1941 SAILINGS
WS 5B
This
convoy sailed in three sections, from the Bristol Channel (4 ships), Liverpool
(6 ships), and from the Clyde (11 ships). The Bristol Channel and Liverpool
sections, after their juncture, were oblige to anchor in Moelfre Bay from 8 to
11.1.41, prior to their final rendezvous with the Clyde section; they had
therefore to enter Belfast Lough to complete with fresh water. Sailing from the
Lough, and the junction with the Clyde ships, took place on 12.1.
The
cruisers AUSTRALIA and
NAIAD provided AA protection while the ships lay in Moelfre Bay, A/S protection was by the destroyers HARVESTER and HIGHLANDER and
the sloop WELLINGTON.
The
convoy sailing plan was:
|
61
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
21
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
31
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
41
ATHLONE CASTLE
(Commodore)
|
51
BRITTANIC
|
61
ORMONDE (Vice Commodore)
DURBAN CASTLE also shown here
|
71
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
|
12
FRANCONIA
|
22
NEA HELLAS
|
32
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
42
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
52
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
62
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
72
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
|
|
23
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
33
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
43
PENNLAND
|
|
63
SAMARIA
|
73
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
DUCHESS
OF YORK detached as an independent 17.1, CAPETOWN CASTLE and MONARCH OF BERMUDA
detached to Gibraltar 15.1 escorted by NAIAD, rejoining the convoy at Freetown.
From
12.1 A/S protection was provided by the destroyers WITHERINGTON and Polish
manned LEOPARD to 14.1, BEAGLE, FEARLESS, HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER, JACKAL,
LEAMINGTON, LINCOLN, VANSITTART and WATCHMAN to 16.1.
Ocean
escorts were the cruisers NAIAD and PHOEBE
12 to 15.1, AUSTRALIA and EMERALD 12
to 25.1. The battleship RAMILLIES accompanied the convoy 12 to 17.1.
The
convoy arrived at Freetown 25.1, having received local A/S escort from the
corvettes ASPHODEL and CALENDULA from 21.1, destroyers VELOX from 22.1 and
VIDETTE and corvette CLEMATIS from 24.1.
The
convoy sailed again from Freetown 29.1, with the addition of CAMERONIA,
escorted locally by the destroyers FAULKNOR and FORESTER,sloop MILFORD and
corvettes CLEMATIS and CYCLAMEN until 1.2, while the cruisers AUSTRALIA and
EMERALD provided ocean escort, the former to Durban and the latter to Capetown.
The convoy arrived at Capetown 8.2 and Durban 11.2, with ARUNDEL CASTLE,
ATHLONE CASTLE, CAPETOWN CASTLE, DUCHESS OF BEDFORD, DURBAN CASTLE, EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, MONARCH OF BERMUDA and WINCHESTER CASTLE entering
Capetown, the remaining ships going on to Durban.
The
constituents of the convoy changed somewhat on sailing from South Africa. The
first section sailed from Capetown 12.2 escorted by EMERALD and the second from
Durban 15.2 escorted by AUSTRALIA. On the junction of the two sections, the
formation became:
|
PRIVATE
11
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
21
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
31
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
41
FRANCONIA
|
51
ORMONDE
|
61
BRITANNIC
|
71
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
|
12
DURBAN CASTLE
|
22
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
32
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
42
NEA HELLAS
|
52
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
62
CAMERONIA
|
72
ORBITA
|
|
13
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
23
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
33
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
|
53 PENNLAND
|
63
SAMARIA
|
73
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
In
addition, HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN took passage with the convoy from Capetown to
Durban.
From
Durban both cruisers formed the escort until the latitude of Mombasa where, on
21.2, EMERALD detached with the EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, ORMONDE
and WINDSOR CASTLE for that port. The remainder of the convoy escorted by
AUSTRALIA, proceeded to Suez arriving on 3.3.
The amended formation after detachment of the
Mombasa ships being:
|
PRIVATE
11
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
21
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
31
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
41
FRANCONIA
|
51
BRITANNIC
|
61
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
|
12
DURBAN CASTLE
|
22
PENNLAND
|
32
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
42
NEA HELLAS
|
52
CAMERONIA
|
62
ORBITA
|
|
13
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
|
33
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
|
53
SAMARIA
|
63
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
WS 5BX
The
ships detached to Mombasa from WS 5B took this designation when they sailed
again on 24.2 escorted by the cruiser
ENTERPRISE, in the following formation:
|
PRIVATE
11
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
|
21
ORMONDE
(Commodore)
|
|
12
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
22
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
|
The
cruiser CAPETOWN joined the escort 27.2, and the convoy arrived at Bombay 3.3.
From
Bombay the convoy continued, under the same designation but with different
ships, sailing from Bombay on 5.3 as follows:
|
AQUITANIA
|
EMPRESS
OF JAPAN
|
escorted
by the cruiser ENTERPRISE. The cruiser DURBAN joined the escort 8.3, with
ENTERPRISE detaching on 9.3, and the convoy arrived at Singapore 11.3.41.
WS 6A
Convoy
sailed from Avonmouth, Liverpool and the Clyde with all sections joining off
Oversay 9.2.41, and consisted of:
|
ALMANZORA
ASCANIUS
BELLEROPHON
BERGENSFJORD
BURDWAN
CAPE HORN
CITY OF ATHENS
CITY OF CORINTH
CITY OF HANKOW
CITY OF PITTSBURGH
CONSUELO
DALESMAN
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
KINA II
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
LLANDAFF
CASTLE
LLANGIBBY
CASTLE
LOGICIAN
MAHSEER
MANCHESTER
CITIZEN
MATAROA
NOVA
SCOTIA
OPAWA
PORT
ALMA
RANGITATA
RUAHINE
SALWEEN
SCYTHIA
THYSVILLE
|
Local
escorts in UK waters for varying periods as shown below, were the destroyers
BROADWATER
6 to 9.2, ATHERSTONE, COTTESMORE and KEPPEL 6 to 12.2, RESTIGOUCHE and ST
LAURENT 7 to 12.2, LEGION and PIORUN 8 to 12.2 and GARLAND 8 to 9.2.
The
ocean escorts were the cruisers BIRMINGHAM and
PHOEBE and the armed merchant
cruiser CATHAY. During the passage the battleship
RODNEY escorted by destroyers
ECLIPSE and ELECTRA were in company 15 to 17.2, the battlecruiser
RENOWN and
aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL joined 17.2 for a brief period, and the battleship
MALAYA from 21 to 28.2.
The
convoy arrived at Freetown 1.3, where it joined with WS 6B to sail again as a
combined convoy.
WS 6B
This
small convoy sailed from Liverpool (ADDA, YOMA) 17.2, and the Clyde (BURMA,
LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE, NORTHUMBERLAND and HMS CILICIA) on 18.2.41, in the
following order
|
11
YOMA
|
21
LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE
(Commodore)
|
31
NORTHUMBERLAND
|
|
12
ADDA
|
22
BURMA
(Vice
Commodore)
|
32
HMS CILICIA
|
BURMA
returned to the Clyde on the day of sailing with defects, while CILICIA
detached independently on 20.2.
Local
escorts were the destroyers HESPERUS and HURRICANE 17 to 20.2, and GARLAND,
LEGION and PIORUN 18 to 20.2., while the cruiser
MAURITIUS provided ocean
escort from 18.2 to 5.3 to Freetown. The corvettes CALENDULA and CLEMATIS
joined from that port as local escorts on 3.3.
WS 6
The
combined convoy sailed from Freetown 8.3, sailing order unknown but the
following ships present:
|
ALMANZORA
ASCANIUS
BELLEROPHON
BERGENSFJORD
BURDWAN
CAPE HORN
CITY OF ATHENS
CITY OF CORINTH
CITY OF HANKOW
CITY OF PITTSBURG
CONSUELO
DALESMAN
KINA II
LEOPOLDVILLE
LOGICIAN
|
LLANDAFF
CASTLE
LLANSTEPHAN
CASTLE
MAHSEER
MANCHESTER
CITIZEN
MATAROA
NORTHUMBERLAND
NOVA
SCOTIA
OPAWA
PORT
ALMA
RANGITATA
RUAHINE
SALWEEN
SCYTHIA
THYSVILLE
|
escorted
by the cruisers BIRMINGHAM and
PHOEBE and the armed merchant cruiser CATHAY,
the latter ship being relieved by the cruiser CORNWALL on 11.3.
On 21.3
ALMANZORA, BERGENSFJORD, LLANDAFF CASTLE, RUAHINE and SCYTHIA were detached as
a fast section escorted by PHOEBE, entering Capetown that day to water ship,
and then proceeding with PHOEBE to Durban where they arrived 26.3.
The
remainder of the convoy was divided between Capetown and Durban in the usual
fashion.
The
Capetown section of the convoy sailed 27.3 escorted by the cruiser
DORSETSHIRE
and consisted of:
|
ASCANIUS
BURDWAN
CAPE HORN
CITY OF ATHENS
KINA II
|
LEOPOLDVILLE
LLANDAFF
CASTLE
NOVA
SCOTIA
OPAWA
PORT
ALMA
|
The
Durban section sailed 31.3 escorted by the cruisers
CORNWALL and PHOEBE and
comprised:
|
BELLEROPHON
BERGENSFJORD
CITY OF CANTERBURY
CITY OF CORINTH
CITY OF HANKOW
CITY OF LONDON
CITY OF PITTSBURG
CONSUELO
COSTA RICA
DALESMAN
|
DILWARA
ELISABETHVILLE
LLANSTEPHAN
CASTLE
LOGICIAN
MAHSEER
MANCHESTER
CITIZEN
SALWEEN
THYSVILLE
YOMA
|
TALAMBA
joined at sea 10.4 having been escorted from the Seychelles by the cruiser
GLASGOW, and CITY OF ATHENS and LLANDAFF CASTLE detached off Mombasa on 8.4 to
enter that port.
The
DORSETSHIRE detached to return to Durban 7.4, PHOEBE detached 10.4 being
relieved by the cruisers CANBERRA (for that day only) and
GLASGOW which
remained until 13.4.
CORNWALL remained with the convoy until
15.4.41, when it dispersed off Perim with ships proceeding independently to
Suez.
WS 7
The
convoy assembled in the Clyde anchorage and sailed from there 24.3.41 in the
following formation:
|
11 DUCHESS OF YORK
|
21
STIRLING CASTLE
(Vice Commodore)
|
31
DUCHESS OF ATHOLL
|
41
EMPRESS OF CANADA
(Commodore)
|
51
WARWICK CASTLE
|
61
OTRANTO
|
|
12
VICEROY OF INDIA
|
22
DENBIGHSHIRE
|
32
ORION
|
42
STRATHEDEN
|
52
STRATHNAVER
|
62
ORCADES
|
|
13
ANDES
|
23
JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
33
STRATHALLAN
|
43
PASTEUR
|
53
STRATHMORE
|
|
|
14
GEORGIC
|
24
DEMPO
|
34
ORONTES
|
|
54
GLENORCHY
|
|
GEORGIC
detached to Halifax 28.3, STRATHAIRD (not allocated a number in the plan above)
was in collision with STIRLING ASTLE shortly after sailing and obliged to
return.
At a
later stage of the convoy passage GLENORCHY took position 63, retaining that
thereafter.
A/S
escorts for the convoy were supplied for the periods shown below by the
destroyers:
LEGION
and PIORUN 24 to 26.3, BROADWATER 24 to 27.3, BEDOUIN, MASHONA, MATABELE and
SOMALI 24 to 28.3, LEOPARD, ROCKINGHAM, AA cruiser
CAIRO and destroyers VICEROY
and WINCHELSEA 25 to 26.3, ST CLAIR 25 to 27.3, ECLIPSE and FOXHOUND 25 to
28.3; while the cruiser EDINBURGH was present 24 to 29.3
Ocean
escort was provided by the battleship REVENGE 24 to 28.3; she then detached and
escorted GEORGIC to Halifax, NS. The battleship
NELSON, accompanied by the
destroyer ARROW, escorted the convoy to Freetown.
Off
Freetown, the destroyers DUNCAN and FOXHOUND joined 1.4 and VIDETTE and WISHART
2.4 until arrival on 4.4
The
complete convoy sailed Freetown 7.4 escorted by FOXHOUND to 8.4 and DUNCAN,
VIDETTE and WISHART to 9.4. NELSON provided ocean escort from sailing until
15.4 when she was relieved by the cruiser
NEWCASTLE which escorted the convoy
to Capetown, arriving 16.4, and then took the Durban ships on to that port
arriving 19.4, returning then to Simonstown.
ANDES,
DEMPO, DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, DUCHESS OF YORK, EMPRESS OF CANADA, ORCADES, ORION,
PASTEUR, STRATHALLAN, STRATHEDEN and STRATHMORE entered Capetown, DEMPO sailing
later the same day as an independent to Durban where she arrived 20.4; the
remaining ships went on to berth at Durban.
All
ships of the convoy other than STIRLING CASTLE sailed to go on to Suez, the
Capetown ships on 20.4 escorted by the cruiser
HAWKINS, and the Durban ships on
23.4 escorted by the armed merchant cruiser CARTHAGE; both sections made a
rendezvous on 24.4 whereon CARTHAGE detached.
The
cruisers COLOMBO and
GLASGOW sailed from Mombasa and relieved HAWKINS on 28.4
in 4S 42.06E until the convoy divided later in 5N 50E. Those ships not
detaching as WS 7X, which is shown in the text below, continued with GLASGOW
until 3.5 when they dispersed off Perim and proceeded independently to Suez all
arriving during 6.5.41
WS 7X
The
cruiser COLOMBO detached from the main body of WS 7 on 1.5 with DUCHESS OF
YORK, JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT, STRATHMORE and WARWICK CASTLE for Bombay, where
they duly arrived on 5.5.41.
The
STIRLING CASTLE, which remained at Durban when the convoy sailed on 23.4,
proceeded as an independent ship on 26.4 to Melbourne where she arrived on
10.5.41.
WS 8A
The
convoy sailed from the Clyde on 26.4.41; the initial sailing included five
ships ‑ CLAN CAMPBELL, CLAN CHATTAN, CLAN LAMONT, EMPIRE SONG and NEW
ZEALAND STAR ‑ all destined for Malta as part of Operation Tiger. The
sailing details available unfortunately exclude CLAN CHATTAN, possibly she
occupied position 13.
|
11
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
21
DOMINION MONARCH
(Vice Commodore)
|
31
STRATHAIRD
(Commodore)
|
41
CLAN CAMPBELL
|
51
ARONDA
|
|
12
EMPRESS OF ASIA
|
22
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
32
SOBIESKI
|
42
CLAN LAMONT
|
52
EMPIRE SONG
|
|
|
23
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
33
NEW ZEALAND STAR
|
43
ABBEKERK
|
53
HMS PRETORIA CASTLE
|
A/S
escort comprised the destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and HESPERUS from 26.4 until
detaching with the Gibraltar section 2.5, thence to Gibraltar; BEAGLE and
ERIDGE from 26 to 29.4 when these two detached to join convoy SL 71, and
HURRICANE, LEGION, OTTAWA, PIORUN, RESTIGOUCHE and SAGUENAY 26 to 29.4.
The
battle cruiser REPULSE and cruiser
NAIAD accompanied the convoy to 2.5 and then
proceeded to Gibraltar, the cruiser MAURITIUS escorted 2 to 9.5 and the armed
merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE accompanied the convoy to Freetown.
DOMINION
MONARCH and HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN were in collision 8.5 but proceeded with the
convoy. HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN must have suffered major damage as she spent over
200 days under repair at Durban after arrival there.
Approaching
Freetown, A/S cover was provided by the destroyers DUNCAN and WISHART from 5.5
and BOREAS and HIGHLANDER from 6.5, until the arrival of the convoy at Freetown
on 9.5.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 14.5 in a new formation:
|
11
IMPERIAL STAR
|
21
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
31
STRATHAIRD
(Commodore)
|
41
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
|
12
ABBEKERK
|
22
ARONDA
|
32
EMPRESS OF ASIA
|
42
SOBIESKI
|
|
|
23
DOMINION MONARCH
(Vice Commodore)
|
33
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
|
IMPERIAL
STAR joined at Freetown having made an independent passage from Britain;
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN sailed late on 15.5 from Freetown, escorted by the armed
merchant cruiser CILICIA to overtake the convoy and join at sea.
The
destroyers BOREAS and WISHART to 15.5, and DUNCAN and HIGHLANDER to 16.5,
provided A/S escort; the cruiser MAURITIUS was ocean escort from 14 to 24.5,
then relieved by the cruiser HAWKINS and armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA
CASTLE.
STRATHAIRD
detached independent 23.5, arrived Capetown 24.5 and then sailed again the same
day for Durban. IMPERIAL STAR went direct to Capetown arriving 24.5, all other
ships were intended for Durban and arrived there 27.5 except for EMPRESS OF
ASIA. She suffered a mutiny amongst her firemen and was ordered back to
Capetown on 25.5; delayed by weather she finally entered the port 26.5.
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN went in to Capetown for emergency repairs following the
collision reported earlier, arriving 25.5. After completion of the temporary
work, she proceeded later to Durban for lengthy and permanent repair work.
The
convoy sailed from Durban 31.5, escorted by the cruiser HAWKINS, in the
following formation:
|
11
SOBIESKI
|
21
STRATHAIRD
|
31
EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
|
|
12
ARONDA
|
|
32
ABBEKERK
|
and
arrived off Aden 10.6 from whence all ships proceeded to Suez independently
arriving on 13.6, except STRATHAIRD which arrived 14.6.41.
WS 8B
A
smaller convoy, sailing from the Clyde 22.5.41 as below:
|
11
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
21
GEORGIC
(Commodore)
|
31
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
ORDUNA
|
|
12
ABOSSO
|
22
MARTAND
|
32
ALMANZORA
|
possibly 42
HMS ARGUS
|
Local
escort was provided by the AA cruiser CAIRO and destroyers COSSACK, ERIDGE,
MAORI, OTTAWA, PIORUN, SIKH, RESTIGOUCHE and ZULU from 22 to 26.5. The aircraft
carrier ARGUS was with the convoy for passage to Gibraltar, detaching 27.5, and
the cruiser EXETER provided the ocean escort. The destroyers BOREAS and DUNCAN
joined off Freetown 2.6 and the corvette MARGUERITE 3.6, the convoy arriving at
Freetown 4.6.
Unusually,
the cruiser EXETER carried out the function of Convoy Commodore for the UK to
Freetown passage owing to illness of the Commodore on 23.5, until 27.5 when the
Master of the GEORGIC was appointed Commodore.
ORDUNA
and ALMANZORA were in collision 31.5 but continued with the convoy.
A
reduced convoy sailed from Freetown 6.6 as follows:
|
11
ALMANZORA
|
21
GEORGIC
(Commodore)
|
31
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
(Vice Commodore)
|
|
12
ORDUNA
|
|
32
MARTAND
|
Local
destroyer escort was BOREAS, DUNCAN and HIGHLANDER until 8.6 with EXETER as
ocean escort to Durban, where the convoy arrived 20.6.
The
convoy, with the addition of NIEUW ZEELAND in position 22, sailed Durban with
EXETER as escort 23.6 and dispersed off Aden 4.7.41, all ships proceeding
independently to Suez.
WS 8X
Sailing
from the Clyde 31.5.41, this small convoy comprised:
|
11
PORT WYNDHAM
|
21
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Commodore)
|
31
HMS ESPERANCE BAY
|
41
WAIWERA
|
A strong
destroyer escort of BRIGHTON, LEGION, PIORUN, SAGUENAY, ST MARYS, SHERWOOD,
VANSITTART, WILD SWAN and WIVERN escorted to 3.6; the cruiser
NORFOLK provided
ocean cover to Freetown, while the aircraft carrier
VICTORIOUS and cruiser
NEPTUNE were in company 3 to 5.6. The convoy was met by the destroyer VELOX and
corvette ASTER 9.6 and arrived at Freetown 11.6. ESPERANCE BAY detached from
the convoy on 3.6 in 49.14N 20.34W to commence a patrol.
The
convoy continued its passage unchanged, leaving Freetown 15.6 and arriving at
Capetown 24.6. After fuelling etc, it sailed again 28.6, called at Kilindini
6.7 thence to Aden where it dispersed as independent ships on 11.7, finally
arriving at Suez 15.7.41. The cruiser NEPTUNE escorted the convoy throughout
its passage.
WS 8C
This
convoy, and its embarked troops, was intended for the seizure of the Azores and
made the short passage from UK ports to the main Fleet base at Scapa Flow to be
held there while the final political decisions were made. In the event the
operation was cancelled, as it had been on several previous occasions; none
however had come so close to being ordered into action as this proposed
landing. The ships then returned to the Clyde, disembarked their troops, and
dispersed.
The
convoy was an integrated force prepared for an opposed landing and was made up
of HM Ships serving as Landing Ships Infantry, both the large and small
variants, Landing Ships Tank Mk 1, RFA tankers, mercantile personnel ships and
MT ships. The ocean escort would also have included major warships to support
the intended landing, and to protect the islands thereafter.
HM Ships
in the convoy were:
|
LSI (Assault)
KARANJA
PRINCE CHARLES
QUEEN EMMA
ROYAL SCOTSMAN
ULSTER MONARCH
LST (1)
BACHAQUERO
MISOA
RFA tankers
DEWDALE
ENNERDALE
|
Personnel
ships
BATORY
NARKUNDA
(Commodore)
ORMONDE
WINCHESTER
CASTLE
Motor
Transport (MT) ships
CLAN
MACDONALD
DUNEDIN
STAR
MACHARDA
POTARO
SILVERTEAK
(Vice Commodore)
SUFFOLK
|
The
convoy sailed from the Clyde 9.8.41 arriving at Scapa Flow the following day,
SUFFOLK and POTARO being damaged in collision while entering the Flow.
The
destroyer escort from the Clyde comprised BULLDOG, CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN,
ECHO, INTREPID, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA and WITCH.
The
convoy remained at Scapa Flow until 15.8 when it returned to the Clyde to
disperse, arriving 17.8. The two damaged ships, POTARO and SUFFOLK, sailed from
Scapa Flow for the Clyde on 12.8.41.
The
return passage escorts were the destroyers ANTELOPE, CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN,
DOUGLAS, GEORGETOWN, INTREPID, LEAMINGTON, and SALADIN and the AA ship
POZARICA.
WS 9A
This
convoy made its final rendezvous off Oversay 3.6.41 after clearing the feeder
ports of Avonmouth and Liverpool, and was formed from the following ships:
|
11
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
21
SAMARIA
|
31
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(Commodore)
|
41
DURBAN CASTLE
|
51
FRANCONIA
(Vice Commodore)
|
61
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
|
12
AAGTEKERK
|
22
EASTERN PRINCE
|
32
MOOLTAN
|
42
ORBITA
|
52
LLANGIBBY CASTLE
|
62
MENDOZA
|
|
|
23
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
33
EMPIRE CURLEW
|
43
EMPIRE EGRET
|
53
EMPIRE WIDGEON
|
|
Local
escort was the AA cruiser CAIRO, the armed merchant cruiser AUSONIA and the
destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, OTTAWA, RAMSEY, RESTIGOUCHE, RICHMOND, SIKH, VANQUISHER,
WINCHELSEA and ZULU from 3 to 7.6.
Ocean
escort was provided by the cruiser BIRMINGHAM and the armed merchant cruiser DUNNOTTAR CASTLE throughout the voyage, while the local destroyer escort from
Freetown of VANSITTART and WILD SWAN joined 13.6 and BOREAS, BRILLIANT,
HIGHLANDER and VELOX 16.6; the convoy arriving at Freetown 18.6.41.
The
convoy sailed again from Freetown on 20.6 with the addition of:
|
BERGENSFJORD
|
CHRISTIAAN
HUYGENS
|
the
whole escorted by the destroyers BOREAS, VANSITTART, VELOX and WILD SWAN to
22.6. The cruiser BIRMINGHAM was the ocean escort, and she and the convoy
arrived off Capetown 1.7 where CAPETOWN CASTLE, DURBAN CASTLE, EASTERN PRINCE,
EMPIRE WIDGEON, EMPRESS OF JAPAN and LLANGIBBY CASTLE entered harbour, the
remaining ships proceeding to Durban to arrive there 4.7. BIRMINGHAM was
relieved as escort by the cruiser HAWKINS on 2.7.
EASTERN
PRINCE sailed from Capetown 2.7 and proceeded to Durban, arrving there 4.7.
sailing from that port with the main Durban contingent.
All the
Capetown ships sailed 5.7 escorted by the cruiser BIRMINGHAM, and were joined
on 9.7 in 29.30S 33.40E by:
|
AAGTEKERK
ARONDA
EASTERN PRINCE
EMPIRE CONDOR
|
EMPIRE
CURLEW
EMPIRE
EGRET
THYSVILLE
|
from
Durban escorted by the cruiser HAWKINS, all of which had sailed on 8.7. The
convoy proceeded to Aden and dispersed off that port on 21.7.41 to proceed as
independents to Suez, less the ships detached earlier to form convoy WS 9AX.
WS 9AX
Three
ships, CAPETOWN CASTLE, DURBAN CASTLE and EMPRESS OF JAPAN, detached from
convoy WS 9A in 9.10N 51.40E on 18.7 to proceed to Bombay escorted by the armed
merchant cruiser HECTOR, arriving 22.7.41. From Bombay, the same three ships
sailed with the armed merchant cruiser ANTENOR as escort on 27.7 for Colombo,
arriving 30.7.
From
Colombo, CAPETOWN CASTLE and EMPRESS OF JAPAN sailed on 1.8 escorted by the
cruiser MAURITIUS, later relieved by the cruiser
DURBAN, to arrive at Singapore
5.8.41.
WS 9A2
One of
the rare WS convoys that did not commence passage from Britain, this convoy
formed at Durban 11.7.41 comprising:
|
11
ILE DE FRANCE
|
21
MAURETANIA
|
31
NIEUW AMSTERDAM
|
escorted
by the cruiser CORNWALL to Perim where the ships dispersed as independents on
18.7 for Suez, their arrivals being staggered to avoid congestion, MAURETANIA
on 21.7, NIEUW AMSTERDAM on 23.7 and ILE DE FRANCE on 21.7.
CORNWALL,
after dispersing the convoy, entered Aden to land passengers, on 19.7.41.
WS 9B
Sailing
from Avonmouth (A) 27.6.41, Liverpool (L) 28.6 and the Clyde (C) 29.6, the
convoy forming at sea off Oversay on 30.6:
|
11C
TAMAROA
|
21C
ORONSAY
(Commodore)
|
31C
HMS CATHAY
31C
HMS EDINBURGH
(same position number)
|
41C
CLAN FORBES
|
51C
PAMPAS
|
|
12C
PULASKI
|
22L
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
32C
HMS MORETON BAY
|
42A
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
52L
RANGITATA
|
|
13L
ANSELM
|
23L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
|
43A
MATAROA
|
53L
ELISABETH BAKKE
|
|
14C
HMS GALATEA
|
24L
CERAMIC
|
34C
HMS CHITRAL
|
|
54C
HMS CAIRO
|
ANSELM
returned with defects to the Clyde, and was later sunk on her passage to
Freetown on 5.7.41 with the loss of approximately 250 troops. When sunk she was
in company with a naval survey ship, both being escorted by corvettes and did
NOT bear any convoy designation. The not infrequent attribution of her loss to
convoy WS 9C is incorrect.
UK based
escorts were the AA cruiser CAIRO and destroyers CASTLETON, GARLAND, MAORI, PIORUN, ST FRANCIS, VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA and WOLVERINE 29.6 to 2.7, WELLS
29.6 to 1.7 and READING 29.6 to 3.7.
The
cruiser EDINBURGH was with the convoy 29.6 to 3.7; the armed merchant cruisers
CATHAY and CHITRAL detached 4 and 6.7 respectively, the cruiser
GALATEA and
armed merchant cruiser MORETON BAY detached 13.7. The ocean boarding vessel
CORINTHIAN, on passage with the convoy, detached to patrol 6.7.
An
unusual feature of the escort for this convoy is the inclusion of the cruisers
and armed merchant cruisers in the sailing plan.
Local
escort of the destroyers BRILLIANT, WILD SWAN and WIVERN and corvette ASPHODEL
joined 10.7 and the convoy arrived at Freetown 13.7.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown, its formation unchanged. 16.7 escorted by the
destroyers BOREAS, BRILLIANT, VANSITTART and VELOX to 18.7 and with the cruiser
GALATEA as ocean escort to Durban.
Off
Capetown on 27.7 CERAMIC, CLAN FORBES, ELISABETH BAKKE, PAMPAS, PULASKI and
RANGITATA entered that port, the remaining ships proceeding to Durban, where
they arrived 29.7.
On
sailing from Capetown 30.7, CERAMIC (for Australia) and RANGITATA, MATAROA and
TAMAROA remained behind, the remaining ships were escorted by the armed
merchant cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA to rendezvous with the Durban ships sailing
3.8. Of the ships arriving at Durban only ARUNDEL CASTLE, ATHLONE CASTLE,
MONARCH OF BERMUDA and ORONSAY sailed for the passage northward, escorted by
the cruiser GALATEA. The convoy, less those ships detaching as convoy WS 9BX,
arrived off Aden 14.8.41 and dispersed, ships then proceeding to Suez
independently.
WS 9BX
ATHLONE
CASTLE and ELISABETH BAKKE detached from WS 9B on 13.8 and, escorted by the
armed merchant cruiser HECTOR, arrived at Bombay 16.8.41.
WS 9C
Sailing
from Newport (N), Swansea (S) ,
Liverpool and the Clyde and assembling off Oversay 13.7.41, this convoy
consisted principally of ships destined for Operation Substance, a supply
convoy to Malta.
Convoy
formation on sailing was:
|
11C
HMS MANCHESTER
|
21C
AVILA STAR
|
31C
PASTEUR
(Commodore)
|
41C
MELBOURNE STAR
(Vice Commodore)
|
51
HMS MANXMAN
|
|
12S
DEUCALION
|
22C
LEINSTER
|
32C
HMS NELSON
|
42N
DURHAM
|
52L
CITY OF PRETORIA
|
|
13C
HNethMS HEEMSKERK
|
23N
PORT CHALMERS
|
33L
SYDNEY STAR
|
|
53C
HMS ARETHUSA
|
PASTEUR
had 4200 troops embarked for the relief of the Gibraltar garrison.
Escorts
were, from the Bristol Channel the cruiser HEEMSKERK and the sloop STORK ( the
latter until 13.7). Dutch AA cruiser HEEMSKERK and destroyers GARLAND, GURKHA,
VANOC and WANDERER 12 to 15.7; battleship
NELSON, cruisers MANCHESTER,
ARETHUSA and destroyers COSSACK, LIGHTNING, MAORI, NESTOR and SIKH 12 to 17.7.
The cruiser EDINBURGH was in company on 20.7, the minelayer
MANXMAN from 15 to
16.7 and the destroyer FIREDRAKE joined from Gibraltar 18.7. The destroyer WINCHELSEA also sailed with the convoy, her detachment date is not known.
PASTEUR
detached to Gibraltar 17.7 escorted by MANCHESTER, LIGHTNING and NESTOR plus
AVON VALE, ERIDGE and FARNDALE from Gibraltar; LEINSTER also detached that day
with ARETHUSA plus COSSACK and SIKH, while AVILA STAR detached as an
independent on 16.7. All ships of the convoy destined for Gibraltar had arrived
by 20.7.41.
