Convoy SC 159 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
CONVOY SC 159
Departed Halifax on Oct. 18-1944 and arrived Liverpool on Nov. 2.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 63 ships in this convoy.
Notes:
The Rescue Vessel Aboyne was on her 7th voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on Sept. 29-1944 with the westbound Convoy ONS 33, to Halifax Oct. 13, then returned to Clyde with Convoy SC 159, Oct. 18-Nov. 1. Her next eastbound voyage was with Convoy HX 324. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).
I don't have the Commodore's notes, or the names of escorts for this convoy, but Arnold Hague mentions the following in connection with Aboyne's voyage with SC 159:
"During the seventh voyage, on the return passage with convoy SC 159 on 1 Nov 1944, Aboyne heard heavy explosions shortly before entering the Clyde. Closing the scene, she discovered the Captain class frigate HMS Whittaker without her bow, having been torpedoed by U-483. Another escort, HMS Gore, also closed and, being inexperienced in Atlantic duty, did not appreciate the nature of Aboyne and ordered her away from the danger zone. Eventually Captain Harris prevailed and was permitted to send his medical staff to assist Whittaker's injured".
Bradburn was involved in a collision with a Greek ship, name not known, date and time not known. This ship had a sudden engine problem, stopped, fell out of line, and Bradburn was unable to avoid her in time. From Phil Morgan, England I've received the following:
"I spoke to Olly Lindsay today to say there were 4 of Smith's ships in SC159.
He tells me that he joined Bradburn at Barry in November 1944, she was discharging grain. During SC159 she was in collision with the next ahead, a Greek ship, sustaining a bent stem bar, which she carried forever more. They departed for Sydney, Cape Breton and Port aux Basques, where they loaded newsprint for Manchester. Then followed a trip to St. John's NF, Digby, St. John NB, loading general cargo for Manchester. He was stricken with appendicitis, and left the ship in June 1945".
Related external links:
Eastbound convoys 1944 - This shows all the other eastbound convoys sailing in 1944 in chronological order.
Empire Ships - In alphabetical order.
To the next SC convoy in my list SC 160