Convoy HX 222 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 222
Departed New York on Jan. 6-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 22nd.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 34 ships in this convoy.
Notes:
Commodore Rear Admiral E. Manners was in Tetela, Vice Commodore in Eros.
Rathlin was the rescue ship for this convoy (not listed in the Advance Sailing Telegram). Requisitioned on July 28-1941, she was on her 10th voayge as rescue vessel, having started this voyage in Clyde with the westbound Convoy ON 152 on Dec. 10-1942 (to Halifax Dec. 26), and returning with HX 222, Jan. 8 to Jan. 22-1943. ("Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hauge).
The Commodore says:
Belgian Gulf - Poor at flag signalling. Kept a poor lookout for signals and has bad flashing lamp but is ? at flashing. On three nights flaming and sparking from the funnel.
F. J. Wolfe has kept convoy back. Signalled one cylinder had to be cut out. This should not have reduced her speed from 11 knots as given to about 9 1/4 knots. Kept straggling several days but after ship was torpedoed near her, she managed to find extra speed and keep close in to convoy!!! Continually smoking. Suggest she is noted for 9 1/2 knots. She is a bad selection for escort oiler with fast convoy having no reserve of speed to get ahead of convoy.
Trojan Star - smoking all voyage. Reported bad oil from New York Standard Oil Company.
Names of escorts not available.
To the next HX convoy in my list HX 223