Convoy HX 42 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

Convoy HX 42 Cruising Order
Departed Halifax on May 12-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th (Arnold Hague says 47 ships).

Transcribed from A 1 form received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Nationalities have been added with the help of "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Fr=French, Gr=Greek, Pa=Panamanian

B = Bermuda portion

11
Scottish Star
general
Liverpool
(Br)

21
Yearby
wheat
Manchester
(Br)
(Br)

31
El Mirlo
crude oil
Liverpool
(Br)

41
Norwegian
general
Avonmouth
(Br)

51
Gemstone
wheat
Falmouth
(Br)

61
Voco
lub oil
London
(Br)

71
Windsorwood
grain
London
(Br)

81
Lindenhall
grain
Newcastle
(Br)

91
Beaverdale
general
London
(Br)

12
Silverelm
general
Liverpool
(Br)

22
Stylianos Chandris
wheat
Milford Haven
(Gr)

32
Cygnet
timber
Sharpness
(Pa)

42
Demeterton
grain
Falmouth
(Br)

52
Scottish Trader
wheat
Hull
(Br)

62
Niceto de Larrinaga
flour
Leith
(Br)

72
City of Christiania
general
Hull
(Br)

82
Bencleuch
general
London
(Br)

92
San Felix
crude oil
Le Havre
(Br)

33
Uganda*
Milford Haven
(Br)

53
Peterton
wheat
London
(Br)

63
Amberton
wheat
Hull
(Br)

73
Empire Unity
lub oil
London
(Br)

83
Brant County
general
Le Havre
(Norw)

93
Eleni
machinery
Bordeaux
(Gr)

14 B
Strategist
general
Liverpool
(Br)

24 B
Adellen
fuel oil
Scapa
(Br)

34 B
Atheltemplar
fuel oil
Scapa
(Br)

44 B
Pacific Exporter
general
Liverpool
(Br)

54 B
Pacific Ranger
general
London
(Br)

64 B
San Ambrosio
gas - kerosine
London
(Br)

74 B
Rapana
crude oil
Pauillac
(Br)

84 B
King Edward (King Arthur?)**
general
Newcastle
(Br)

94 B
Shéhérazade
crude oil
Le Havre
(Fr)

15 B
Kumasian
sugar
Liverpool
(Br)

25 B
Llanover
sugar
Greenock
(Br)

35 B
San Roberto
fuel oil
Ardrossan
(Br)

45 B
Calgarolite
crude oil
Le Havre
(Br)

55 B
British Resource
gas oil
London
(Br)

65 B
Davisian
general
London
(Br)

75 B
Pomella
crude oil
Pauillac
(Br)

85 B
Davila
fuel oil
Pauillac
(Br)

95 B
Stiklestad
petrol
Le Havre
(Norw)

46 B
Solstad
lub oil
Mersey
(Norw)

56 B
Brandanger
lumber
Falmouth
(Norw)

66 B
Petter
crude oil
Le Havre
(Norw)

76 B
Vancouver
benzine
Downs
(Br)

86 B
Inversuir
(Br)

The Bermuda portion (BHX 42) was escorted by HMS Rajputana (sailing between columns 4 and 5), Captain F. H. Taylor R.N., who also acted as Commodore for this section. Vice Commodore was H. A. May in Pacific Exporter. Local escort was HMS Penzance.

* According to Arnold Hague, Uganda became a straggler on May 14. His listing for HX 42 is available on the page naming ships in all HX convoys.

** The ship in station 84 is listed as King Edward on the form for the combined convoy, but as King Arthur in the BHX (Bermuda) convoy form. This ship is crossed out in the Advance Sailing Telegram/Bermuda portion.

Notes:
Commodore for the combined convoy was in Norwegian, Vice Commodore in Windsorwood, Rear Commodore in Scottish Star (or Pacific Exporter?).

There seems to be some confusion with regard to King Arthur / King Edward. The latter is added by hand to the Advance Sailing Telegram, and she's also listed as King Edward on the A 1 form for the combined convoy, but as King Arthur in the BHX (Bermuda) A 1 form. I'm not entirely sure King Edward actually sailed in this convoy. Also, King Arthur is crossed out in the AST for the Bermuda portion, with a note in the document for the combined convoy "not present".

Commodore's notes - Bermuda portion (Captain F. H. Taylor R.N.):
The Bermuda portion departed at 13:00 on May 11-1940 with 22 ships, formed up by 19:00, course 061°, speed 9 knots. Calgarolite joined at 14:15 GMT on May 12, having been delayed in harbour due to engine problems.

Average speed: 8.2 knots.

Station keeping was "satisfactory, except for a tendency of a few ships to drop back during dark hours and also in bad weather. Visual signalling good on the whole. Pomella, British, was exceptionally smart in answering and repeating signals. Petter, Norwegian, and Brandanger, Norwegian were invariably slow".

"Nothing of note occurred on passage to the Rendezvous (41 30N 43 30W). Zigzagging, altering course by wheeling and by turning together were practised by day and night. Fog buoys were streamed satisfactorily. Convoy was due at the Rendezvous at 12:00 on Friday, 17th May. Owing to current she was set to the North East. No sights were obtainable at dawn, the sky being overcast, and at 14:00 (sights having been obtained) Convoy was found to be about 26 miles 045 degrees from Rendezvous. Course was altered and at 15:30 Convoy was within 3 miles of its correct position at that time. Commodore parted company at 15:30. No D/F signals were heard from the Ocean Escort of HX 42."

F. H. Taylor's suggestion:
"Alteration of course in a fog. The 4 short blasts to be repeated by leading ships of columns. In a large Convoy the rear wing ships may not hear the Commodore's 4 short blasts, and all they may hear is one short or 2 short blasts, being then uncertain whether an alteration of course is taking place, or ships have put their helm over to avoid each other. It is pointed out that in signal 1537/7/5/40 from N.C.S.O., Halifax, to N.C.S.O., Bermuda, the short blasts have been altered to long blasts".

The 2 portions of the convoy joined up in the afternoon of May 17, and Rajputana (ocean escort, Bermuda) parted company at 15:35 that day in 41 46N 42 55W, while HMS Penzance (local escort, Bermuda) had been detached at 22:45 on the day of departure Bermuda.

The convoy arrived rendezvous on May 24.

Ocean Escort: HMS Laconia.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of HX convoy escorts received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Gladiolus - From 24/05/40 to 28/05/40
Laconia - From 12/05/40 to 24/05/40
Restigouche - From 12/05/40 to 13/05/40
Rochester - From 24/05/40 to 27/05/40
St. Laurent - From 12/05/40 to 13/05/40

Back to Convoy Index

To the next HX convoy in my list HX 43