Convoy SC 79 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)

CONVOY SC 79 Advance Sailing Telegram and Cruising Order Departed Halifax on Apr 11-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 27th
(Arnold Hague's The Allied Convoy System" gives 53 ships).

Advance Sailing Telegram

Transcribed from several original documents received from Tony Cooper, England - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
Station numbers, cargoes for the tankers and names of escorts have been extracted from documents recived from Don Kindell, based on the late Arnold Hague's database - see his listing for SC 79 at ships in all SC convoys.

Additional details have been added with the help of:
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan
"Lloyd's War Losses", Vol I.
"Convoys to Russia 1941-1945", Bob Ruegg & Arnold Hague.
"Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague.

~~Crossed out~~ ships did not sail, underlined returned to port, except those that are linked, which will automatically be underlined.

See also Convoy ON 92.

MoWT = Ministry of War Transport

Ship

Nationality

Cargo

Station

Destination

Remarks

Drakepool

British

grain

London

Returned to Halifax
Listed in SC 81

~~Cotati~~

American / MoWT 1942
(Empire Avocet)

frozen meat

–

Clyde

~~Parkhaven~~

Dutch

wheat

–

Glasgow

From SC 78
Listed in SC 80

~~Trongate~~

British

general

–

Liverpool

Sunk at Halifax - See Notes

Lackenby

general

111

Tyne

Norwegian

steel - pulp

Swansea

–

grain

101

Barry Dock

From SC 78

Selfoss

Icelandic

general

Iceland

–

~~Katvaldis~~

Latvian / MoWT 1940

steel - pulp

–

Manchester

To SC 80 - did not sail
Listed in SC 81

~~Carslogie~~

British

grain

–

Hull

Listed in SC 80

Dean Emery

Panamanian

Tanker B
(dieso)

Clyde

From SC 78
Returned
Listed in SC 80

Norwegian

Adm. tanker B
(crude oil - dieso)

Hvalfjord

Ville d'Anvers

Belgian

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

From SC 77
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia
in this period)

Granville

Panamanian

general

Iceland

–

Norwegian

Tanker B
(lub. oil)

London

From SC 77

Boris

Greek

general

104

Swansea

Empire Cranmer

British

grain - flour

Avonmouth

–

Syros

American

general

Clyde f. o . (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16 (sunk)
Ref. external link at end of page

Calobre

Panamanian

general

Clyde f. o. (Murmansk)

(Not listed in any convoy to Russia
until Dec. - JW 51B)

John Randolph

American

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

Nathaniel Greene

general

Clyde f. o. (Murmansk)

(Later joined Convoy PQ 18,
ext. link at end of page)

Charles R. McCormick

general

Archangel

Returned to Halifax
Listed in SC 81
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)

Troubador

Panamanian

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

(Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 17,
link at end of page)

~~Coulmore~~

British

general

–

Greenock

Norwegian

grain

Manchester

From SC 78

~~Roxane~~

French

Tanker B - 2 passengers

–

Manchester

Listed in SC 80

~~Quest~~

Norwegian

nil

–

Clyde

Baron Elgin

British

sugar

Liverpool

–

Empire Lotus

general

Belfast f. o.

From SC 78
Foundered - See Notes

Mary Luckenbach

American

general - trucks

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

(Later joined PQ 18 - sunk)

Yorkmar

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

See also UR 23
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia
until Dec. - JW 51B)

Reigh Count

Panamanian

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

(Not listed in any convoy to Russia
in this period)

Norwegian

timber

103

Newport

–

Godafoss

Icelandic

general - 30 passengers

Reykjavik

–

~~Flowergate~~

British

general

–

Liverpool

To SC 80 - did not sail
To SC 81 - did not sail
Listed in SC 82

Standella

Tanker B
(lub. oil)

London (Thameshaven)

–

Alpera

sugar

102

Milford Haven (Southampton)

–

King Neptune

general

Avonmouth

–

British Glory

Adm. tanker B
(FFO)

Hvalfjord

Hybert

American

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

American Press

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

Pan Gulf

general - steel - trucks

Belfast

–

Empire Grebe

British

steel - general

Manchester

Point San Pedro

American

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)

Mauna Kea

general

105

Clyde f. o. (Russia)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

West Nilus

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16

~~Exford~~

general

–

Archangel

Listed in SC 81
(Later in PQ 18)

~~Spinanger~~

Norwegian

Adm. tanker B

–

Londonderry

Listed in SC 80

Wearwood

British

grain

113

London

–

~~Dalmore~~

phosphates

–

Mersey

Empire Activity

steel - 12 passengers

Hull

–

Elisabeth Lensen

grain

112

Manchester

–

Ioannis Frangos

Greek

grain

115

Ipswich

–

~~Meanticut~~

American

general

–

Russia

Does not show up again until SC 89
(Later in PQ 18)

~~Schoharie~~

general

–

Archangel

Listed in SC 81
(Later in PQ 18)

Shchors

Russian

general

Clyde for Archangel

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16

Theomitor

Greek

grain

Hull

–

~~Anna~~

grain

–

London

Listed in SC 80

~~Empire Wagtail~~

British

general

–

Milford Haven f. o. (Southampton)

Had run aground Apr. 7.
Does not show up again until SC 93

~~Koll~~

Norwegian

Tanker B

–

Clyde

Already sunk - See Notes

~~Olopana~~

American

general

–

Archangel

Listed in SC 81
(Later in PQ 17 - sunk)

Theoskepasti

Greek

grain

106

Swansea

–

Trekieve

British

grain

114

Hull

–

~~Vojvoda Putnik~~

Yugoslavian

general

–

Hull

Does not show up again until SC 89

~~Nemanja~~

sugar - 4 passengers

–

Clyde

Already sunk - See Notes

Lord Cochrane

British

grain

London

–

Steel Worker

American

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16 (sunk after arrival)

Stary Bolshevik

Russian

general

Clyde for Archangel

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16 - damaged
(see also QP 13)

~~Wisla~~

Polish

general

–

Manchester

American Robin

American

general

Clyde f. o. (Archangel)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

~~Nemaha~~

general

–

Archangel

Listed in SC 81
Later joined Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

Colorado

general

Iceland

Returned
Listed in SC 81

Aquila

Naval stores

Reykjavik

–

Massmar

general

Clyde f. o. (Reykjavik / N. Russia)

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16
(see also QP 13)

Kelvinbank

British

general

Glasgow

Prins Willem Van Oranje

Dutch

sugar

Greenock

–

Norwegian

Tanker B
(dieso)

Grangemouth

–

Kaweah

American

stores

Reykjavik

–

Chernyshevski

Russian

general

Clyde for N. Russia

Joined Convoy UR 23 to Iceland,
later Convoy PQ 16

Mount Taygetus

Greek

general

Belfast

Returned to Halifax
Listed in SC 80

Joining from Newfoundland (WSC 79) (sailed Apr. 16)

Zagloba

Polish

general - mail 13

Manchester

Michael L. Embiricos

Greek

grain

Hull

From SC 78

A. Hague says that Godafoss and Selfoss detached to Iceland on Apr. 21, Selfoss arrived Reykjavik on Apr. 24 (he says she had a cargo of lumber). Again, see his listing for SC 79 at ships in all SC convoys.

The Rescue Vessel Stockport (requisitioned on July 8-1941, entered service in Dec. following conversion) was with Convoy SC 79 from Apr. 15 to Clyde Apr. 25. She was on her 4th voyage as Rescue Vessel, having started this voyage with the westbound Convoy ON 76 from Clyde to Halifax March 16-March 31, joining Convoy SC 78 at Halifax Apr. 5, to St. John's Apr. 13, then left that day to join Convoy SC 79 Apr. 15 (A. Hague has her in station 65, where he has also listed the Panamanian Reigh Count).

Notes: Commodore was in Empire Activity, Vice Commodore in Kaweah, Rear Commodore in Kelvinbank.
Mersey Commodore: In Baron Elgin.
Belfast Commodore: In Empire Cranmer.

As mentioned, the ships denoted * joined Convoy PQ 16 to Russia, which sailed from Reykjavik on May 21 (see also SC 77). Syros was sunk on May 26 (U 703). Stary Bolshevik was damaged by aircraft attack on May 27, but could continue, while Steel Worker was struck by a mine dropped from German aircraft on June 3, in Murmansk Roads - no casualties.

Koll had ben sunk on Apr. 6 by U-571 - my page about Koll has more info, including crew list.

Nemanja, on a voyage from Macaris for Clyde, via Halifax, with 7207 tons of sugar, had been sunk on Apr. 8 by U-84. She had a crew of 47, 13 of whom perished, including 3 gunners (no mention of the passengers). Ref. external link below for more on this attack.

Trongate had a fire in her cargo (which included explosives) off Halifax on Apr. 11. Sunk by allied warships.

Empire Lotus foundered in bad weather off Halifax on Apr 12-1942 - engine room flooded. No casualties.

The ships left port in the following order (according to the diary - as mentioned, some later returned):
The first ship to leave at 10:05 was Mary Luckenbach, followed at 10:57 by Empire Activity, and with a few minutes between each ship:
Empire Grebe, Baron Elgin, King Neptune, Kelvinbank, Drakepool, Prins Willem Van Oranje, Yorkmar, Alpera, British Glory, Granville, Selfoss (TFEB), Dean Emery (KOFG - ex American), Empire Lotus, Nathaniel Greene, Titanian, John Randolph, Chernyshevski (many tanks), Sirehei (lumber), Calobre (long crates, 3 bombers), Ingertre, Shchors, Astrell, Kaweah (Naval tanker), Syros, West Nilus, Ville d'Anvers, Hybert, Stary Bolshevik, American Press, Havsten, Boris, Arosa, Empire Cranmer ("B" flag, I think this means she carried explosives), Standella, Solstad, Point San Pedro (4 masts), Aquila (Naval supply ship - K 47), Ioannis Frangos, Massmar, Charles R. McCormick, Troubador, Theomitor (SVQE), Lord Cochrane, Mauna Kea, Sarnolite, Colorado, Wearwood, Reigh Count, Godafoss, Theoskepasti, Pan Gulf, Elisabeth Lensen, Lackenby, American Robin, Mount Taygetus, Steel Worker, Trekieve. The last ship to go out at 17:45 was Washington.

The convoy arrived rendezvous on Apr. 23.

A. Hague names the following escorts (extracted from this list of SC convoy escorts, received from D. Kindell; dates are European style, day/month/year):
Battleford - From 15/04/42 to 18/04/42
Butser - From 27/04/42 to 27/04/42
Chambly - From 15/04/42 to 18/04/42
Eyebright - From 15/04/42 to 27/04/42
Georgian - From 15/04/42 to 15/04/42
Kamsack - From 15/04/42 to 27/04/42
Lincoln - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
Minas - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
Prescott - From 15/04/42 to 18/04/42
Regina - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
Rimouski - From 15/04/42 to 27/04/42
Saguenay - From 19/04/42 to 27/04/42
Skeena - From 19/04/42 to 27/04/42
Snowberry - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
St. Clair - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
USS Badger - 21/04/42
USS Leary - 21/04/42
Verity - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42
Witherington - From 11/04/42 to 15/04/42

Related external links:
Russian Convoys - PQ 16, PQ 17 and PQ 18, mentioned in the first form above are included, as is JW 51B. Since these convoys had no Norwegian ships in them, they are not listed in my own Arctic Convoys section.

Back to Convoy Index

To the next SC convoy in my list SC 80