Convoy SC 23 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

CONVOY SC 23 Departed Halifax on Febr. 18-1941 and arrived U.K. on March 9.
Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 34 ships in this convoy.

Transcribed from original documents received from Tony Cooper (Advance Sailing Telegram) - His source: Public Records Office, Kew. The station numbers and names of escorts have been extracted from documents recived from Don Kindell, based on Arnold Hague's database - see ships in all SC convoys. Further details have been added with the help of: "The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan "Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I. Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined returned to port (except those that are linked, which will automatically be underlined. The Norwegian Havørn and Karlander, however, did return). MoWT = Ministry of War Transport
Ship Nationality Cargo Station Destination Remarks
Erna III Danish / MoWT 1940 sulphate 12 Rochester From SC 20
Chr. J. Kampmann Danish / MoWT 1940 general 62 Preston –
Inger Elisabeth Norwegian lumber 13 London / Grimsby From SC 21
Don " lumber – Methil f. o. To SC 24 - did not sail Listed in SC 25
Karlander " pit props 33 Hull From SC 22 Returned to port (St. John's) Listed in SC 27
Brabo Belgian timber – Sharpness (Does not show up again until SC 36 See ships in all SC convoys)
Ullapool British grain 61 Liverpool Sunk - See Notes
Empire Sambar* " steel - scrap iron 52 Glasgow –
Jobshaven Dutch steel - lumber 84 Belfast / Newport From SC 22
Clumberhall British grain 31 London From SC 22
Editor American / MoWT 1941 steel - scrap iron – Liverpool Renamed Empire Dunlin - later Norw. Norlom From HX 108 To SC 25 - did not sail Listed in SC 26
Janelew American / MoWT 1941 phosphates 41 London Renamed Empire Plover See also HX 104
Anglo Norse British Tanker B 54 Glasgow From SC 22
Marionga Greek sulphur 73 Manchester From HX 108
Hawkinge British lumber 44 London –
Ilissos Greek grain 72 Manchester –
Antiope British steel - trucks 63 Birkenhead From SC 22
Empire Springbuck " steel 83 Newport From SC 22
Thirlby " grain 43 Hull From SC 22 Returned to Halifax Listed in SC 26
Elizabeth Massey " grain 21 London From SC 22
Solhavn Norwegian lumber 23 London –
Photinia British grain – Ipswich From HX 109 Listed in SC 24
Kordecki Polish steel 65 Belfast d. g. / Sharpness From SC 20
Amstel Dutch phosphates 34 Leith –
Atlanticos Greek grain – Manchester Listed in SC 24
Borgfred Norwegian pulp – Gravesend From SC 22 Listed in SC 24 See also page about Borgfred
Gravelines British timber 91 Preston From SC 21
Ila Norwegian pulp 53 Rochester From SC 20
Brave Coeur American / MoWT 1941 steel - trucks 94 Newport Renamed Empire Gull From HX 109 Returned Listed in SC 24
Scotia Swedish bauxite 92 Belfast d. g. / Newport –
Havørn Norwegian lumber 24 Great Yarmouth Returned (follow link to Havørn)
Berkel Dutch phosphates – Leith Listed in SC 24
Lily Greek scrap - steel 64 Grangemouth –
Nicolas " phosphates – Avonmouth Listed in SC 25
Panos British steel - lumber – Manchester To SC 24 - did not sail (does not show up again until SC 31)
Saluta " wheat – London Listed in HX 111
Havtor Norwegian pit props – Methil f. o. To SC 24 - did not sail To SC 25 - returned Listed in SC 26
Achilles Dutch phosphates 75 Aberdeen –
Swiftpool British grain – Hull Listed in SC 24
Brisk Norwegian bauxite – Larne Listed in SC 24
Saltwick British grain 42 Hull –
Flynderborg Danish / MoWT 1940 pit props – Methil f. o. Listed in SC 24
Hallfried Norwegian pulp wood 22 Rochester –
Dalemoor British grain 11 Hull From HX 108
Gunvor Mærsk Danish / MoWT 1940(?) pulp - paper 14 London –
Fintra British timber 15 London –
Jenny Norwegian Tanker B 32 Liverpool From HX 109
Corabella British steel 51 Avonmouth From HX 110
Eastmoor " steel - trucks 71 Hull –
Pagasitikos Greek steel - scrap 74 Belfast d. g. / Manchester From SC 22 Returned to Halifax Listed in SC 25
Empire Frost British wheat 81 Barry Docks From HX 110 Sunk - See Notes
Empire Gemsbuck " pig iron 82 Swansea From SC 22
Marga Norwegian bauxite 93 Larne From SC 22
*According to Arnold Hague, Empire Sambar (ex American Waban) had an engine room explosion on March 6. Later renamed Empire Beaver (then Norhauk). Again, see Hague's listing for SC 23 at ships in all SC convoys (as well as the external link at the end of this page and my page about Norhauk).

Notes:
Commodore was in Corabella, Vice Commodore in Clumberhall.
Liverpool Commodore in Ullapool
Clyde Commodore in Empire Sambar
Barry Commodore in Empire Frost.

Empire Frost, on a voyage from Baltimore for Barry with 9150 tons of wheat, was abandoned and taken in tow on March 12 by Dutch tug Seine (according to A. Hague, she had been in an air attack that day). Sunk by aircraft, while in tow, on March 13 in 51 35N 05 54W. She had a crew of 41 and 2 gunners - 6 crew lost.

Ullapool, cargo of 7605 tons wheat for Liverpool, was struck by a parachute mine on March 13, approx. 215°, 1500 feet from North End of Princes Stage, River Mersey, and broke in two. She had a crew of 38, 15 of whom died, including 1 gunner. (Wreck demolished).

The convoy arrived rendezvous on March 5 (according to Advance Sailing Telegram).

Escorts (extracted from this list of SC convoy escorts, based on Arnold Hague's database, received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Aberdeen - From 06/03/41 to 09/03/41
Ambuscade - From 06/03/41 to 09/03/41
Ascania - From 18/02/41 to 08/03/41
Aubretia - From 06/03/41 to 09/03/41
Beverley - From 08/03/41 to 09/03/41
Daneman - From 06/03/41 to 10/03/41
Harvester - From 08/03/41 to 09/03/41
Hollyhock - From 06/03/41 to 10/03/41
King Sol - From 06/03/41 to 10/03/41
Lady Lillian - From 06/03/41 to 10/03/41
St Apollo - From 06/03/41 to 09/03/41
Visenda - From 06/03/41 to 10/03/41

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