Convoy ON 128 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Convoy ON 128 Cruising Order
Departed Liverpool on Sept. 5-1942 and arrived New York City on the 24th (Arnold Hague says 22 ships, agreeing with Commodore's notes).
Compiled from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).
Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Po=Polish, Gr=Greek, Pa=Panamanian, Am=American, Ice=Icelandic, Da=Danish.
MOWT=Ministry of War Transport, Pass.=Passengers.
Ships sailing from:
L=Liverpool, M=Milford, G=Clyde, A=Aultbea, Bel=Belfast, Icel-Iceland.
Crossed out ships did not sail.
Unfortunately, columns 1 and 2 are missing from the document; some additional ships are named in the Notes below, others are named in Commodore's report, Page 2.
Also, part of the document giving info on ships carrying passengers is missing.
See also Convoy SC 95 and other SC convoys from the same time period.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
11
21
Bristol City
(Br)
31
Stalowa Wola
4 Pass.
for New York
(Po)
41 (M)
Uskside
for Halifax
(Br)
51 (A)
Wearwood
for New York
(Br)
61 (A)
Elizabeth Massey
for Halifax
(Br)
71 (G)
Dalcroy
for Halifax
(Br)
in collision - see Page 2
81 (G)
Kirsten Mærsk
For Sydney C.B.
(Da / MOWT 1940)
in collision - see Page 2
12
22
32
Far
(Norw)
42 (M)
Leonardia
for Halifax
(Sw)
52 (Bel)
Bohemian Club
For Sydney C.B.
(Am)
62 (L)
Lido
for Halifax
(Norw)
72 (A)Castilian
(Br)
Ramø
For Sydney C.B.
(Norw)
82 (A)
Parthenon
For Sydney C.B.
(Gr)
in collision - see Page 2
(sent to Halfiax)
13 (L)
Pelion
War Admiral (Icel)
See Notes
(Pa)
23
Bifrost
(Sw)
33
Anna Goulandris*
(Gr)
43 (M)
Disa
for Halifax
(Sw)
53 (A)Mathilda
(Norw)
Vest (A)
for Halifax
(Norw)
63 (A)
PLM 17
For Sydney C.B.
(Changed to New York)
73 (Icel)
Yemassee
For Sydney C.B.
(Pa)
83 (A)
Csikos
for Halifax
(Pa)
(missing at daylight, Sept. 7)
Fjaldfoss (Icel)
(Ice)
Additionally, according to the Commodore's narrative on Page 2, the Panamanian Granville appears to have been in the Iceland section, but not present.
* This should probably be Anna N. Goulandris.
Notes:
Commodore Rear Admiral D. M. T. Bedford (retired) was in Wearwood, Vice Commodore was the captain of Dalcroy.
The Commodore considers the Wearwood to be a "well-found ship, Class "B" passenger in peace time. She is very suitable as Commodore's ship except that the accommodation for the junior signal ratings was not so good as could be desired. This is due to the large number of D.E.M.S. ratings and Maritime Regiment ranks carried which caused overcrowding. The Master, Captain Pacy(?), gives the impression of being very thorough and efficient and was most helpful to me in every way. He has a pleasant manner and a keen sense of humour".
Average speed: 6.72 knots.
The Commodore says
that station keeping was poor, except in calm weather, mainly attributed to the majority of the ships being in ballast, making it difficult to maintain regular revolutions. In foggy weather station keeping was generally very good, except for Yemassee who invariably dropped astern.
Csikos fell out the night of Sept. 6/7, reason unknown, and was not seen again".
War Admiral (Pa), intended for station 13, had engine and boiler defects at the time of joining convoy with the Iceland section. She never took up her station in the convoy, being unable to do more than 4 knots. She was given straggler's route by the escort and was not seen again.
Trojan (from Halifax portion) fell out at 17:00 on Sept. 21 due to engine trouble.
The Commodore's narrative of voyage is available on Page 2 
Escorts:
Local Escort: Bodo?
Ocean: HMS Hesperus, Clematis, Campanula, Gentian, Lobelia - parted company when Western Local Escort joined.
Western Local (from 06:15 Sept. 18): Georgetown, Camrose, Cobalt, Midland.
Western Local South: HMS Buxton, HMCS Moncton, Regina, Ungava.
Air Escort:
A Sunderland flying boat joined at 06:30 on Sept. 9 in 55 24N 16 16W and remained until 13:00.
A Catalina flying boat joined at 06:30 on Sept. 16 in 50 45N 42 00W, remaining until 13:00.
Aircraft was also heard passing over convoy at 23:17 on Sept. 16.
A Catalina flying boat was in the vicinity at 06:00 on Sept. 17 in 48 55N 46 10W, and after this date, aircraft were often seen in the vicinity of the convoy.
To the next convoy in my list ON 129
will be added, as will ON 130 through ON 144
In the meantime, see Ships sailing in all ON convoys
The next available ON convoy is ON 145