Convoy HX 146 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

CONVOY HX 146

Convoy HX 146 Cruising Order Departed Halifax on Aug. 21-1941 and arrived Liverpool on Sept. 6 (Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" says 62 ships).
List received from from Ted Agar, England. (His source: A diary. Although the information is usually incomplete, as it appears to be in this case, I consider this diary valuable and important in and of itself and, therefore, I've chosen to transcribe it and keep it "as is" on this website, adding further details and/or corrections from other sources separately, rather than within the form itself [except for cargoes], as seen below). Cargoes have been extracted from a document received from D. Kindell, based on the late Arnold Hague's database - see his listing for HX 146 at Ships in all HX convoys. This form includes ships joining from Halifax only; others joined later on. See also Convoy ON 19, ON 20, and other westbound convoys from this time period. Br=British, Pa=Panamanian, Bel=Belgian, Du=Dutch, Norw=Norwegian, Gr=Greek.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
11Gaelic Starrefrig. (Br)	21Empire Evegrain CAM ship (Br)	31Taranankirefrig. 8 passengers (Br)	41Buteshiregeneral (Br)	51Harmalasteel (Br)	61Salaciageneral 1875 bags mail (Br)	71 Empire Rainbowgrain CAM ship (Br)	81Eclipsepetrol (Br)	91Strategistgeneral (Br)
12Inventorgeneral - pig iron (Br)	22OilrelianceFFO (Br)	32Berwickshirerefrig. (Br)	42Delanegeneral 2 passengers (Br)	52 Fernmoor general (Norw)	62Baluchistangeneral 3 passengers (Br)	72 British Fortitude (Br) Not in convoy - see below	82 British Resourceaviation gas (Br)	92 Empire Nightingalesteel (Br)
13 British Workmanbenzine (Br)	23	33San Ciriloaviation gas (Br)	43Brabantsugar (Bel)	53Amastrapetrol (Br)	63 Høegh Scout? petrol (Norw)or Aalsum? steel - scrap metal (Du)	73 Gallia aviation gas (Norw)	83	93 Br. freighter See below
14	24 Athelprincemolasses (Br)	34Circe ShellFFO (Br)	44Empire Glenphospahtes (Br)	54 Hatasugeneral 1315 bags mail (Br)	64 Bonitasteel - cotton (Pa)	74 Skaraas petrol (Norw)	84 Strix? benzine (Norw)or Empire Flamingo? phosphates (Br)	94 Br. freighter See below
15Baron Haigphosphates (Br)	25Carrasiron ore (Gr)	35 Anna Knudsen fuel oil (Norw)	45 City of Venicegeneral (Br)	55 City of Cantongeneral (Br)	65Norman Prince (Br) Not in convoy - see below	75Stone Streetsteel - general (Pa)	85*	95*
16*	26 Dutch freighter	36Harmonidesgeneral (Br)	46 Baron Cawdorgeneral (Br)	56Marisco** (Pa)	66*	76*	86*	96 Gleniffergeneral 100 tons(?) mail 25 passengers (Br)
The Rescue Vessel Zamalek was present for a while - see Notes below.The diary has given the same station number to a few of the ships, hence my question marks, but see A. Hague's info. Also, Imperial Monarch is mentioned in the diary, but station number was not known (A. Hague gives her station 15). When comparing this information with A. Hague's listing for HX 146 at Ships in all HX convoys, it'll be noticed that he has not included British Fortitude and Norman Prince in this convoy. In fact, upon checking further, we find that Norman Prince is listed in Convoy HX 149, but returned, later joining HX 150, while British Fortitude is listed in HX 147. However, he has some ships that are not mentioned in the diary, as follows: In station 85 - The Norwgian Norse Lady, cargo of lumber, detached to Iceland Aug. 30, arrived Sept. 4, according to her Voyage Record for this period. In station 95 - The British Trongate, general cargo In station 16 - The British Dalfram, general cargo and flour In station 66 - The Swedish Kronprinsessan Margareta, general cargo, 10 passengers In station 76 - The British Willesden, cargo of wheat and oats In station 86 - The British Glenapp, general cargo In station 48 - The Dutch Delfshaven, cargo of flour (this gives the convoy 8 rows) In station 47 - The British Delilian, general cargo In station 17 - The British Dinaric, cargo of lumber, detached to St. John's, N.F., Aug. 27 In station 97 - The The Swedish Gdynia, general cargo In station 57 - The Dutch Lekhaven, cargo of grain In station 37 - The British Orminster, general cargo In station 87 - The Norwgian Taborfjell, general cargo. Her Voyage Record shows that she joined from Sydney, C.B. In fact, the majority of these additional ships joined from Sydney, C.B. (see Convoy SHX 146, external page), which explains why they are not included in the diary. In station 27 - The British Uranienborg, general cargo In station 38 - The Dutch Veerhaven, cargo of wheat He also has the British Panama* in this convoy, but no station number is given. Additionally, he has included the AMC escort Worcestershire within the convoy. *The ship in station 56 is listed as Dutch Mariso, cargo of steel (perhaps this is the unnamed Dutch freighter in station 26?). The ship in station 31 is spelt Taranaki. He has Empire Flamingo, in station 13, while British Workman* has been given station 83 (and Strix is in 84). Instead of British Fortidue in station 72, he has Empire Sapphire, cargo of petrol (not listed in the diary) - as already mentioned, British Fortitude is not included at all in A. Hague's list. She must have left port that day for other reasons than to join HX 146, because she's listed in the next convoy. Instead of Baron Haig in station 15 he has the British Imperial Monarch, cargo of phosphates; Baron Haig is listed in station 14. Instead of Norman Prince in station 65 he has the British Norman Star (refrig) - Norman Prince is not listed at all. Aalsum is in station 23, Hoegh Scout in station 63. Accordnig to A. Hague, the unnamed British freighter in station 93 was Bradglen, the unnamed ship in station 94 was Empire Puma, both with general cargo.

3 ships went out a few hours ahead of the main group, namely British Fortitude at 07:45 (camouflaged), followed by an unnamed vessel 45 minutes later, then Strix at 08:18. (Again, please note that British Fortitude did not join this convoy, but is listed in the next convoy).
According to the diary, the ships left Halifax in the following sequence (keeping the sequence of departure within each nationality): The British Harmala (leaving at 11:13), Gaelic Star, Circe Shell, British Resource, Tarananki (Taranaki?), Empire Eve (Hurricane NJV), Inventor, British Workman, San Cirilo, Baron Haig, Athelprince, Oilreliance, Baluchistan, Delane, Baron Cawdor, Buteshire, Eclipse, Strategist (2 bombers on deck), Empire Glen, Empire Nightingale, Empire Flamingo, Salacia, City of Canton, Hatasu, Harmonides, Empire Rainbow (Hurricane NJS), Gleniffer, Berwickshire (Ford crates on deck), City of Venice, Amastra, Imperial Monarch, then 2 unnamed British freighters (one with 2 bombers on deck). The escorting HMS Worcestershire left Pier 27 at 14:45, camouflaged, followed over an hour later by Norman Prince and Rio Blanco (left at 16:18 - no convoy flags flown). This ship is not listed by A. Hague, nor is Norman Prince, instead he has Norman Star. Rio Blanco did leave Halifax that day, but headed for Sydney, C.B. in order to join the slow Convoy SC 42 on Aug. 30. The author of the diary who saw her leave with the other ships in HX 146, must have assumed that she too was destined for this convoy.Also, the Belgian Brabant, the Panamanian Bonita, Stone Street and Marisco (again, this is listed as Dutch Mariso by A. Hague), the Dutch Aalsum and another, unnamed Dutch ship, and the Greek Carras. The Norwegian_Strix,_ Skaraas, Høegh Scout, Gallia, Anna Knudsen, Fernmoor (carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft). The Rescue Vessel Zamalek was with this convoy from Sept. 1, to Clyde Sept. 6-1941. She had been with ON 7 from Clyde until detached, Aug. 16-Aug. 21, then with HX 144 from Aug. 22 till detached to Iceland Aug. 27, and was on her 10th voyage as Rescue Vessel, having been requisitioned as such in March.-1940. Her first voyage was with OB 291. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague)A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of HX convoy escorts, also received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year): Alisma - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Barrie - From 22/08/41 to 24/08/41 Broadway - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Cobalt - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Collingwood - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Dianella - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 FS Alysse - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Kenogami - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Keppel - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Lady Elsa - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Lincoln - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Man o'War - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Matapedia - From 22/08/41 to 24/08/41 Moose Jaw - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Niagara - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Polyanthus - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Prescott - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Sabre - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Shikari - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Sunflower - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Trail - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Venomous - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Worcestershire - From 21/08/41 to 02/09/41 Related external link: The Empire Ships - This convoy had quite a few Empire Ships. This website provides more information on them. Back to Convoy Index To the next HX convoy in my list HX 147

3 ships went out a few hours ahead of the main group, namely British Fortitude at 07:45 (camouflaged), followed by an unnamed vessel 45 minutes later, then Strix at 08:18. (Again, please note that British Fortitude did not join this convoy, but is listed in the next convoy).

According to the diary, the ships left Halifax in the following sequence (keeping the sequence of departure within each nationality): The British Harmala (leaving at 11:13), Gaelic Star, Circe Shell, British Resource, Tarananki (Taranaki?), Empire Eve (Hurricane NJV), Inventor, British Workman, San Cirilo, Baron Haig, Athelprince, Oilreliance, Baluchistan, Delane, Baron Cawdor, Buteshire, Eclipse, Strategist (2 bombers on deck), Empire Glen, Empire Nightingale, Empire Flamingo, Salacia, City of Canton, Hatasu, Harmonides, Empire Rainbow (Hurricane NJS), Gleniffer, Berwickshire (Ford crates on deck), City of Venice, Amastra, Imperial Monarch, then 2 unnamed British freighters (one with 2 bombers on deck). The escorting HMS Worcestershire left Pier 27 at 14:45, camouflaged, followed over an hour later by Norman Prince and Rio Blanco (left at 16:18 - no convoy flags flown). This ship is not listed by A. Hague, nor is Norman Prince, instead he has Norman Star. Rio Blanco did leave Halifax that day, but headed for Sydney, C.B. in order to join the slow Convoy SC 42 on Aug. 30. The author of the diary who saw her leave with the other ships in HX 146, must have assumed that she too was destined for this convoy.Also, the Belgian Brabant, the Panamanian Bonita, Stone Street and Marisco (again, this is listed as Dutch Mariso by A. Hague), the Dutch Aalsum and another, unnamed Dutch ship, and the Greek Carras. The Norwegian_Strix,_ Skaraas, Høegh Scout, Gallia, Anna Knudsen, Fernmoor (carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft). The Rescue Vessel Zamalek was with this convoy from Sept. 1, to Clyde Sept. 6-1941. She had been with ON 7 from Clyde until detached, Aug. 16-Aug. 21, then with HX 144 from Aug. 22 till detached to Iceland Aug. 27, and was on her 10th voyage as Rescue Vessel, having been requisitioned as such in March.-1940. Her first voyage was with OB 291. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague)A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of HX convoy escorts, also received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year): Alisma - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Barrie - From 22/08/41 to 24/08/41 Broadway - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Cobalt - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Collingwood - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Dianella - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 FS Alysse - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Kenogami - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Keppel - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Lady Elsa - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Lincoln - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Man o'War - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Matapedia - From 22/08/41 to 24/08/41 Moose Jaw - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Niagara - From 02/09/41 to 02/09/41 Polyanthus - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Prescott - From 21/08/41 to 24/08/41 Sabre - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Shikari - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Sunflower - From 02/09/41 to 05/09/41 Trail - From 24/08/41 to 02/09/41 Venomous - From 02/09/41 to 06/09/41 Worcestershire - From 21/08/41 to 02/09/41 Related external link: The Empire Ships - This convoy had quite a few Empire Ships. This website provides more information on them. Back to Convoy Index To the next HX convoy in my list HX 147

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