Convoy HX 244 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 244
Departed New York City on June 15-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 30th.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 86 ships in this convoy.
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (Advance Sailing Telegram and A 1 form) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port.
Note that some of the ships in this convoy are also listed in the westbound ONS 7 (see also the westbound Convoy ON 181).
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Station
Destination
Remarks
Atenas
American
general - refrig.
44
Liverpool
–
Gulfgem
"
Admiralty tanker B
25
Clyde
–
Gulfwing
"
Tanker W
oil
96
Swansea
–
Schoharie
"
general
122
Glasgow
–
Northern Sun
"
Tanker W
gas
102
Avonmouth
–
Belgian Gulf
Panamanian
Tanker B
lub. oil
41
Mersey
–
Edwin Markham
American
general
115
Avonmouth
William A. Graham
"
general
24
Liverpool
From HX 243
F. J. Luckenbach
"
general
15
London
From HX 243
Nathaniel Bacon
"
general
81
Avonmouth
From HX 243
Anthony Wayne
"
general - grain
121
Avonmouth
From HX 243
Cefalu
Honduran
general - troops
103
Barry Dock
From HX 243
Collis P. Huntington
American
general
64
Glasgow
From HX 243
John Langdon
"
general
113
Cardiff
From HX 243
Roger Williams
"
general
124
Cardiff
From HX 243
Put back to St. John's
See Notes
Joined in HX 245
Charles A. McAllister
"
general
126
Liverpool
–
Benjamin H. Latrobe
"
general
15
Mersey f. o.
Sailed in HX 245
Hubert Howe Bancroft
"
general
125
Avonmouth
Put back to St. John's
See Notes
Sailed in HX 245
Conrad Weiser
"
general
–
London
To HX 245 - did not sail
Sailed in HX 247
Thomas Lynch
"
general
47
Milford Haven / Southampton
–
Surprise
"
refrig.
–
Mersey f. o.
–
W. R. Keever
"
general
111
Mersey
–
Steel Traveler
"
general
11
Glasgow
–
El Oceano
Panamanian
general
66
Newport
F. T. Frelinghuysen
American
general
12
Glasgow
–
Tarleton Brown
"
sugar
123
Liverpool
From HX 243
Returned to port
Julien Poydras
"
general
91
Liverpool
–
James Longstreet
"
general
–
Belfast f. o.
Sailed in HX 245
Crawford W. Long
"
general
–
Liverpool
Sailed in HX 245
John Gorrie
"
general
–
Belfast f. o.
Sailed in HX 245
John C. Breckinridge
"
general
–
Glasgow
Sailed in HX 245
William Blount
"
general
114
Cardiff
–
James W. Fannin
"
general (sulphur, cotton)
14
Manchester
–
George Weems
"
general
21
London
–
James R. Randall
"
cotton - grain - general
–
Liverpool
From HX 243
Sailed in HX 245
Frederick Douglass
"
general
–
Liverpool
Joined HX 245 - returned to port
Sailed in HX 246
Empire Bunting
British
general
71
Glasgow
Commodore Vessel
Elona
"
Tanker W
alco. - acetone
53
Dingle
From HX 243
Empire Cavalier
"
Tanker W
gas
95
Swansea
–
British Statesman
"
Tanker W
gas
94
Milford Haven (Falmouth?)
–
Ninella
"
Tanker W
aviation gas
73
Bowling
–
El Aleto
"
Tanker W
pool fuel
116
London (Coryton?)
–
Cliona
"
Tanker W
gasoline
67
Stanlow
–
Empire Chief
"
Tanker B
fuel oil
65
Liverpool
–
British Chivalry
"
Admiralty tanker B
Admiralty fuel
62
Clyde
–
Fort Grouard?
"
lumber - general
117 or 127
Clyde / Liverpool
–
San Veronico
"
Tanker W
gasoline
56
Stanlow
From HX 243
British Purpose
"
Tanker B
vap. oil
26
Bowling
–
British Valour
"
Admiralty tanker B
fuel oil
32
Clyde / Loch Ewe
–
British Tenacity
"
Tanker W
gasoline
54
Stanlow
–
Eskbank
"
general
101
Liverpool
Rear Commodore
Opalia
"
Tanker W
aviation gas
74
Bromborough
–
Voco
"
Tanker B
lub. oil
55
Manchester
–
Atlantian
"
general
57
Liverpool
–
Fort Assiniboine
"
lumber - metal
45
Manchester
–
Fort Glenlyon
"
lumber - grain - metal
16
London
–
British Harmony
"
Tanker B
vap. oil
112
Avonmouth
–
Empire Emerald
"
Tanker W
gas
104
Avonmouth
–
San Vulfrano
"
Tanker W
gas
93
Swansea
–
Daronia
"
Tanker W
aviation gas
77
Barry Dock
Naranio or Naronia?
"
Tanker W
aviation gas
33
Bowling / Ardrossan
Listed as Naranio in AST
Naronia on A 1 form
Buenos Aires
Norwegian
general
117 or 127
Swansea
–
Fernmoor
"
general
23
Liverpool
–
Spinanger
"
Admiralty tanker B
(Navy spec)
92
Clyde
–
Norholm
"
Tanker W
gas
105
Avonmouth
Fernwood
"
general
22
Liverpool
–
Brimanger
"
general
46
Liverpool
Returned to port (Halifax - see Notes)
Listed in slow Convoy SC 135
Palembang
Dutch
general
97
London
–
Edam
"
general
51
Liverpool
–
Samuel Bakke
Norwegian
general - passengers
63
Manchester
Vice Commodore
Corilla
Dutch
Tanker W
aviation gas
75
Stanlow
–
Ivaran
Norwegian
general
43
Liverpool
–
Meline
"
Tanker B
fuel oil
36
London (Purfleet)
–
Anna Knudsen
"
Admiralty tanker W
petroleum
31
Scapa
–
Emma Bakke
"
general
42
Liverpool
–
Baltyk
general
13
Manchester
–
Reinholt
Norwegian
general (passengers)
52
Liverpool
–
Christian Michelsen
"
general
–
Loch Ewe f. o.
Ex Liberty Ship John M.T. Finney
See * in Notes
Sailed in HX 245
Gabriel Duval
American
general
27
London
Agwidale
"
general
72
Hull
From HX 243
Steel Inventor
"
general
61
Liverpool
–
Dorcasia
British
Tanker B & W
aviation gas - diesel
35
Avonmouth
–
Empire Flint
"
Tanker B & W
aviation gas - diesel
34
Swansea
–
Petter
Norwegian
Tanker W
gas
76
Swansea
–
O. M. Bernuth
American
Tanker W
gas
107
Glasgow
–
Toltec
Honduran
general - passengers
106
Garston
Straggled in fog - rejoined
In addition to the above ships, the A 1 form show the Norwegian Ferncourt, petroleum products, crossed out from station 37. Listed in next convoy, HX 245.
Joining from Halifax - Sailed June 17
The A 1 form shows the ships sailing from New York only and, therefore, I don't know which stations the Halifax ships took after joining.
Empire Capulet
British
general
–
Newcastle
From HX 243
Curacao
Dutch
general
–
Cardiff
Returned to Halifax
See Notes
Sailed in HX 245
Empire Hunter
British
general
–
Tyne
From HX 243
Fort Fraser
"
grain
–
Manchester
From HX 243
Returned to Halifax
See Notes
Sailed in HX 245
Tudor Prince
"
general
–
Bristol
From HX 243
Tetela
"
meat - metal - mail
–
Liverpool
–
Pacific Shipper
"
general
–
Avonmouth
Listed in slow Convoy SC 134
Tai Shan
Norwegian
general
–
Liverpool
–
Asa Gray
American
steel - general
–
Cardiff
From HX 243
Cepnee
French
grain
–
Glasgow
From HX 243
Sailed in HX 245
Eugene Field
American
general - grain
–
Hull
Euryades
British
general - mail
–
Glasgow
Sailed in HX 245
Fort Erie
"
grain - general
–
London
–
Fort Albany
"
grain
–
Liverpool
Proceeded to St. John's
See Notes
To HX 245 - did not sail
Sailed in HX 246
Fort Carillon
"
grain
–
Manchester
Sailed in HX 245
George Handley
American
general
–
Mersey f. o.
From HX 243
Sailed in HX 246
George F. Patten
"
general
–
London
–
Medina
"
general
–
Loch Ewe / Iceland
From HX 243
Patrick Henry
"
general
–
Liverpool
From HX 243
Richmond Mumford Pearson
"
steel - general
–
Immingham
From HX 243
Salacia
British
general
–
Avonmouth
–
Thomas R. Marshall
American
general
–
Liverpool
From HX 243
Waldo Hill
British
steel - lumber
–
Garston
Listed in slow Convoy SC 134
Accrington
"
Rescue Vessel
–
Clyde
–
The Rescue Vessel Accrington was on her 5th voyage (requisitioned in March-1942), having started out from Clyde with the westbound convoy ONS 8 on May 17, to Halifax June1, then returned with HX 244 from Halifax to Clyde, June 17-June 29-1943. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hauge).
Notes:
* Christian Michelsen, ex John M.T. Finney, had just been taken over in Baltimore on May 31. She's said to have been sunk on her maiden voyage in Sept. that year, but this could not have been her maiden voyage, because she is, in fact, listed as sailing in the next convoy, HX 245 on June 23. This page has more details on her loss.
Commodore Sir Raymond Fitzmaurice R.N.R. was in Empire Bunting, Commodore W.O. Meek R.N.R. acted as Vice Commodore in Samuel Bakke, Rear Commodore in Eskbank.
Average speed: 9 knots.
From the Commodore's notes:
75 ships sailed from New York, 18 from Halifax = 93. 7 of them either never joined or lost convoy in dense fog off and after Halifax. These returned to Halifax or St. John's N.F. leaving 86 ships in convoy.
Fort Albany, Hubert Howe Bancroft, Curacao, Brimanger, Fort Fraser, Roger Williams and Tarleton Brown lost touch in dense fog and returned to port. (However, there's a separate document saying Tarleton Brown rejoined convoy).
Station keeping and signalling "excellent", and "the whole of the great convoy behaved admirably", but he considers that "Empire Bunting is not at present suitable for Commodore Ship, though the Master and officers were most helpful and the accommodation suitable, the ship is not reliable. The main engines broke down once and the dynamoes 6 times and finally broke down completely, leaving no degaussing, no R/T, no possibility of charging batteries, or use 6" signalling lamp, no electric light. The Master truly observed that "The main engines, when they worked, were just grand, but it was the little B.....s that wouldn't work."
He adds: "The amount of signalling necessary in such a large convoy is great and entails very hard and responsible work on the part of Senior Signal and W/T ratings on the Commodore's staff, Vice Commodore's staff, and the Senior Officer of Escort's staff. I am much indebted to all these for their excellent and accurate work. Captain Holley(?) S.O. Escort, HMS Burnham was most helpful at all times and gave me very cheerful and willing assistance in communications and in everything else to do with the convoy's welfare".
Narrative:
"Off Halifax in dense fog the two parts of the convoy of nearly 100 ships were looking for each other, not a very pleasant situation. No enemy incidents and a remarkable freedom from S/M scares; one of the most peaceful voyages from this point of view I remember. Difficulties of keeping such a large convoy together in the dense fogs were considerable, the skill and seamanship of the Masters which enabled the convoy to do this is now of a very high order, and ships of all Nationalities seem to be getting equally good at it".
At 13:00 on June 26 in accordance with W/T message from C. in C. W.A. 14 fast ships were ordered to proceed to destinations with Escort group 40 ahead of convoy, leaving 72 ships in convoy.
At 20:15 on June 28, 4 fast ships (11 knots) were ordered to proceed at best speed to catch the tide at Bar Light Vessel, Liverpool - leaving 68 ships in convoy. Convoy was split at 05:00 June 29 off Barra Head (Loch Ewe portion, Belfast portion, Clyde portion and Mersey portion). "I think all 86 ships of this great convoy must have arrived safely at their destinations in the U.K."
Suggestions for improvements:
"Though I always tell Masters at Conference about Mersigs. Vol. II many ships still seem unaware of its existence when a signal is made by it, and much time is wasted by ships asking what the signal means. Communications with such a large convoy are difficult and columns being 5 cables apart add greatly to the difficulties of the accuracy of flag or flashing signals to the more distant ships. In these great convoys it is essential that Escort vessels should convey changes of destination or special important orders individually to ships. Signalling by flashing or flags accurately to distant ships, important orders, is quite impossible. I was extremely fortunate in having an S.O. Escort who was a splendid and willing helper and did everything to ensure C. in C. W.A. signalled orders being given to ships concerned by Escort vessels. We had 31 changes of destination alone, in one day, and visibility was nearly always very poor and often almost nil.
The first considerations
in chosing a Commodore's ship should be
a) - Reliability of main and auxiliary machinery and a good syren or steam whistle
b) - Suitable for signalling by flags
c) - The Commodore should be able to lie down and have his meals
not lower
down than the deck below the bridge.
d) - The ship should be British
e) - The Master should not be one that does not welcome being Commodore's ship".
Escort Vessels:
From New York 04:00 June 15: HMS Chelsea (S.O.), HMCS Shawinigan, HMCS Barrie, HMCS Quesnel
From Halifax 18:15 June 19: HMS Buxton (S.O.), HMCS Buctouche, HMCS Nipigon.
HMS Chelsea left during fog at 18:15 June 19, the others left at 13:50 June 20 in 44 43N 51 09W. At the same time the following joined:
HMS Burnham (S. O. Ocean Escort), HMCS La Malbaie, HMS Barle, HMCS Mayflower, HMCS Pictou, HMCS Bittersweet, HMCS Skeena - left off Oversay June 29.
At 12:15 June 21? (40th group - Support group): HMS Lulworth, HMS Bideford, HMS Hastings, HMS Waverley(?) - left at 14:20 June 26.
All the Norwegian ships sailing in this convoy are discussed on this website - more info on them can be found with the help of the alphabet index below.
Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Some of the ships listed as American in the table above were Liberty ships. This website lists them alphabetically.
This site has more on the the "Fort", "Ocean" and "Park" ships mentioned in this convoy.
Empire Ships listed in alphabetical order. The site also has a section listing the Liberty ships.
To the next HX convoy in my list HX 245