Convoy HX 251 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY HX 251
Departed New York on Aug. 7-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 23rd.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 87 ships in this convoy.
Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths - 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.
For info, a number of the ships in this convoy later returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 202 (ONS 18).
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Station
Destination
Remarks
Belgian Crew
Belgian
steel - lumber
145
Immingham
Nicholas Biddle
American
general - explosives
44
Glasgow
From HX 250
(see Notes)
Empire Mist
British
general
131
Avonmouth
–
Argos Hill
"
general
111
Liverpool
–
Glenbeg
"
general
–
Liverpool
Empire Pibroch
"
general - refrig.
91
Mersey f. o.
Returned to New York
(see Notes)
Listed in slow Convoy SC 140
Aug. 21-1943
Empire Lancer
"
refrig. (frozen meat)
42
Liverpool
–
British Merit
"
Tanker W - gas
133
Avonmouth
From HX 250
Empire Faith
"
general - explosives
84
Liverpool
–
Fordsdale
"
refrig. - general
122
Liverpool
–
Fort Brandon
"
lumber - metal - wheat
12
Mersey
–
Fort Carlton
"
lumber - metal - wheat
11
London
–
Elona
"
alcohol - acetone - Tanker W
93
Dingle
–
Athelregent
"
Tanker B - fuel oil
71
Swansea
–
British Valour
"
Admiralty tanker B
Admiralty fuel
82
Belfast / Scapa
–
Geo. W. McKnight
Panamanian
Tanker W - aviation gas
123
Swansea
–
British Respect
British
Tanker W - gas
45
Bowling / Ardrossan
–
Luminetta
"
Tanker B
Admiralty fuel
112
Swansea
–
San Vulfrano
"
Tanker W - aviation gas
115
Bromborough
–
Lucerna
"
Tanker W
high o. gas
103
Belfast / Milford Haven / Plymouth
–
British Statesman
"
Tanker W - aviation gas
94
Bowling
–
British Fortitude
"
Tanker W
gas oil - kerosene
121
Belfast / Dublin
–
British Restraint
"
Tanker W - aviation gas
105
Avonmouth
–
Schuylkill
"
Tanker W - gas oil
125
Heysham
–
Empire Alliance
"
Tanker W - gas
113
Avonmouth
–
Empire Cavalier
"
Tanker W - gas
65
Stanlow
Returned to port (Halifax - see Notes))
Sailed in HX 252
Cymbula
"
Tanker W - gas
64
Avonmouth
–
Empire Chief
"
Tanker B - fuel oil
66
Swansea
–
Westland
Dutch
general - 2 passengers
31
Liverpool
–
Ivaran
Norwegian
general - 700 tons expl.
101
Liverpool
Haakon Hauan
"
Tanker W - gas
35
Bowling
–
Bralanta
"
Tanker B
–
Mersey
Sailed in HX 252
Stiklestad
"
Tanker W - gas
55
Stanlow
–
O. B. Sørensen
"
Tanker B - gas oil
135
Avonmouth
–
Thorhild
"
Tanker B - gas oil
53
Swansea
–
Laurent Meeus
Belgian
Tanker B
gas
33
Grangemouth
–
Fagerfjell
Norwegian
Admiralty tanker B
Admiralty fuel
52
Milford Haven / Devonport
–
Ville d'Anvers
Belgian
general - 500 tons expl. - 133 passengers
104
Barry Dock
–
Heranger
Norwegian
general
–
Liverpool
Sailed in HX 252
Delftdijk
Dutch
general - 27 passengers
56
Glasgow
–
Reinholt
Norwegian
general - explosives
106
Liverpool
–
Buenos Aires
"
general
142
Liverpool
–
Emma Bakke
"
general
143
Liverpool
–
Laurits Swenson
"
general - explosives
81
Liverpool
Commodore Vessel
Eemland
Dutch
general
–
Hull
Leerdam
"
general - explosives
63
Hull
–
Tai Shan
Norwegian
general - 10 passengers
141
Liverpool
–
Kaldfonn
"
Admiralty tanker B
oil - gliders
62
Belfast / Londonderry
–
Meline
"
Tanker W
–
London
–
Murena
Dutch
Tanker W
gas oil - aircraft
102
Clyde
–
Hawaiian
American
general - explosives
24
London
Daniel Drake
"
general
22
London
–
George H. Pendleton
"
general
36
London
–
John Wanamaker
"
general - explosives
26
London
–
Grace Abbott
"
general
–
Belfast f. o.
Jacques Laramie
"
general
144
Cardiff
–
Casimir Pulaski
"
general
14
Hull
See Notes
Robert Y. Hayne
"
general
15
Liverpool
–
Sam Houston II
"
general
51
Liverpool
–
Peter V. Daniel
"
sulphur - cotton - gliders
46
Manchester
See Notes
George A. Custer
"
sulphur - cotton - barges
61
Glasgow
–
George E. Hale
"
general
21
Manchester
–
Robert Trimble
"
cotton - phosphates
13
Liverpool / Garston
See Notes
Robert Fulton
"
general
–
Belfast f. o.
Joined HX 252 - returned to port
Norlys
Panamanian
Admiralty tanker B
25
Glasgow / Invergordon
Norwegian managers - listed on N-page
Tide Water
American
Admiralty tanker B
Navy spec.
41
Clyde
–
Southern Sun
"
Tanker W - gas
83
Avonmouth
–
Belgian Gulf
Panamanian
Tanker B - lub. oil
96
Stanlow / Barton
George B. Selden
American
general - 2500 tons amm.
116
Newport
–
El Mundo
Panamanian
general - 2500 tons expl.
114
Belfast f. o.
Returned to port (St. John's - see Notes)
Sailed in HX 252
Edmund Fanning
American
general - explosives
32
London
–
Amelia Earhart
"
general - ammunition
126
Avonmouth
–
Aldebaran
Panamanian
general - 2000 tons bombs
124
Cardiff
–
Peter Cartwright
American
general - explosives - mail
85
Barry Dock
–
John P. Holland
"
general - explosives
34
Newport
–
El Oriente
Panamanian
general - explosives
136
Liverpool
–
Champ Clark
American
general - explosives
43
Avonmouth
From HX 250
Schoharie
"
general - 1500 tons expl.
132
Hull
–
W. R. Keever
"
general - explosives
23
Cardiff
–
Chester Valley
"
general - 2100 tons expl.
134
Milford Haven / Plymouth
–
Atenas
"
general (stores - explosives)
54
Avonmouth
–
Dolabella
British
Tanker B
gas oil - aircraft
86
Stanlow
–
El Aleto
"
Tanker B
Navy spec.
92
Mersey / Stanlow
–
Empire Chapman
"
Tanker W - gas
95
Stanlow
–
Fjallfoss
Icelandic
general
–
Loch Ewe / Iceland
–
Joining from Halifax Sailed Aug. 9
Tilapa
British
general
–
Tyne
–
Moveria
"
meats - general
–
Manchester
–
Tetela
"
meats - metals - mail
–
Cardiff
–
Salacia
"
meats - general
–
Liverpool
–
High Park
"
general
151
Newcastle
Toledo
Norwegian
general
–
Liverpool
Listed in slow Convoy SC 139
Aug. 9-1943
Cyrus H. McCormick
American
general
–
Mersey f. o.
Also listed in SC 139
Simon Willard
"
general
–
Glasgow
Listed in SC 139
Sylvester Gardiner
"
Army stores - general
152
Swansea
–
Alcoa Cutter
"
general
–
Loch Ewe for Iceland
Sailed in HX 252
Samuel Moody
"
general
–
Hull
Listed in SC 139
Edward Sparrow
"
sugar
153
Clyde
From HX 250
Asbjørn
British
general
–
Liverpool
Beaverhill
"
general
–
Liverpool
–
Empire Bittern
"
general
–
London
–
Emily Dickinson
American
general
155
Swansea
–
Fort St. Regis
British
general
–
Liverpool
Sailed in HX 252
Fort Norfolk
"
grain - aluminium
154
Manchester
–
James M. Wayne
American
general
–
Mersey f. o.
Manchester Division
British
general
–
Manchester
Listed in SC 139
Norwegian
"
general
–
Glasgow
Listed in SC 139
Dorelian
"
general
–
Avonmouth
Listed in SC 139
Empire Yukon
"
general
–
Liverpool
Listed in SC 139
Copeland
"
Rescue Vessel
–
Clyde
See Notes
Joining from New Foundland Sailed Aug. 11
Kelmscott
British?
newsprint
16
London
–
Notes:
Commodore, Admiral Sir R. P. Drax K.C.B. was in Norwegian Laurits Swenson, Vice Commodore was Captain H. Jolivet of Empire Lancer. Commodore's vessel considered by the Commodore to be "Admirable. Clean, efficient, most comfortable. Captain Rød is a fine seaman and a good navigator".
72 ships sailed from New York, 12 from Halifax.
Average speed: 8.13 knots.
Daily positions of convoy at 08:00 DST, as well as distances sailed from noon to noon, w/average speed each day are available on request via contact address provided at the bottom of this page.
The Rescue Vessel Copeland was on her 24th voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on July 9-1943 with the westbound Convoy ON 192, to Halifax July 20, then returned with HX 251 from Halifax on Aug. 9, to Clyde Aug. 23-1943. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).
Empire Pibroch (91) returned to New York on Aug. 8.
Empire Cavalier (65) 'reported needing 50 tons fresh water and is unable to reach U.K." Sent to Halifax at 16:00 Aug. 10, with HMS Chelsea(?).
El Mundo (114) reported tube trouble in 2 boilers, sent to St. John's at 06:00 Aug. 12 (air cover ordered for her).
Nicholas Biddle (44) stopped for slight defects. Proved a constant straggler, ordered to stragglers' route Aug. 16.
Robert Trimble (13), Peter V. Daniel (46), and Casimir Pulaski (14) dropped astern due to wind and sea "which were not heavy" and failed to rejoin.
Other stragglers: Kelmscott, British Respect, Moveria, British Valour, Empire Chapman, Lucerna, Chester Valley.
The Commodore says:
"S.S.Copeland and her signal staff have been most useful in helping Commodore with news of stragglers, passing signals etc.". He is, however, very unhappy with a few other ships, saying "Judging by results, the Masters of No.'s 91, 114, 44, 13, 14, 46 (and pershaps 65) had no justification for representing that their ships were fit to cross the Atlantic with a 10 knot convoy. 83 other ships were delayed by having them in the company. It is disappointing to all concerned to go to sea with a 10 knot convoy and then to find that several ships can barely do 9.5 in smooth water, dropping rapidly to 8 or 7 knots when the sea gets up. The slow ships, in self-defence, are apt to blame the Commodore for going too fast (e.g. shortly after leaving New York I received a signal 'do you intend to continue your present speed of 10.25 kn?'. On enquiry, my Captain and 2 other ships said that we were going 9.3). It is suggested that any ships known to have delayed a 'fast' convoy should usually in future revert to slow convoys."
The convoy was almost 2 days behind time, partly due to holding back for stragglers, partly due to swell and strong headwinds between Aug. 13 and 18.
"Meeting other ships at an R/V in thick fog is always difficult, especially if they are on converging courses. For example, on 2nd July, some 50 ships from the South, steering N.N.W., had to meet 8 ships from Aultbea steering S.W. at an R/V 12 South of Barra Head. Visibility was half a cable. Possibility of collision was avoided by turning the main body to 300° some 10 miles South of the R/V. Suggest that orders be given before sailing that, in thick fog, each party will, so far as navigational dangers permit, turn to a prearranged course when within 5 or 10 miles of the R/V. This order is, I believe, usually given by that able officer who holds the appointment of N.C.S.O., Halifax (Captain Banyard).
Many ships fitted with nets have only 10 knot speed, and cannot maintain convoy speed with both nets streamed. It is slow and clumsy to signal 'Ships on Starboard side of Commodore, get out stbd. nets, ships on port side of Commodore, get out port nets'. A new signal is needed in the book, say - 'Get out nets on one side, whichever is the more exposed. Optional, get out nets on both sides if you can maintain convoy speed'."
Escorts:
5 with C.O. HMS Chelsea, relieved by B 6 escort group (Ocean Escort) at noon Aug. 13, Senior Officer in HMS Fame (10 escorts all total) - left when reaching longitude 7°W.
Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Most of the ships listed as American in the table above were Liberty Ships. This website lists them alphabetically. As will be seen, quite a few of the Liberty Ships in this convoy had just recently been delivered, which is probably why the Commodore says, "some American ships lack experience and are bad at signalling".
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 252