Convoy SC 81 - warsailors.com (original) (raw)
Departed Halifax on Apr. 23-1942 and arrived Liverpool on May 9
(Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" gives 68 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 81 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.
MoWT = Ministry of War Transport
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Station
Destination
Remarks
Scottish Heather
British
Adm. tanker B
–
Scapa
See also SC 77
(does not show up again on this site until SC 98)
Uranienborg
Danish / MoWT 1940
grain
41
Hull
Katvaldis
Latvian / MoWT 1940
steel - pulp
102
Manchester
Flowergate
British
general
–
Liverpool
From SC 80
Listed in SC 82
Mount Pindus
Greek
general
113
Liverpool
–
Despina
"
grain
22
London
–
Lagarfoss*
Icelandic
general
74
Iceland
–
Washington
American
general
54
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17 (sunk)
Lucerna
British
Tanker W
(aviation gas)
33
Iceland for N. Russia
(Not listed in convoy to Russia
until JW 55A in Dec.-1943)
Pan York
American
general
104
Iceland
–
Nemaha
"
general
13
Iceland for N. Russia
From SC 79
Joined Convoy PQ 16
James McKay
"
general
133
Iceland
–
Africander
Panamanian
general
65
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
See also HX 169
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18 - sunk)
Drakepool
British
grain
62
London
From SC 79 (& SC 80?)
Schoharie
American
general
35
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
From SC 79
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
Exford
"
general
73
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
From SC 79
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
Charles R. McCormick
"
general
105
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
From SC 79
See also Convoy UR 32
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
Heffron
"
general
64
Iceland for N. Russia
Joined Convoy PQ 16
Sahale
"
general
114
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
McKeesport
"
general
83
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)
Colorado
"
general
15
Iceland
From SC 79
Olopana
"
general
63
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
From SC 79
Joined Convoy PQ 17 - sunk
Daleby
British
grain
12
London
Vimeira
"
Tanker B
(petrol)
81
Belfast Dock
From SC 80
Radchurch
"
general
32
Barry Dock (Southampton)
From SC 80
Robert E. Lee
American
general
–
Archangel
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)
Wanstead
British
grain
–
Newcastle
From SC 80
Listed in SC 83
Ilissos
Greek
grain
42
Newcastle
From SC 80
Returned to Halifax
for steering gear repairs
To SC 82 - did not sail
Listed in SC 83
Macbeth
Panamanian
general
123
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
See also Convoy UR 32
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18 - sunk)
Delsud
American
general
34
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
(Not listed in any convoy to
Russia until JW 52 in Jan.-1943)
Bruarfoss*
Icelandic
general - 15 passengers
94
Iceland
–
Norwegian
Tanker B
(paraffin)
111
Avonmouth
From SC 80
Pan Kraft
American
general
124
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17 (sunk)
Norwegian
Tanker B
(dieso)
92
Clyde
Kingman
Panamanian
general
43
Iceland
–
El Capitan
"
general
14
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17 (sunk)
Gemini
American
general
95
Reykjavik
–
Bellingham
"
general
85
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17
Michigan
"
(A. Hague says
Panamanian)
general
125
Iceland for N. Russia
Joined Convoy PQ 16
Jefferson Myers
American
general
23
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
See also Convoy UR 32
(Not listed in Russian convoy till JW 51B in Dec.-1942)
Benjamin Harrison
"
general
44
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17
Cantal
French / MoWT 1941
steel - general
131
Swansea (Southampton)
–
City of Omaha
American
general
115
Iceland for N. Russia
Joined Convoy PQ 16
Rajahstan
British
grain
21
London
Empire Zephyr
"
grain
61
Holyhead / Liverpool
–
Norwegian
general
121
Avonmouth
From SC 80
Radhurst
British
grain
51
Ipswich
–
Alcoa Ranger
American
general
103
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
Joined Convoy PQ 17 (sunk)
Almenara
British
sugar - rum
101
Liverpool
–
Norwegian
phosphates
–
East Coast
Already sunk - See Notes
Stal
Danish / MoWT 1940
flour
82
Swansea (Southampton)
–
Executive
American
general
25
Clyde f. o. (Archangel)
(Not listed in Russian convoy till JW 51B in Dec.-1942)
Alcor
Dutch
steel - lumber
122
Grimsby
–
Arizpa
American
general
135
Clyde f. o. (Russia)
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)
Becheville
British
general
11
Manchester
–
Algic
American
general
–
Archangel
Listed in SC 83
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)
Empire Dabchick
British
steel - tobacco
31
Manchester
–
Empire Lightning
"
grain
72
Liverpool
–
Empire Hartebeeste
"
general - steel
71
Hull
–
Hollywood
American
general
53
Clyde f. o. (Russia)
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
Ozark
"
general
134
Iceland
–
Virginia Dare
"
general
–
Archangel
Shows up again in SC 89
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18)
Athelprince
British
Tanker - molasses
–
Liverpool
Christopher Newport
American
general
45
Clyde f. o. (Russia)
Joined Convoy PQ 17 (sunk)
Carter Braxton
"
general
75
Clyde f. o. (Russia)
(Not listed in any convoy to Russia)
Empire Rhodes
British
wheat
91
Glasgow
–
Norwegian
general
–
Avonmouth
"
sulphur
112
Mersey
–
Norwalk
American
general
106
Iceland
–
Starstone
British
general
–
Liverpool
Listed in SC 82
Venus
Dutch
fruit - pulp
132
Cardiff
–
White Clover
Panamanian
general
–
Archangel
Listed in SC 83
(Later joined Convoy PQ 18
See also Convoy UR 32)
City of Dallas
American
general
96
Iceland
–
Korsholm
Swedish
phosphates
–
Loch Ewe f. o.
Already sunk - See Notes
Dekabrist
Russian
general
–
Archangel
Listed in SC 83
(See also Convoy UR 32
Not listed in any convoy to
Russia in this period,
see * at the end of this table)
El Oceano
Panamanian
general
–
Russia
Listed in SC 83
(Not listed in any convoy to
Russia until JW 51A in Dec-1942)
Linge
Dutch
phosphates
–
Ipswich
Listed in SC 82
Oregon I
Danish / MoWT 1940
grain
–
Barry Dock
From SC 80
Listed in SC 82
Oremar
American
general
84
Clyde f. o. (Murmansk)
See also Convoy UR 32
(Not listed in any convoy to
Russia until JW 51A in Dec-1942)
Norwegian
general
–
Dundee
From SC 80
To SC 82 - did not sail
Listed in SC 83
Joannis
Greek
steel - lumber
–
Loch Ewe f. o.
Listed in SC 82
Jobshaven
Dutch
steel - pulp wood
116
Glasgow
Joined from St. John's, N.F.
Richard Henry Lee
American
general
24
Iceland for N. Russia
Joined Convoy PQ 16
Salinas
"
Tanker
93
Iceland
–
Pleiades
"
general - government stores
52
Iceland
–
Empire Marlowe
British
general
136
Avonmouth
From SC 78
(Joined from Wabana)
Westmoor
"
wheat
126
Dublin
From SC 80
Joined from Wabana
* Dekabrist had sailed to Russia with Convoy PQ 6 in Dec.-1941, and is said to have returned with Convoy QP 5 in Jan.-1942. The next time she shows up is in "Operation FB", in which she was sunk by aircraft on Nov. 4-1942 - see the external link at the end of this page.
*According to A. Hague, Bruarfoss was detached on May 6 and arrived Reykjavik on the 9th. Lagarfoss (cargo of grain and lumber) was also detached on May 6, her arrival Reykjavik is given as May 8. Again, see his listing for SC 81 at ships in all SC convoys.
The Rescue Vessel Copeland was also with this convoy, sailing in station 76 (requisitioned Dec. 20-1940, entered service Jan 31-1941). She was on her 17th voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde with the westbound Convoy ON 83 on Apr. 4 (to Halifax Apr. 17), returning with SC 81 from Halifax on Apr. 23, her voyage ending at Clyde May 10-1942.
Notes:
Commodore was in Empire Hartebeeste, Vice Commodore in Pleiades.
The Norwegian Benwood is listed as sunk on Apr. 9-1942 following a collision with Robert C. Tuttle. Follow the link for more details.
The Swedish Korsholm, on a voyage from Fernandine and Tampa for Halifax and Liverpool with 4593 tons of phosphates, had been shelled and sunk on Apr. 13-1942 by U-123. She had a crew of 26, 9 of whom perished. See also the external link at the end of this page.
According to the diary, the ships left Halifax in the following order (some may not have sailed - again, see the notes in the tables above):
The first to leave at 09:13 was the British Radchurch, followed at 09:40 by Sahale. The Commodore Vessel, Empire Hartbeeste went out at 10:14, then with a few minutes between each ship:
Empire Zephyr ("B" flag, which I believe means that she carried explosives on board), Drakepool, Rajahstan (GKBX), Exford, Fjordheim, Empire Rhodes, Almenara, James Hawson, Cantal, Uranienborg, Vimeira, Despina, Copeland, Empire Dabchick, Radhurst, Stal, Daleby, Ilissos, Venus, Kingman, Daghild, Carter Braxton, Lagarfoss, El Capitan, Bruarfoss, McKeesport, City of Omaha, Africander, Charles R. McCormick, Delsud, Christopher Newport, Ozark, Becheville, Pan York, Olopana, Ingerfem, Hollywood, Katvaldis, City of Dallas, Heffron (tanks on deck), Schoharie (bombers), Solanis (Salinas), Pleiades (U.S. Army transport), Royalite, Executive (bombers), Gemini, Washington, Alcoa Ranger, Oremar, Liverpool Packet (lumber), Michigan, Jefferson Myers, Alcor, Pan Kraft (bombers), Lucerna, Ark Light, Nemaha ("B" flag), Robert E. Lee (did not sail), James McKay, Arizpa, Bellingham, Mount Pindus, Polarbjørn, Fort Townshend, Norwalk, Benjamin Harrison. The last ship to go out at 15:48 was Empire Lightning.
As already mentioned, some of the ships sailing in Convoy SC 81 joined Convoy PQ 16 to Russia which sailed from Reykjavik on May 21, denoted *, while others sailed in PQ 17 which left Reykjavik on June 27 - denoted **. See also SC 77 and SC 79 for the names of some of other ships in PQ 16, as well as this posting to my Ship Forum, listing all the ships in this convoy. SC 83 has the names of some more ships in PQ 17. The ships denoted *** later joined Convoy PQ 18, which assembled at Loch Ewe and sailed from there for Iceland on Sept. 2-1942 (some joined this convoy from Iceland). The Rescue Vessel Copeland was also with this convoy. Since these convoys had no Norwegian ships in them, they are not included in my own Arctic Convoys section, but the external website that I've linked to at the end of this page has more information on them.
The convoy arrived rendezvous on May 5.
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):
Clematis - From 27/04/42 to 09/05/42
Cowichan - From 27/04/42 to 27/04/42
Fredericton - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
Gananoque - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
Gentian - From 27/04/42 to 09/05/42
Hesperus - From 27/04/42 to 09/05/42
Niagara - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
Piorun - 27/04/42
Saskatoon - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
Sweetbriar - From 27/04/42 to 09/05/42
The Pas - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
USCGC Bibb - 05/05/42
USCGC Duane - 05/05/42
USS Babbitt - 05/05/42
USS Badger - 05/05/42
USS Leary - 05/05/42
USS Schenck - 05/05/42
Vervain - From 27/04/42 to 09/05/42
Witch - From 23/04/42 to 27/04/42
Related external links:
The attack on Korsholm
Russian Convoys - All the convoys mentioned in my tables above are included (also "Operation FB"). See also this page to find A. Hague's listings for the same convoys.
Liberty Ships - Some of the ships listed as American in Convoy SC 81 were Liberty Ships. This website lists them alphabetically.
To the next SC convoy in my list SC 82