Convoy ON 155 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Notes:
Commodore, Rear Admiral D. M. T. Bedford was in Tongariro, Vice Commodore was the captain of El Aleto, Rear Commodore in Lucerna.
El Aleto, Kollbjørg and Norbris had originally been scheduled for ON 153.
Average speed: 7.7 knots. Daily positions of convoy are available within the text on Page 2.
The Rescue Vessel Gothland was on her 6th voyage as such, starting out from Clyde on Dec. 19-1942, to Halifax Jan. 3-1943. She returned to Clyde with Convoy SC 117 from Halifax on Jan. 15-1943 - to Clyde Febr. 2. ("Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hague).
Ships dropping out or leaving for various reasons:
Empire Lakeland was missing at dawn on Dec. 22, subsequently reported as having returned to Clyde (see Page 3 for misc. letters re the return of this ship).
Lista was missing at dawn on Dec. 25 in approx 57 27N 30 00W, subsequently reported as having arrived St. John's, N.F. She's mentioned again in the Commodore's narrative for Convoy ON 159.
Lucerna dropped out with engine trouble at 03:25 on Jan. 1-1943 in 43 40N 55 46W.
British Tradition, Norbris, and Norsol parted company for Guantanamo in 43 33N 58 30W at 20:00 on Jan. 1.
Fort Amherst (not included on A 1 forms above, had joined from St. John's), Cavina and Gothland parted company for Halifax at 09:25 on Jan. 2 in 43 29N 60 50W.
Hercules also proceeded to Halifax to land sick Chief Officer.
Biscaya missing at dawn on Jan. 3 in approx. 42 05N 63 24W.
Ganymedes missing at dawn Jan. 5 and did not rejoin. The Commodore says "this ship, although listed as 10 1/2 knots sometimes had difficulty in keeping up at 9 1/2 knots".
Others lost touch, but were able to rejoin (see the Commodore's narrative).
Escorts:
Ocean: HMS Fame, Polish destroyer Burza, Norwegian Eglantine and Acanthus, HMS Kingcup, HMS Vervain.
Western Local (North): HMCS Columbia, 1 unnamed escort, HMCS Cobalt, HMCS Quesnel, HMCS Nanaimo.
Western Local (South): HMCS Brantford, HMCS Dundas, HMCS Truro.
Ocean Escort joined at 270° Oversay 6 miles at 10:00 on Dec. 20. Left at 17:00 on Dec. 30 in 45 58N 49 26W, at which time
Western Local Escort (N) joined - left at 09:00 on Jan. 2-1943 in 43 29N 60 50W.
Western Local Escort (S) joined when Western Local (N) left, and remained till New York.
Narrative of passage is available on Page 2 
Misc. letters re Empire Lakeland Page 3
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