Convoy HX 250 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 250
Departed New York City on July 30-1943 and arrived Liverpool on Aug. 12.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 75 ships in this convoy.
Notes:
Commodore A. M. Hekking R.N.R. was in Maaskerk, Vice Commodore was Captain C. T. Dunn of Empire Emerald.
The convoy had 78 ships.
Average speed: 9.95 knots.
The convoy was formed up by 19:00 on July 30 (having left New York at 06:00). Emergency turns exercised on July 31. Alterations of course by sound signal exercised on Aug. 1.
Daily positions of convoy at 06:00 GMT are available on request via contact address at the bottom of this page.
Edward Sparrow (in station 56 of the convoy) was ordered to proceed to Halifax at 14:00 on Aug. 2 in position 43 05N 59 25W, having experienced boiler trouble. She arrived at Halifax on Aug. 3.
Ships capable of 12 1/2 knots and over were detached on Aug. 6 in 41W.
HMS Pursuer, Berwickshire, Noesaniwi, American Press, O. M. Bernuth, Nueva Granada, Bayano and El Coston parted company at 15:00 GMT on Aug. 6 in position 51 27N 41 05W in accordance with C.-in-C. W.A.'s orders (these are probably the fast ships referred to above).
Biscaya and Bruarfoss were detached for Iceland at 09:17 on Aug. 7 in position 52 45N 36 20W.
At 11:00 on Aug. 11 the following ships of 10 1/2 knots and over were detached in ?N 10 00W, in order to proceed independently to Mersey:
William J. Bryan, San Veronico, British Tenacity, Voco, Cliona, Columbian, Kronprinsessen, Delhi, Memphis City, North King, Pierre Gibault, Port Caroline, and Jacob H. Gallinger.
Loch Ewe portion was detached in 55 40N 09 00W (Aug. 11), consisting of:
Mexican, John Stevenson, Aalsum, Stanmore, Jacob Luckenbach, James Gordon Bennett, Henry B. Brown, Abel Parker Upshur, Mirza, Robert Erskine.
Clyde portion was detached at 03:00 on Aug. 12 in 55 07N 5 46W, as follows:
Ferncourt, Steel Mariner, Lorenzo DeZavala, Dewsbury, Maaskerk, Lacklan, Fort La Tour and Chesapeake.
The Rescue Vessel Dewsbury was on her 10th voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on July 1-1943 with the westbound Convoy ON 191 - to Halifax July 13, then returned with HX 250 from Halifax to Clyde, Aug. 1-Aug. 12-1943. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).
The Commodore says
that the American Robert Erskine in station 76 was a habitual straggler. Captain Baillie stated that "he was doing maximum speed so ship appears to be unsuitable for 10 knots convoy. Has mark 29 gear".
Escorts:
HMS Roxborough - parted company at 06:30 on Aug. 1 in 41 00N 65 39W, and was relieved by HMCS Columbia.
HMS Dittany joined at HOMP on Aug. 2 - detached at 19:00 same day with Asdic trouble.
HMCS Ottawa, Kootenay, St. Croix, Wetaskiwin, Dianthus, Kitchener, Arvida, trawler Sapper, tug Stormking and Dittany, with support Group Nene, Calgary and Snowberry joined at 11:30 GMT on Aug. 5 in approx. 48 31N 46 21W, relieving Columbia, Kamsack, Blairmore and Kenora.
The support group parted company at 13:00 on Aug. 6 in 51 27N 41 05W, escorting fast section.
HMS Bayntun detached at 09:17 on Aug. 7 in 52 45N 36 20W, with Iceland ships.
Wetaskiwin detached at 14:00 on Aug. 11 in 55 40N 09 00W, escorting the Loch Ewe section.
Note that all the Norwegian ships sailing in this convoy are discussed on this website. More info on them can be found via the alphabet index at the end of this page, or go to the Master Ship Index.
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" and "Park" ships.
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 251