Convoy ON 3 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Notes:
Commodore W. B. MacKenzie R.N.R. was in Manchester Trader, Vice Commodore was the captain of Pacific Grove, Rear Commodore in Modavia.
10 ships joined from Bristol Channel at 22:30 Aug. 31
12 ships joined from Loch Ewe at 17:00 Aug. 2.
HMS Menesteus joined with 13 ships from Clyde and 1 from Belfast at 12:00 on Aug. 1
The convoy had 52 ships + 3 joining from Iceland together with Western escort at 19:45 on Aug. 5, namely Harpasa, Scandia and Manø.
Average speed: 8 knots.
Ships leaving the convoy (incl stragglers):
Leighton has been crossed out from station 61, proceeded to Clyde for repairs at 12:50 on Aug. 1 in 55 12N 5 46W. Listed as sailing in the next convoy, ON 4.
Joseph Duhamel (not included in A 1 form) proceeded to Iceland at 04:00 on Aug. 5 in 61 13N 17 40W.
Manø was unable to maintain 6.5 knots against a moderate head wind and was ordered to proceed independently at 16:00 on Aug. 8 in 56 38N 45 30W.
Harpefjell broke away from convoy in fog at 11:00 on Aug. 11 in 51 20N 45 30W.
HMS Menesteus proceeded independently at 05:30 on Aug. 12 from 49 55N 47 53W.
Norwegian Hildur I has been crossed out from station 15, unable to maintain speed, reason unknown, but believed to be insufficient power to maintain 8 knots in smooth water. Missing in fog during the night of Aug. 3/4 in 60 10N 11 20W, night overcast.
Diloma, Solarium, and Bretwalda - missing during heavy fog previous 24 hrs approx. 48N 50W at 10:00 Aug. 13.
Harpasa - missing during night Aug. 6/7 in 58 20N 34 40W, night foggy.
Cape Corso - Missing during night Aug. 8/9 in 55N 39W, misty.
5 ships for Belle Isle parted company at 19:00 Aug. 11 in 50 43N 46 36W.
Danby for St. John's at 19:00 Aug. 12 in 48 30N 50W.
Station keeping was good, in spite of much fog, though Amakura was "a bad station keeper, frequently overrunning and then dropping up to a mile astern".
Visual and W/T signalling also good, especially Sourabaya's flag signalling.
Narrative of voyage:
Low visibility with frequent fog was experienced from Aug. 6-14, though Aug. 10 was clear, providing and opportunity to reorganize the convoy to avoid crossing courses at the dispersal point. Two errors in Convoy Sailing Orders became evident: The position COW was given to Clyde portion as 50N 38W instead of 54N 38W, and the Loch Ewe portion stated they had not received the call signs for groups of ships bound for Belle Isle, Saint John's, Cabot Strait etc. as given in Northern OB Convoy Route Instructions issued by NC.S. Mersey. Consequently ships could not be detached in groups.
28 ships were fitted with kites. Kites were flown from 09:00 Aug. 1 to 03:00 Aug. 2, and from 19:00 Aug. 2 to 22:00 Aug. 3. Talthybius reported she was unable to fly a kite unless wind was on starboard bow as only fitting was on port sampson post.
Commodore's suggestions for improvements:
The urgent desirability of Commodores' ships having Echo Sounding gear is stressed. There was fog in the North Minch. Leading the convoy without Echo Sounding would have been a hazardous performance. With it, there was little difficulty.
It is suggested that, in order to decrease the amount of daily signalling necessary, the following be made "Standing Orders" unless contrary orders are signalled:
a) No lights whatever to be shown during the night
b) Columns to open out to 5 cables half an hour after sunset and to close again to 3 cables half an hour before sunrise.
c) If fog comes on during the night, close to 3 cables, switch on navigation lights, place light cluster over stern.
Escorts (as per Commodore's notes):
HMS Ascania joined at 18:00 on Aug. 5 in 61 25N 21 40W - parted company at 05:30 on Aug. 14 when convoy was dispersed.
HMS Douglas, Leamington, Skate, Veronica, St. Zeno, St. Elstan.
Columbia, Gladiolus, Mimosa, Nasturtium
Local escort parted company in 61 25N 22 05W (time and date illegible), western local escort having joined 1 hour before.
I've also received the following list and dates from Don Kindell, whose own work, covering "Royal & other Navies Day-by-Day in World War 2" can be viewed at this website:
July 31-Aug. 5: St. Elstan, Veronica.
Aug. 1-Aug. 5: Douglas, Leamington, Skate, St. Zeno.
Aug. 4-Aug. 13: Mimosa, Nasturtium.
Aug. 5-Aug. 8: Ascania (departure date different from Commodore's notes).
Aug. 5-Aug. 13: Columbia, Gladiolus.
Air escort: Throughout Aug. 3 and 4 and occasionally on Aug. 5.
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.
Related external link:
Empire Ships - As will be seen, no Empire Ronan is listed under the R.'s.
To the next ON convoy in my list ON 4