Convoy MKS 33 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

Transcribed from Advance Sailing Telegram received from Tony Cooper - His source: Public Records Office, Kew. Page 2 only of the AST is currently available (showing Sinnington Court through Robert Mærsk), but the information has been completed with the help of a list of ships in MKS 33 received from Don Kindell, based on A. Hague's own research.

The ships in the combined convoy SL 142 / MKS 33 are named at this external website.

This first table shows the Gibraltar-U.K. convoy. As can be seen in the second table on this page, some of these ships had previously arrived with the Alexandria convoy. (See also the 2nd table on my page for MKS 32).

In addition to the above ships, A. Hague also has the following in this convoy (all British):
Anadyr - general cargo, ground nuts.
Baron Forbes - general.
Blackheath - general (from MKS 32).
Boltonhall - iron ore (from MKS 32).
City of Lancaster - potash.
Debrett - general.
Empire Faith - potash, 2 passengers, 3 mails.
Empire Trent - iron ore (from MKS 32).
HMS Hilary
Masirah - general.
Norman Monarch - onions, 16 passengers
Rancher - general.
Troilus - cargo not given.

The Rescue Vessel Fastnet was also with MKS 33. She was on her 2nd voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on Nov. 25-1943 with Convoy OS 60 / KMS 34 (available at external link provided at the end of this page), to Gibraltar Dec. 9, then returned to Clyde with Convoy SL 142 / MKS 33, Dec. 14-Dec. 26. Her next voyage was with Convoy ONS 27 / HX 278. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague). Convoys KMS 34 and ONS 27 will be added to my site in due course.

Escorts (also received from Don Kindell, whose own work, covering "Royal & other Navies Day-by-Day in World War 2" can be viewed at this website):
Dec. 13-Dec. 14: Abelia, Asphodel, Avon, Clover, Highlander, Hilary, Northern Spray, Northern Sun, Walker.