Convoy ON 159 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Notes:
Commodore, Rear Admiral H. C. Rawlings D.S.O. R.N.R. was in Laurits Swenson for New York, Vice Commodore was Captain H. T. D. Mayall R.N.R. in Daghestan for Halifax, and Rear Commodore was the captain of Comanchee for New York.
Average speed: 9.5 knots (daily positions of convoy are available on request via the contact address provided at the bottom of this page).
The Rescue Vessel Copeland was on her 21st voyage as such, having started out from Clyde on Jan. 4-1943, to Halifax Jan. 18. She subsequently returned to Clyde from Halifax on Febr. 6 with Convoy SC 119, arriving Clyde on Febr. 21. "("Convoy Rescue Ships", Arnold Hague).
From the Commodore's notes:
Lafayette - racing propeller in seaway during darkness on Jan. 13 in 49 00N 49 40W
John A. Brown - engine trouble during darkness on Jan. 14 in 46 45N 49 25W.
Bad ballasting in Lafayette and Cairnvalona prevented power being used in a seaway through the propeller being out of the water. Also, Lafayette was very bad at signalling and did not answer most of Commodore's signals. (This ship put into Halifax with engine trouble - see narrative on Page 2).
Commodore's narrative of passage is available on Page 2
Escorts:
HMS Tay (S.O.), HMS Vanessa, HMS Vimy, HMS Heather, HMS Gentian, HMS Sweetbriar, HMS Mignonette, HMS Campanula, HMS Jonquil, HMS Coreopsis.
Tay, Jonquil and Coreopsis parted company at 16:45 GMT on Jan. 8-1943 to join eastbound Convoy SC 115. HMS Vanessa became S.O. of escort.
HMCS Columbia, HMCS Barrie, HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Kenora joined at 17:30 GMT on Jan. 14.
HMCS Hepatica, HMCS New Westminster and HMCS Grandmere joined on Jan. 17.
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