Convoy ON 34 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Convoy ON 34 Cruising Order
Departed Liverpool on Nov. 7-1941, dispersed on the 21st. (Arnold Hague says 44 ships).
Transcribed from documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).
Ships sailing from:
L=Liverpool, M=Milford, BEL=Belfast, G=Clyde, A=Aultbea.
See also Convoys HX 152, HX 153, HX 154, HX 163, HX 164 (even HX 165)
Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Sw=Swedish, Du=Dutch, Bel=Belgian, Pa=Panamanian
T=tanker
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11 (L)
Novelist
(Br)
CAM
21 (M)
Fordsdale
(Br)
31 (L)
Samuel Bakke
(Norw)
41 (L) T
Hektoria
(Br)
51 (G) T
Kaia Knudsen
(Norw)
61 (G)
Corinaldo
(Br)
71 (G)
Norwegian
(Br)
81 (A)
Empire Masefield
(Br)
91 (A) T
Hopemount
(Br)
12 (M)
Tongariro
(Br)
22 (M) T
Charles F. Meyer
(Br)
32 (L) T
Fenja
(Norw)
42 (L) T
Athelviking
(Br)
52 (G)
Gdynia
(Sw)
62 (G)
Radport
(Br)
72 (G)
Induna
(Br)
82 (A)
Empire Parsons
(Br)
92 (A)
Ostende
(Bel)
13 (M)
Drammensfjord
(Norw)
23 (M) T
Polarsol
(Norw)
33 (L) T
Høegh Scout
(Norw)
43 (L) T
Ranja
(Norw)
53 (BEL) T
Donax
(Br)
63 (G)
Toronto
(Norw)
73 (A)
Cairnvalona
(Br)
83 (A)
British Statesman
(Br)
93 (A)
Emile Francqui
(Bel)
14 (M)
Alcor
(Du)
24 (M) T
Regent Panther
(Br)
34 (M) T
Empire Sapphire
(Br)
44 (L)
El Almirante
(Pa)
54 (A) T
Empire Pearl
(Br)
64 (A) T
Haakon Hauan
(Norw)
74 (A) T
San Eliseo
(Br)
84 (A) T
British Splendour
(Br)
94 (A)
Eknaren
(Sw)
15 (A)
Toran
(Br?)
25 (M)
Port Hunter
(Br)
35 (M) T
Beaconoil
(Pa)
45 (L)
Gandia
(Bel)
55 (A) T
Saluta
(Br)
65 (A) T
British Chemist
(Br)
75 (A) T
Imperial Transport
(Br)
85 (A) T
Clavella
(Du)
95
16
26
36 (A)
Toran *
46(A) T
Svenør
(Norw)
56
66
76 (A) T
British Commodore
(Br)
86
Bodegraven
(Du)
96
* Should this be the British Taron? I'm not sure why this ship is listed twice, perhaps she moved to another station in the course of the voyage?
Additionally, Algorab joined convoy with the US destroyers at 10:30 on Nov. 12.
For info, Empire Pearl became the Norwegian Norheim in 1942 - see this page.
Notes:
Commodore Errol Manners R.N.R. was in Hektoria (for Halifax), Vice Commodore was C. E. Turle in Norwegian (for Sydney, C.B.), Rear Commodore was the captain of Fordsdale (for Panama/ New Zealand).
The convoy had 46 ships.
Average speed: About 5.4 knots (when not taking the gales into consideration).
On Nov. 9 at 03:00 they had strong winds which had developed into a full gale by 08:00, forcing the convoy to heave to until 14:00. It was then reformed but the following ships were missing (visibility was bad, and they may not have received signals):
Norwegian, Athelviking, Ranja, El Almirante, Fordsdale, Tongariro, Høegh Scout, Haakon Hauan, Polarsol, Empire Masefield and British Commodore (British Commodore is listed in the next convoy, ON 35 - link at the bottom of this page, Empire Masefield is listed in ON 36).
Induna was missing at daylight on Nov. 15 - could not be seen by US destroyer well astern 30 miles. The Commodore says she was "bad at steaming, should be put in 8 knot convoy".
Alcor was missing at daylight Nov. 16.
In addition to Induna already mentioned, Radport also had problems keeping up. The Commodore says that she "would not keep in station, her position was changed from 2nd to rear line and each morning she was straggling 4-6 miles astern. She would come up during the day and drop back each night. The convoy had to be turned back to pick her up 3 times. Suggest a strong worded letter be sent to owners - also be put in 8 knot convoy in future".
However, he's happier with the following ships, which did "very well all round": Gdynia, Samuel Bakke, Kaia Knudsen, Charles F. Meyer, Corinaldo, Novelist, Empire Sapphire, San Eliseo and Cairnvalona.
After the above mentioned gale, the weather was good until another gale started at about 14:00 on Nov. 17. Convoy was turned to 185°, head to the wind. Several ships later lost touch in hail and snow squalls, and the wind was hard and strong until the forenoon of Nov. 19 (this number might be 18). The convoy was in a wide formation and did not form up until the 20th, when only 22 ships were in company. They proceeded for Cape Race, where thick fog was encountered. The convoy was dispered by signal at 15:00 on Nov. 21.
Escorts:
HMS Vanoc (S.O.), Volunteer, Caldwell, Honeysuckle, Gentian, Periwinkle, Sweetbriar, Hibiscus, Myosotis, and Acanthus.
The above were relieved on Nov. 12 by USS Benson (S.O.), Edison, Niblack, H. P. Jones (should this be Hilary P. Jones?) and Tarbell(? - the document gives this vessel as Tarpole throughout) - noon position that day: 55 20N 25 48W.
All of these, except Tarbell, remained with the convoy until off Cape Race, when it was dispersed. On Nov. 14 Benson had signalled that Tarbell was short of fuel and Hektoria attempted to give her some in the morning of the 15th. Tarbell was taken in tow with two 6" hawsers and canvas hose for fuel was passed over, but after towing for about an hour, and just as fuel had started to be pumped, the attempt had to be given up when one of the towing hawsers parted and wind was increasing. Tarbell subsequently left the convoy (possibly for St. John's). Hektoria, which had ended up 5-6 miles from the convoy during this fuelling attempt (with one of the destroyers nearby), was able to regain her station in about 2 hours.
Edison dropped a number of depth charges at 16:10 on Nov. 13, and again at 15:10 on Nov. 14. Benson had also dropped a number of depth charges at 14:50 that same day.
To the next ON convoy in my list ON 35