Convoy ON 277 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

Convoy ON 277 Cruising Order
Departed Southend on Jan. 7-1945 and arrived New York on the 23rd (Arnold Hague says 55 ships).

List received from Robert Martin (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

See also Convoys HX 323, HX 324, HX 325, HX 326 and HX 327, as well as later HX convoys (for instance, HX 335)

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Am=American, Ice=Icelandic, Gr=Greek, Po=Polish, Du=Dutch
H=Ships for Halifax

11
Avonmoor(?)
(Br)

21
John Cropper
(Am)

31
Tortuguero
(Br)

41
G. Pattern?*
(Am)

51
Stephen Smith
(Am)

61
Temple Inn
(Br)

71
Dingledale
(Br)

81
Empire Mariner
(Br)

91
Glacier Park
H
(Br)

101
Salland
(Du)

111
Whiteshell Park
(Br)

12
James A. Wetmore
(Am)

22
Wilson B. Keens
(Am)

32
Edwin S. Nettleton
(Am)

52
Fosna
(Norw)

62
Skaraas
(Norw)

72
Polartank
Baltimore
(Norw)

82
Sovac
(Br)

92
Juliette Low
(Am)

102
Juan Sequin**
(Am)

112
Francis Drake
(Am)

13
Samkey
(Br)

23
Joseph Squires
(Am)

33
Robert B. Forbes
(Am)

43
Thorsholm
(Norw)

53
British Integrity
(Br)

63
Regent Lion
(Br)

73
Rapana
(Br)

83
R. Walton Moore
Boston
(Am)

93
Charles M. Hall
(Am)

103
Henry Hadley
(Am)

113

14
Janet Lord Roper
(Am)

24
Jose G. Benitez
(Am)

34
Empire Viscount
(Br)

44
Thamesfield
Delaware
(Br)

64
Empire MacCallum
H
(Br MAC)

84
Nicholas Herkimer
(Am)

94
James C. Cameron
Boston
(Am)

104
C. W. Peale****
(Am)

114
Dentonia Park
H
(Br)

15
Francis Culkin***
(Am)

25
Yaquina Head
(Br?)

35
Joseph I. Kemp
(Am)

45
San Venancio
(Br)

75
Lorado Taft
(moved to 86?)

95
Dettifoss
(Ice)

105
Mount Kyllene
H
(Gr)

115
Riverdale Park
H
(Br)

36
Robert E. Clarkson
(Am)

46
City of Omaha
Baltimore?
(Am)

56
Glenn Curtiss
(Am)

86
Lorado Taft?
(Am)

106
Gays Head
(Br?)

116
Tobruk
H
(Po)

* Is this George F. Patten, which had arrived with HX 324?
** Should probably be Juan N. Sequin
*** Should probably be Francis D. Culkin **** Possibly Charles Willson Peale?

87
Rathlin
H
RV
(Br)

Additionally, the American Jonas Lie was with the convoy on departure, but was torpedoed by U-1055 on Jan. 9-1945 - ref. external link at the end of this page.

The Rescue Vessel Rathlin was on her 22nd voyage as such, joining the convoy from Clyde on Jan. 8-1945 - to Halifax Jan. 21. She returned to Clyde with Convoy SC 166 from Halifax on Jan. 31 - to Clyde Febr. 13. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).

For info, San Venancio, as well as Rathlin, had recently arrived the U.K. from Murmansk with Convoy RA 62.

Notes:
The Convoy sailed from Clyde & U.K. at 05:30 on Jan. 8-1945, with B. W. L. Nicholson, R.N.R. as Commodore in Temple Inn, and with Captain Smardon of Glacier Park as Vice Commodore.

55 ships - Average speed: 9.34 knots from Clyde, 9.47 knots from final rendezvous.

Due to inability to disembark pilots from the Liverpool portion, the Clyde and Belfast portions were delayed in Belfast; Liverpool section disembarked pilots in Aberadon Bay. Liverpool and Milford sections joined between Tuskar and Ballycotton rendezvous. Channel section joined at appointed rendezvous at 14:00Z on Jan. 10, when convoy was formed. Easterly winds enabled the convoy to make good speed until Jan. 18, and during this period an average of over 10 knots was maintained, but the strong westerly winds encountered from midnight on the 18th reduced speed greatly. The Commodore says that Jonas Lie was sunk shortly after leaving Milford, but he had no further details.

Dingledale, bound for Curacao, parted company at 00:30Z on Jan. 16 in 44 45N 40 30W.

Halifax portion parted company at 11:00Z Jan 20 in 43 15N 60 08W.

R. Walton Moore and James C. Cameron left for Boston at 12:00Z on Jan. 22.

From the Commodore's notes:
Charles M. Hall was barely able to maintain 10 knots in perfect weather conditions and should not be included in 10 knots convoy. "She did her very best not to delay convoy".
Dingledale had considerable trouble with ineffective whistle.

As for his ship, Temple Inn, he finds her "admirably suited for Commodore's ship, good accommodation for Commodore and staff excellent open bridge with good all round view and good flag hoisting arrangements".

Escorts:
B 2 Group - joined off Belfast: HMS Highlander (S.O.), Morpeth Castle, Sweetbriar, Clover, Acanthus, HMCS Buctouche, Sherbrooke, Barrie, Vancouver - Parted company at 17:00Z on Jan. 17 in 45N 48W, when W 1 Group joined.

Related external links:
The loss of Jonas Lie

Liberty Ships - Listed alphabetically (includes "Sam" ships).
List of Liberty Ships by Hull No. - Includes info on the men for whom the ships were named (from Wikipedia).

This site has more on the the "Park" ships mentioned in this convoy.
Empire Ships listed in alphabetical order. The site allso has a section listing the "Sam"-ships, and other Liberty ships that came under the British flag.

Back to Convoy Index

To the next ON convoy in my list ON 278