Convoy ON 15 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

Convoy ON 15 Cruising Order
Departed Liverpool on Sept. 11-1941. dispersed Sept. 16.

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

Underlined ships returned to port.

For info, some of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived the U.K. with Convoy HX 143, HX 144, HX 145 or HX 146.
A few returned to England in Oct. with HX 153, while others are listed in HX 154. See also HX 156.

Ships sailing from:
L=Liverpool, M=Milford, Bel=Belfast, G=Gourock.

CAM=Catapult ship, T=Tanker, P=Passengers, S=Special cargo.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Po=Polish, Du=Dutch

11 (L)
Empire Ray
(Br CAM)

21 (L)
Lalande
(Br)

31 (L)
Manchester Exporter
Halifax
(Br)

41 (L)
Manchester Commerce
(Br)

51 (L)
Corner Brook
Halifax
(Br)

61 (L) P
Trojan Star
(Br)

71 (G)
Port Dunedin
New York
(Br)

81 (G) S
Silverlarch
(Br)

91 (G)
Danae II
(Br)

12 (L)
Silverguava
(Br)

22 (L) T
Maridal
(Norw)

32 (L) T, P
John A. Brown
(Br)

42 (L) T
Southern Princess
Halifax
(Br)

52 (L) T, P
Empire Oil
(Br)

62 (L) T
Hektoria
(Br)

72 (G) T
British Chemist
(Br)

82 (G) T
Kaia Knudsen
(Norw)

92 (G)
Empire Peacock
(Br)

13 (L)
Lewant
(Po)

23 (L) T
Slemdal
(Norw)

33 (L) T
El Mirlo
(Br)

43 (L) T
Southern Empress
Halifax
(Br)

53 (L) T
Sommerstad
(Norw)

63 (M) T
G. S. Walden
(Br)

73 (G) S
Moveria
Montreal
(Br)

83
Silverbeech
(Br)

93
Hopecastle
(Br)

14 (M)
Glenogle
(Br)

24 (M) T
Regent Panther
(Br)

34 (M) T
San Eliseo
(Br)

44 (M) T
Charles F. Meyer
(Br)

54 (Bel)
Vav
(Norw)

64 (Bel) T
British Yeoman
(Br)

74 (G) T
Anna Knudsen
(Norw)

84 T
Mijdrecht
(Du)

15 (M) T
Madrono
(Norw)

25 (M) T
Ranja
(Norw)

35 (M) T
Eulima
(Br)

45 (M) T
Ancylus
(Br)

55 (G)
Duke of Sparta
(Br)

65
Empire Sailor
(Br)

75 T
British Statesman
(Br)

Comparing the above with a list of ships received from Don Kindell, based on the late Arnold Hague's own research, I find that A. Hague has also included the following in this convoy (not listed on the A 1 form):
British Henry Dundas - Returned to Belfast Lough (listed in Convoy ON 17).

Notes:
Commodore D. A. Casey R.N.R. was in Corner Brook for Halifax, Vice Commodore J. Elliot R.N.R. in Manchester Exporter for Halifax, Rear Commodore was the captain of Port Dunedin for New York.

42 ships in convoy, 40 of which were still present at dispersal, 2 having returned to port (according to the Commodore - according to A. Hague, 3 returned).

Average speed: 8.93 knots.

The Norwegian Madrono was unable to maintain speed and returned to Clyde at 20:45 Sept. 12 in 56 34N 7 45W. She later joined the next convoy, ON 16.
Empire Peacock was also unable to maintain speed and returned to Clyde on Sept. 13 in 57 40N 11 15W. Reason given as poor coal. (Also joined ON 16).

The Commodore says:
"Fine weather throughout with low visibility. No incident of importance. Convoy dispersed at 12:30 Sept. 16 in 55 47N 30 40W.

The convoy consisted chiefly of large tankers (23) of about 10 000 tons and would, had bad weather been encountered, have had to slow down appreciably to keep pace with one ship Lewant (Polish) of under 2000 tons in convoy. It is suggested that ships of 2000 tons and under should be sent by slow convoy whatever their speed as North Atlantic conditions do not allow of their making good progress".

Escorts (from Sept. 11):
HMS Keppel (S.O.), Venomous, Shikari, Sabre, Sunflower, Alisma, Lady Elsa, Man o'War, Northern Dawn, Dianella.
Venomous and Sunflower parted company at 13:00 on Sept. 13 in 57 51N 11 40W.
Shikari and Sabre parted company at 02:00 Sept. 14 in 57 50N 15 00W.
Keppel left at 21:00 Sept. 15 in 55 45N 26 00W.
Alisma, Dianella, Northern Dawn, Lady Elsa and Man o'War left at 12:15 on Sept. 16 in 55 47N 30 33W.

Air Escort: 19:00 Sept. 13 in 58 00N 12 30W.

All the Norwegian ships in this convoy are included on this website. More information on them can be found via the alphabet index below, or via the Master Ship Index

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To the next ON convoy in my list ON 16