Convoy HX 218 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 218
Departed New York City on Dec. 5-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 21st.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 55 ships in this convoy.
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegram, A 1 forms) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.
For info, some of the ships in this convoy later returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 157, others with ON 159.
See also ON 161 and ON 162.
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Station
Destination
Remarks
Polarsol
Norwegian
Tanker B
93
Swansea
Daphnella
British
Tanker W
64
Grangemouth
–
John A. Brown
"
Tanker B
104
Avonmouth
–
Norman Star
"
frozen meat - mail
144
Liverpool
–
Cornish City
"
concentrates - wheat
111
Belfast Dock / Swansea
–
Fort Vermillion
"
lumber - wheat - metal
–
London
Fort Reliance
"
general - planes
–
Glasgow
Sailed in HX 219
Pan-Maine
American
Tanker B
32
Glasgow
–
British Character
British
Tanker W
102
Avonmouth
–
Empire Silver
"
Tanker W
42
Manchester
–
Norheim
Norwegian
Tanker W
82
Manchester
–
British Pride
British
Tanker B
–
Belfast
Sailed in HX 219
British Statesman
"
Tanker B
–
Bowling
Sailed in HX 219
Laurits Swenson
Norwegian
reefer - explosives
43
Liverpool
–
Belinda
"
Tanker B
2 passengers
84
Avonmouth
–
Godfrey B. Holt
British
general - 6 passengers - mail
–
Hull
Sailed in HX 219
Dunster Grange
"
frozen meat - 10 passengers - mail
72
Glasgow
–
Kaituna
"
concentrates - wheat - mail
121
Belfast Dock / Avonmouth
Rear Commodore
Fort Rubert
"
grain - lumber
33
Immingham
–
Empire Jet
"
Tanker B
–
Dublin
Sailed in HX 219
Athelprincess
"
Tanker
molasses
–
Mersey
Returned to port (Halifax)
To Convoy SC 113
Regent Panther
"
Tanker W
122
Swansea
–
Inverilen
"
Tanker W
62
Manchester
–
Empire Newton
"
general
61
Liverpool
From HX 217
Empire Norseman
"
Tanker W
21
Glasgow
–
Dorcasia
"
Tanker B
112
Manchester
–
Mobilgas
American
Tanker B
94
Avonmouth
–
Fagerfjell
Norwegian
Tanker
–
Avonmouth
Sailed in HX 219
Clan Macneil
British
general
31
London
–
Empire Tamar
"
phosphates - explosives
–
Mersey
From HX 217
Sailed in HX 219
Ocean Vesper
"
general
–
Not for U.K.
–
Martand
"
general
41
Clyde
Vice Commodore Vessel
Tungsha
Norwegian
general
–
Cardiff
Sailed in HX 219
Norholm
"
Tanker
44
Liverpool
From HX 217
Ivaran
"
valuable
63
Belfst Dock / Cardiff
–
Laguna
British
general
92
Liverpool
–
Afghanistan
"
general
81
Liverpool
–
Comanchee
"
Tanker B
91
Mersey
–
Inchanga
"
general - 49 passengers - mail
71
Liverpool
Commodore Vessel
Manchester Progress
"
general
52
Liverpool
–
Meerkerk
Dutch
general
–
Liverpool
Returned to port (Halifax)
see Notes
Sailed in HX 219
Medina
American
general
–
Iceland
–
Point Pelee Park
British
none given
–
Halifax
–
The following ships are listed on a separate document, but there's no details on sailing date or port. My guess is they belong in the New York section.
President de Vogue
Norwegian
Admiralty tanker
22
Clyde
–
Atenas
American
general - passengers - mail
51
Liverpool
–
Marathon
Norwegian
Tanker W
53
Manchester
–
Thorshøvdi
"
Admiralty tanker B
54
Clyde
–
Norvinn
Panamanian
Admiralty tanker B
73
Clyde
Norwegian managers,
and listed on this website under N
Athos
Norwegian
Admiralty tanker B
83
Clyde
Cape Neddick
American
general - mail
103
Liverpool
–
Acavus
British
Tanker B
131
Avonmouth
–
Tivives
American
general - passengers - mail
132
Avonmouth
–
Carrillo
"
general - passengers - mail
133
Avonmouth
–
Perseus
British
general - passengers - mail
124
Liverpool
–
Joining from Halifax
Standella
British
Tanker W
113
Milford Haven / Plymouth
Solarium
"
Tanker W
23
Grangemouth
From HX 217
Empire Fletcher
"
Tanker W
74
Manchester
–
Joining from St. John's Sailed Dec. 10 - joined at 10:00 Dec. 11 in 47 47N 48 55W
Rancher
British
general
141
Liverpool
From HX 217
City of Windsor
"
general
34
Manchester
From HX 217
Samuel Ashe
American
general
144
Liverpool
From HX 217
Ocean Angel
British
general
13
Glasgow
British Harmony
"
Tanker W
123
Swansea
From HX 217
Fort Gibraltar
"
grain - metal
11
London
From HX 217
Fort Norman
"
grain - metal
12
London
From HX 217
Teucer
"
general
101
Liverpool
From HX 217
Rear Commodore
Nassa
"
Tanker B
14?
Liverpool
From HX 217
Paul H. Harwood
American
Tanker W
114
Avonmouth
From HX 217
Empire Gold
British
Tanker W
142
Milford Heaven
From HX 217
Notes:
Commodore W. E. B. Magee DSO RNR was in Inchanga, Vice Commodore I. W. Whitehorn RNR in Martand, Vice Commodore Admiral E. J. A. Fullerton in Teucer.
The convoy had 54 ships.
Average speed: 8.5 knots.
Meerkerk requested to go to Halifax for engine repairs and was detached at 13:30 Dec. 8.
Medina detached for Iceland in 48 30N 48 55W on Dec. 11.
The Commodore says:
"The following vessels reported at various times that they were doing their utmost speed but could not keep up with convoy: Fort Rubert (33), Fort Norman (12), Empire Newton (61), Cornish City (111), British Character (102), Kaituna (121). The latter had engine trouble and took station at the rear of her column. At no time was speed of the convoy exceeding 9 1/2 knots and weather was moderate. The Athelprincess was detached into Halifax as she was unable to maintain convoy speed.
Weather was good generally throughout the voyage. As regards enemy action the voyage was uneventful. I cannot speak too highly of the efficient protection afforded to the convoy by Harvester and her team".
Local Escort (Southern) - joned off New York Dec. 5
HMCS Timmins (S.O.), HMCS Buctouche, HMCS Minas - left at 13:00 Dec. 8 in 44 15N 61 19W.
Local Escort (Northern) - joined Dec. 8 in 44 19N 61 16W)
HMCS Caldwell (S.O.) - left at 22:00 Dec. 10 in 45 50N 50 15W
HMCS Matapedia, HMCS Moncton, HMCS Granby - left at 10:00 Dec. 11 in 47 47N 49 20W.
N.S. Molde joined on Dec. 20 in 55 24N 06 16W.
Ocean Escort
HMS Harvester (S.O.) - left at 08:30 Dec. 20 in 55 24N 06 16W
HMS Garland - left at 18:00 Dec. 18 in 57 00N 15 02W
HMS Orchis, HMS Aconite (left at 12:00 Dec. 19 in 56 40N 10 30W), HMS Lobelia (left at 24:00 Dec. 19 in 56 09N 07 41W).
Joining on Dec. 11 in 47 47N 49 20W, F.S. Roselys, HMS Narcissus.
Joining on Dec. 11 in 47 30N 49 27W, HMS Georgetown, HMS Lincoln (left at 12:00 Dec. 14 in 55 35N 38 45W).
Joining Dec. 16 in 57 26N 26 16W, trawlers HMS Northern Sun, HMS Vascama, HMS Cape Portland (left at 14:00 Dec. 18 in 57 04N 15 58W).
Air Escort:
Dec. 5, off New York, various aircraft, last seen at 17:00 5th - 9 hours.
Dec. 7, in 42 08N 65 22W, Lockheed and Catalina, last seen at 16:00 7th - 6 1/2 hours.
Dec. 8, in 42 12N 61 24W, Lockheed and Cataline, last seen at 15:00 8th - 5 1/4 hours.
Dec. 9, in 44 20N 56 12W, Digby, last seen at 16:30 9th - 4 1/2 hours.
Dec. 10, in 45 03N 51 44W, Lockheed and Digby, last seen at 16:00 10th - 7 1/4 hours.
Dec. 11, in 47 30N 49 27W, Lockheeds, last seen at 16:00 11th - 7 1/2 hours.
Dec. 14, in 55 10N 38 47W, Liberator, last seen at 10:30 14th - 2 hours
Dec. 15, in 55 50N 34 00W, Liberator, last seen at 16:00 15th - 4 3/4 hours.
Dec. 17, in 57 39N 22 30W, Fortress, remained for about 45 minutes.
Dec. 18, in 57 15N 17 37W, Sunderland, last seen at 14:30 18th - 5 1/4 hours.
To the next HX convoy in my list HX 219