersen
Norwegian
Adm. tanker B
Clyde
Barnby
British
grain
Hull
From HX 125
Sunk - See Notes
Tongariro
"
frozen - general
Avonmouth
From HX 125
British Freedom
"
Adm. tanker B
Scapa
From HX 125
Lord Byron
"
grain
Barry Dock
Morgenen
Norwegian
Tanker W
Avonmouth
–
Rothermere
British
steel - paper
London
Sunk - See Notes & report
Athelprincess
"
Tanker - molasses
London (Dagenham)
–
Elusa
Dutch
Tanker B
Manchester
Sunk - See Notes & report
Empire Kudu
British
phosphates - special
Holyhead
–
Harperley
"
sugar - rum
Belfast
To HX 127 - did not sail
Listed in HX 128
Karabagh
"
Tanker W
Belfast
(Not included on 1st form above)
Rosewood
"
Adm. tanker B
Reykjavik
See Notes
Braganza
Norwegian
scrap - iron
Grangemouth
To HX 127 - did not sail
To HX 128 - did not sail
Listed in HX 129
British Security
British
Tanker W
Clyde
Sunk - See Notes
Harpagus
"
wheat
Cardiff
Ribera
"
grain - flour
London
–
Regent Panther
"
Tanker B & W
Avonmouth
–
Skiensfjord
Norwegian
general
Avonmouth
Listed in HX 127
Torborg
"
Tanker B
Ardrossan
To HX 127 - did not sail
Listed in HX 128
Acavus
British
Tanker B
Clyde
British Splendour
"
Tanker W
Manchester
–
Dorelian
"
general - explosives
Glasgow
Vice Commodore
F. J. Wolfe
"
Adm. tanker B
Clyde
Listed in HX 127
Pilar de Larrinaga
"
scrap iron
Hull
Standella
"
Tanker W
London
Listed in HX 127
Western Ocean
American / MOWT 4/1941
steel - scrap iron
Clyde f. o.
(Renamed Empire Opossum)
To HX 127 - did not sail
See SC 32
Baron Elgin
British
sugar
London
Not included on 1st form above
Mosli
Norwegian
Adm. tanker B
Clyde
Listed in HX 127
Nordlys
Danish / MOWT 1940
wheat
Sharpness
To SC 32 - did not sail
Listed in SC 33
Regent Lion
British
Tanker W
Clyde
Listed in HX 127
Nicoya
"
general - Hurricanes
Liverpool
–
Havsten
Norwegian
Tanker B
Manchester
Hada County
"
general - special
Liverpool
From HX 122
Agra
Swedish
timber
Garston
Norman Monarch
British
grain
Avonmouth
Empire Kittiwake
"
pig iron - scrap iron
Birkenhead
(Later Norwegian Norfalk)
From HX 125
Listed in HX 128
Winona County
American / MOWT 1941
wheat
Tyne
(Renamed Empire Whale)
From HX 123
Returned to Halifax
Listed in HX 127
Mount Kassion
Greek
grain
Liverpool
Listed in HX 129
Erna III
Danish (Erna) / MOWT 1940
grain
Silloth
To HX 128 - did not sail
Listed in HX 129
Trelissick
British
wheat
Manchester
From HX 125
Listed in HX 127
Darlington Court
"
grain - special
Liverpool
From HX 125
Sunk - See Notes & report
Gretavale
"
steel
Hull
–
Salando
Dutch
steel
Clyde f. o.
Returned to Halifax
Empire Impala
British
grain
Hull
From HX 125
To HX 127 - did not sail
Listed in HX 129
Hindustan
"
grain
Liverpool
From HX 125?
(Not in AST for that convoy, but crossed out in A 1 form)
Commodore Vessel
Eemland
Dutch
general
Hull
From SL 68
Cockaponset
American / MOWT 1941
steel
Holyhead / Cardiff
From HX 125
Sunk - See Notes & report
Baron Carnegie
British
wheat
Swansea
–
Notes:
Commodore was Rear Admiral F. B. Watson in Hindustan, Vice Commodore was the captain of Dorelian.
Loch Ewe Commodore - in Rothermere
Barry Commodore - in Norman Monarch
The convoy originally had 29 ships. Additionally, as mentioned, Westport joined HX 126 on May 18, having straggled from the slow convoy SC 31 which had left Halifax on May 9. Also, the Panamanian Calobre from that convoy (originally scheduled for HX 124 on Apr. 30) was sighted at 08:00 (zone+3) on May 19 in 54 32N 39 56W, but she was ordered to return to Halifax as she was unable to steam at the speed required for HX 126. (See Commodore's narrative on next page).
Average speed 1st part of voyage, 7 knots - 2nd part, 8 1/2 knots.
Station keeping and signalling - "very good indeed, close station at 2 cables was maintained". The Commodore adds, "all ships did extraordinarily well and it is suggested all masters might be commended for good work".
Convoy was scattered when attacked before escort joined - Ribera, Barnby, British Freedom and Eemland did not rejoin. Gretavale and Nicoya later rejoined (see Commodore's narrative).
Rosewood left for Reykjavik with Iceland escort.
Ships were sunk as follows (dates according to German time, and sequence according to J. Rohwer - see also external links at the end of this text for more on these ships):
Norman Monarch, on a voyage from Halifax for Barry Roads with 8378 tons of wheat, was sunk by U-94 on May 20. All 48 survived this attack, but 26 died later when Harpagus was sunk (20 crew and 6 gunners). This ship had dropped back to rescue the survivors from Norman Monarch. See the report of interview with the 1st mate of Norman Monarch.
Darlington Court, on a voyage from New York and Halifax for Liverpool with 8116 tons of wheat and aircraft (chief engineer says 8500 tons grain), in station 41 when attacked, was sunk by U-556 on May 20. She had a crew of 33 and 4 gunners - 22 crew and 3 gunners died (or 28 died?). See her report.
British Security, on a voyage from Curacao and Halifax for Bowling with 11 200 tons benzine & kerosine, was torpedoed by U-556 on May 20. She had a crew of 49 and 4 gunners - no survivors. "On fire. Sighted on May 23 9 p.m. in 57 14N 39 23W. Presumed sunk".
Cockaponset, on a voyage from Houston for Holyhead and Cardiff with 2719 tons steel, 1924 tons carbon black, 250 tons TNT, 223 tons trucks and 1162 tons general (the captain says 320 tons TNT, 340 tons of cannon powder, 2700 tons of steel and 6500 tons of general), was sunk by U-556 on May 20. She had a crew of 41 - no casualties. Ref. the captain's report.
Rothermere, on a voyage from Botwood for London with 1998 tons of steel and 4750 tons of paper (3rd mate says Halifax to Loch Ewe with 7095 tons of steel and newsprint), was sunk by U-98 on May 20. She had a crew of 53, 2 gunners and 1 passenger - 22 died. See 3rd mate's report.
John P. Pedersen, on a voyage from Curacao for Clyde with 9100 tons army fuel oil, was sunk by U-94 on May 20 (22 died, report and crew list are available on my page about John P. Pedersen)
Harpagus, on a voyage from Baltimore and Halifax for Barry Roads with 8250 tons grain, was sunk by U-109 on May 20. She had a crew of 43, 4 gunners and 3 passengers (a husband and wife with their child) - 25 crew, all the gunners and all the passengers died (+ the 26 from Norman Monarch). Survivors in 2 boats and a raft were picked up HMS Burnham - see Burnham's report, as well as the report of interview with the captain of Harpagus - note that he gives the number of missing as "26 of my crew, 3 passengers" + the 26 rescued from Norman Monarch.
Elusa, on a voyage from Curacao for Manchester with 8000 tons of diesel oil, was sunk by U-93 on May 21. She had a crew of 49 and 3 gunners - 3 crew died (5 died?). In a "Questionaire for Ships Attacked by U-boat", some details reported by 2nd Mate A. van Oudgaarden are given, as follows:
Cargo - gas oil, posititon 58N 40W, time - approx. 00:30 May 21, torpedoed starboard side, track not seen beforehand. Sea moderate, slight swell, wind force 4. No W/T message was transmitted. After scattering on May 20, chased by submarine since about 14:00 when periscope was first seen dead astern, popping up again about 16:15, still astern, but time periscope visible was too short to aim gun. Convoy reformed at about 20:00. Vessel still afloat on Friday 23rd when Burnham left scene of incident. Survivors picked up by HMS Burnham at 02.00 on the 21st (see also her report). It looks like it was intitially believed Elusa could be saved - ref. this report.
Barnby, on a voyage from St. John, N.B. for Hull with 7250 tons flour, was sunk by U-111 on May 22. She had a crew of 37 and 8 gunners - 2 crew died (1 died?).With regard to Barnby, a visitor to my website (whose source is Admiralty records and "Lloyd's War Losses" Volume 1) has told me the following:
"On May 20-1941 Convoy HX126 was escorted only by Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Aurania (F-28) which acted as Senior Officer of escort, when it sighted a submarine 09:37 bearing 080º. Immediately afterwards Darlington Court (station No. 41) and British Security were torpedoed at 09:38 and 09:39. At 09:50 the Aurania ordered the convoy to scatter. When the Commodore tried to round up the ships later, Ribera, Barnby, British Freedom, and Eemland could not be found. Three of them arrived safely in the UK, but Barnby was torpedoed and sunk on May 22. The survivors were adrift for 9 days before being rescued by a British cruiser, which was in company with another cruiser, seeking supply ships which had gone out in advance of the Bismarck to sustain its operations. After the Bismarck was sunk, the Navy went out looking for these vessels. The Barnby survivors were kept aboard the cruiser, which carried on with its task, and indeed found a German supply tanker which when sighted and surprised by the two cruisers was actually about to refuel U-93, which then hurriedly cast off and dived out of the way. The two cruisers sank the tanker, and then returned to Iceland where the Barnby survivors were landed after being on board 9 days".
There's a small note for Rosewood saying "caught fire", however, I can't quite get that to fit with the facts. Perhaps it's a mix-up with British Security (which according to "Lloyd's War Losses" burned for 3 days before she sank). But having said that, the captain of Cockaponset says in his report "Another tanker astern (meaning astern of British Security which had just been torpedoed), got into the flames from the other tanker (British Security), and when she came out we noticed that she also was on fire, continuing to burn for 3 days". As can be seen from the 2nd table above, the ship astern of British Security was indeed Rosewood.
Rescue Vessel for this convoy was Toward, on her 7th voyage as such, but she did not join until May 22. She had started this voyage from Clyde with the westbound convoy OB 323 on May 17-1941, detached May 22, then returned with Convoy HX 126 (to Clyde May 28).
Rescue vessel Hontestroom (Dutch - requisitioned Oct. 1-1940) was en route to join a convoy for Clyde when she sighted a lifeboat from Darlington Court and rescued the 12 survivors. She also found 2 boats from Cockaponset, and 2 boats with 16 survivors from John P. Pedersen. Hontestroom had previously been with the westbound convoy OB 322 until May 19, and was on her way home on her 6th and final voyage when she sighted the boats. She was subsequently withdrawn from rescue service.
Escorts:
Local Escort: HMCS Chambly and Orillia
Ocean Escort: HMS Aurania, HMS Tribune (sub). When convoy scattered at about 09:50 on May 20, Aurania proceeded at full speed northward to Reykjavik. Tribune was astern when convoy was attacked.
Iceland Escort (rushed down to meet convoy in the afternoon of May 20 instead of daylight May 21): HMS Malcolm, Burwell, Burnham, Verbena + 1 more - left convoy for Reykjavik May 23 (GMT time) with tanker Rosewood.
Home Escort (joined May 23, GMT time): HMS Keppel, Venomous, Sabre, Lincoln, Dianella, Mallow, Sunflower, Kingcup, Lady Elsa and Springbank.
Note: The names of the above escorts were found in the Commodore's notes and narrative. Additional escorts (not mentioned by the Commodore) are mentioned in various other documents; see HMS Burwell's report as well as this report. The latter has the escorts organized as follows:
Local Escort: HMS Malcom, Burnham, Scimitar, Burwell, Mallow, Verbena, Arabis, Heliotrope, Northern Gem and Northern Wave (Westerly rendezvous).
Also, HMS Keppel, Sabre, Lincoln, Dianella, Sunflower, Kingcup, Gladiolus and Springbank (Easterly rendezvous)
For info, only a few of the ships that made it safely to their destination with HX 126 survived the war:
Baron Carnegie was sunk the following month, Athelprincess was sunk Febr.-1943, Empire Kudu was lost Sept.-1941, British Splendour was sunk Apr.-1942, Nicoya was sunk May-1942, Gretavale was sunk Nov.-1941, British Freedom was sunk Jan.-1945, Rosewood was sunk in March-1943, Havsten was lost Aug.-1942, and Hada County in Dec.-1941.
To the next HX convoy in my list HX 127