Convoy HX 83 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

CONVOY HX 83 (Will be updated - please compare with A. Hague's listing for this convoy at ships in all HX convoys. See also HX escorts).

Convoy HX 83 Cruising Order
Departed Halifax on Oct. 24-1940 and arrived Liverpool on Nov. 7 (Arnold Hague says 36 ships).

Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Further details have been added with the help of:
"The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague,
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer,
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Gr=Greek, Du=Dutch, Bel=Belgian, Da=Danish.
† = dead

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

11
Tuva
steel - scrap iron
Oban
(Du)

21
Amastra
diesel oil
Clyde f. o.
(Br)

31
Victor Ross *
fuel oil
Mersey
(Br)

41
San Delfino
gasoline
Manchester
(Br)

51
Sourabaya
fuel oil
Liverpool
(Br)

61
Ramon de Larrinaga
steel
Liverpool
(Br)

71
Kars
benzine
Avonmouth
(Br)

81
Scottish Maiden *
diesel & fuel
Avonmouth
sunk - 16†
(Br)

91
Innerton
wheat
Barry Roads
(Br)

12
Don
lumber
London
(Norw)

22
Flensburg
steel - scrap
Clyde f. o.
(Du)

32
Sylvia de Larrinaga
steel
Clyde f. o.
(Br)

42
San Eliseo
gas oil
Mersey
(Br)

52
Ville d'Anvers
general
Liverpool
(Bel)

62
Hørda
general
Liverpool
(Norw)

72
Kolsnaren
pig iron
U.K.
(Sw)

82

92
G. S. Walden
gasoline
Avonmouth
(Br)

13
Ardanbhan
steel - pit props
Hull
(Br)

23
Trelissick
steel - pit props
West Hartlepool
(Br)

33
Stiklestad
fuel oil
Clyde
(Norw)

The ship in station 72 is spelt Volsnaren, but I assume this should be Kolsnaren(?) - see report below.

Joining from from Sydney (SHX 83) on Oct. 26:

A 11

A 21
Lancaster Castle **
lumber - steel
Oban
(Br)

A 31
Baron Ogilvy
pit props
Hull
(Br)

A 41

A 51
Kenbane Head **
general
Belfast
(Br)

A 61
Bayano
general
Liverpool
(Br)

A 71
Ary Lensen
lumber
Garston
(Br)

A 81
Anna Bulgari **
steel - newsprint
Ellesmere Port
(Gr)

A 91

* Victor Ross was originally Panamanian, but became British at some point in 1940; I'm not sure exactly when. (Her nationality is given as British when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-43 on Dec. 2-1940, Convoy OB 251).

** Anna Bulgari is listed in HX 82 as well as in HX 84 (must have cancelled from HX 82?).
Lancaster Castle and Kenbane Head sailed in HX 84.

Additionally, an Advance Sailing Telegram for the Sydney section, lists the following, cancelled ships:
Rolf Jarl (Norw), lumber / Belfast f. o.. Listed in Convoy SC 9.
Egee, iron ore for Middlesbrough. Listed in SC 9, this time with lumber.
Guinean, general for Glasgow. Listed in SC 9.
Illegible, a Greek ship, possibly Aegeon?, aluminum and paper / Belfast f. o.. To SC 9 (but not listed there - shows up again in HX 86).
Briarwood, lumber and steel - sailed in HX 84.
Malaya II - had already sailed in HX 82.
Berkel (Du - from HX 81 and HX 82), lumber for London. Sailed in SC 9.

Joining from from Bermuda (BHX 83) on Oct. 27:
(Vice Commodore was in Jumna)

B 11
Olga S
paper
London
(Da/MOWT 1940)

B 21
Oporto
general
Methil
(Br)

B 31
Allende
lumber - lead - wheat
Glasgow
(Br)

B 41
Jumna
general
Manchester
(Br)

B 51
Arthur F. Corwin
gasoline - kerosene
Manchester
(Br)

B 61
Diala
lube oil
Mersey
(Br)

B 71
Leiesten
lube oil
Mersey
(Norw)

B 81
Regent Panther
aviation spirits
Barry Roads
(Br)

B 91
Larchbank
sugar
Belfast
(Br)

B 12

B 22
Innesmoor
lumber - metal
Aberdeen
(Br)

B 32
Polo
general
Methil
(Br)

B 42
Cressington Court
sugar
Clyde
(Br)

B 52
Anglo African
general - timber
Glasgow
(Br)

B 62

B 72
Scottish Chief
crude oil
Manchester
(Br)

B 82
Somerville
phosphates
Avonmouth
(Norw)

B 92

Notes:
Commodore was in Sourabaya.
Commodore to Clyde was in Amastra.
Commodore to Barry was in Innerton.
Commodore to Oban was in Baron Ogilvy.

The convoy arrived the rendezvous point on Nov. 4.

* Scottish Maiden was sunk by U 99 on Nov. 5-1940. (This ship had collided with Kars on Oct. 27 - see the report below).

Ocean Escort: HMS Ascania.
Local Escort (Halifax): HMCS Assiniboine and Columbia

Report from the Commanding Officer of HMS Ascania:
"I have the honour to forward Report of Proceedings of Convoy HX 83 which sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 14:00 on Thursday 24th October. It was dark when Ascania took station on the Commodore at 19:00 who was proceeding at 4 knots. At 19:30 speed of Convoy was increased to (? number missing in fold of document) knots by prearranged signal of switching off on all round White Light.

Friday 25th October
At daylight all ships in Station including Swedish Kolsnaren who had left Harbour after the remainder.
Air escort arrived at 08:00 and continued in company till 14:30.
Weather very fine and clear.
At 12:45 communicated with Dutch S.S. Bodegraven bound for Halifax (this ship is listed on the convoy form for HX 82, sailing in the Sydney section).
At 13:28 speed of Convoy was increased to 9 knots.
At 14:18 an unidentified merchant ship abeam to starboard bound to Westward.
At 17:45 the Local Escort consisting of HMCS Assiniboine and Columbia left for Halifax.

Saturday 26th October
Weather fine and clear. No difficulty in making contact with Sydney Convoy who formed astern at 09:00 but only consisted of two ships, the Baron Ogilvy and Bayano.
At 15:30 Innerton dropped astern with slight defects and was some way astern at sunset.

Sunday 27th October
All ships in company at daylight.
At 07:00 Ascania moved out to make contact with Rajputana and Bermuda Convoy, who were sighted at 09:30.
Visibility none too good - about five miles.
Brought Bermuda Convoy along the Ocean Route and formed astern of the Halifax convoy at 12:35. Wind began rising rapidly from the Westward at this time, and heavy rain reduced visibility. Sea was rapidly rising and Ascania found it necessary to keep ahead of the Convoy as steering was difficult at slow speed. Blowing very hard all night, Kars and Scottish Maiden in collision.

Monday 28th October
Blowing very hard, Convoy rather scattered at daylight, both Kars and Scottish Maiden slightly damaged forward well above the waterline but able to maintain their position in the Convoy. After moving round to contact rear ships Ascania remained ahead of the Convoy for the night. Wind Westerly, force 7-8.

Tuesday 29th October
Weather moderated. Convoy which had been very scattered at daylight proceeded to resume station. Thirty-two ships in company, the missing ones being Olga, Flensburg (Dutch), Anglo African, Somerville and G. S. Walden.
Convoy well formed by the afternoon.
At 17:00 Ramon de Larrinaga fell out of Convoy temporarily and rejoined Station at 22:00.
Wind Westerly, moderating from Force 8 in the early morning to force ? in the evening.

Wednesday 30th October
Weather fine and wind moderated to Force 3-4.
Changes in destination being passed.
At 11:30 Trelissick dropped astern to affect repairs and was out of sight at sunset.

Thursday 31st October
Thirty-two ships in company.
Trelissick rejoined during forenoon.
Weather fine with light Westerly wind.
Distance made good 124 miles (the middle number is rather blurry, not sure it's a 2), speed 7.13(?) knots, from observed position. Average speed up to Noon today for the passage has been ? (illegible).

Friday 1st November
Thirty-two ships in company.
At ? (time missing in fold of document) communicated with S.S. Brynymor (British) bound for New York from Clyde.
After(?) dark, went astern of the Convoy at the request of the Commodore to ? stern lights in use, several were found to be too bright, the ? of these ships were passed to the Commodore in the morning.
Distance run to Noon 270 miles, speed 8.52 knots from observed position.

Saturday 2nd November
Anglo African rejoined the Convoy at dawn, making 33 ships out of 37.
At ? (time missing) a ship passed hull down to the northward on a Westerly course.
Distance run to noon from observed position was 220 miles, making an average speed of 9.17 knots. Wind Westerly, Force 4, no swell.
At ? communicated with S_.S. Kervegan_ (British) ex French, bound for Newfoundland(?) from Cardiff.
After (At?) dark Convoy altered course forty degrees by red light method in two ?.

Sunday 3rd November
Weather showery.
At 08:15(?) Almenara (British) passed on an opposite course.
Passed the meeting signal to the Commodore.
Received orders from Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches to part company from the Convoy and report their Noon position when clear.
At 11:15 left the Convoy and proceeded to Halifax at thirteen knots, the Convoy's Noon position being passed at 13:55. The distance steamed with the Convoy was 1875 miles, and the average speed to Noon on November 2nd was 7.99 knots. The weather was good except for the two days storm mentioned. Ascania generally maintained a position between the leading ships of columns 4 and 5, Ascania moved round the Convoy to communicate with rear ships as necessary. The D.F. Procedure for Stragglers was not used. There was hardly any oscillation in the Convoy and this was promptly corrected when the indicating Signal was hoisted. The Commodore handled the Convoy with success and there are no suggestions for improvements.

Monday 4th November
Steering for Cape Race on a great circle, only making good 12 knots.
At 17:00 the smoke of an unidentified ship, hull down to the Southward steering in a Westerly direction.

Tuesday 5th November
A South-Easterly wind which freshened to Force 5 during the afternoon and shifted to the Westward at 18:00 with mist and heavy rain.
The distance run to Noon was 319 miles, givng a speed of 13.03(?) knots.
At 18:59 G.M.T. a Raider report* was received by W/T from Cornish City giving her position as 52 50N 32(?) 15W which bore 070°(?) a distance of 337 miles (537?) from Ascania's position at 19:00 G.M.T.
At 19:12 G.M.T. a similar report was received from Rangitiki via Land's End giving approximately the same position. It was not known at this time that these ships were in Convoy HX 84, as Ascania had been on a schedule and had not received the Enemy Report sent out by Jervis Bay. Course was continued for Cape Race as the position of Cornish City could not be reached till after dark on Wednesday, this also had the advantage of closing Convoy HX 85(? assuming this is a misprint, and should be HX 84) from the North Eastward, and making it possible to render assistance should the raiding activities extend to the Westward.
At 21:48 G.M.T. a raider report was received from Beaverford, and at 21:52 a repetition of the enemy report sent out by Jervis Bay was received via Louisberg W.T. Station.

* This was Admiral Scheer, which attacked Convoy HX 84.

Wednesday 6th November
The wind shifted to the South West during the night(? word missing).
The distance run to Noon by observed position was 304 miles, giving a speed of 12.41 knots.
Making for Cape Race.

Thursday 7th November
Turned into thick fog during the forenoon, which continued till nearly midnight when it cleared.
At 19:20(?) heard the Syren of a ship on the Port side, going on an opposite trek.

Friday 8th November
Making for Halifax at 11 1/2 knots. Fine and bright. Sighted(?) large number of fishing craft during the morning Watch.
At ? reduced to 10 knots having time in hand.
At 14:40 (11:40?) one Hudson aircraft passed five miles astern, height 3000 feet, bearing a course 130 degrees.
At 19:30(?) passed Destroyers Lancaster and Mansfield bound Eastward.

Saturday 9th November
At 06:33(?) Halifax East Light Vessel was abeam and at ? passed through the Boom and secured alongside at Berth 36(?)."

Please note that the numbers in the last several paragraphs are quite blurry in the document, hence my question marks. (Also in some cases, it has been difficult to determine whether the text says east or west, but I believe I've chosen the right words).

More details on all the Norwegian ships named in this convoy can be found in the alphabetical ship lists of this website.

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To the next HX convoy in my list HX 84