1943
SAILINGS
WS 26
This
convoy was the first of a new pattern in the WS series
in that this, and future
convoys, sailed from the UK in conjunction with a KMF
(UK to Mediterranean
Fast) convoy, which detached at a point west of
Gibraltar after which the KMF
convoy entered the Mediterranean and the WS proceeded
South to Freetown. In due
course this arrangement was to end (with WS 33) when
the Mediterranean was
opened to personnel ships, and such vessels thereafter
proceeded Eastwards via
the Suez Canal.
WS 26
and KMF 8 sailed from the Clyde 23.1.43 to position
36.17N 08.23W where the
convoys divided at 1600GMT on 29.1.
The
convoy consisted originally of 29 ships, 9 of which
were the KMF portion
forming the two port hand columns plus the rear ship
of column 3 and the lead
ship of column 4, as follows:
|
11
TAWALI
|
21
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
|
31
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
41
DURBAN CASTLE
|
51
HMS WAYLAND
|
61
STRATHEDEN
|
71
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
81
CHYEBASSA
|
|
12
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
22
STRATHNAVER
|
32
SIBAJAK
|
42 DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
52
HMS CANTON
|
62
MALOJA
|
72
EMPRESS OF CANADA
|
82
REMBRANDT
|
|
13
LETITIA
|
23
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
33
VOLENDAM
|
43
CALIFORNIA
|
53
HMS CILICIA
|
63
MOOLTAN
|
73
RUYS
|
83
ANTENOR
|
|
|
24
CIRCASSIA
|
34
SAMARIA
|
44
ORDUNA
|
|
64
DOMINION MONARCH
|
74 DEMPO
|
|
Commodore
of the combined convoy was in DURBAN CASTLE, which
became Commodore of KMF 8 on
detachment, Vice Commodore in STRATHEDEN, which was
later Commodore of WS 26,
Rear Commodore in CIRCASSIA, later Vice Commodore of
KMF 8, while Vice
Commodore of WS 26 was in ARUNDEL CASTLE.
ANTENOR
returned to the Clyde 26.1.43 while LEOPOLDVILLE
joined WS 26 at sea on 4.2.43,
position unknown.
Escort
arrangements were complex with the WS 26 component
formed from the cutters
BANFF and FISHGUARD and frigate TEST 23 to 29.1, armed
merchant cruisers CANTON
and CILICIA and destroyers QUADRANT and RELENTLESS
23.1 to 6.2, destroyer
MIAOULIS and sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA 23 to 26.1,
destroyer ADRIAS 23.1 to 3.2
and destroyers QUALITY, QUIBERON, QUICKMATCH,
RACEHORSE and REDOUBT joining on
31.1 until arrival at Freetown on 6.2.43.
At
Freetown there was the first of several alterations in
sailing order, the
convoy sailing 9.2.43 in the following formation:
|
11
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
21
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
31
HMS WAYLAND
|
41
STRATHEDEN
|
51
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
|
61
MOOLTAN
|
|
12
SIBAJAK
|
22
CALIFORNIA
|
32
HMS CANTON
|
42
RUYS
|
52
MALOJA
|
62
DEMPO
|
|
13
VOLENDAM
|
23
ORDUNA
|
33
HMS CILICIA
|
43
CHYEBASSA
|
53
EMPRESS OF CANADA
|
63
DOMINION MONARCH
|
|
14
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
24
REMBRANDT
|
|
|
|
|
LEOPOLDVILLE
detached to Takoradi on 13.2.
Escort
was varied and large, destroyer ADRIAS to 13.2, armed
merchant cruiser CANTON
to 22.3, armed merchant cruiser CILICIA and destroyers
QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH
to 25.2, ocean boarding vessel CORINTHIAN to 13.2,
destroyer QUALITY to 20.2,
and RACEHORSE to 23.2 all from Freetown.
During
the passage, other escorts joined at varying dates:
corvette COMMANDANT
D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES 13 to 25.2, destroyers BLACKMORE 20
to 23.2, RELENTLESS 14
to 25.2, cruiser
CERES
22 to 23.2 and corvette GENISTA 22 to 25.2.
The
convoy arrived at Capetown 22.2 when ARUNDEL CASTLE,
CALIFORNIA, CHYEBASSA,
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, EMPRESS OF CANADA, HIGHLAND
CHIEFTAIN, ORDUNA, RUYS and
SIBAJAK entered that port and the Durban detachment
proceeded to arrive on
25.2.
Both
detachments made their rendezvous off Durban on 1.3,
again with varied ships
and in a changed formation:
|
11
ORDUNA
|
21
MALOJA
(Rear Commodore)
|
31
STRATHEDEN
(Commodore)
|
41
CITY OF PARIS
|
51
CALIFORNIA
(Vice Commodore)
|
|
12
ARUNDEL CASTLE
|
22
SELANDIA
|
32
DOMINION MONARCH
|
42
MOOLTAN
|
52
DEMPO
|
|
13
REMBRANDT
|
23
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
33
LANCASHIRE
|
43
DILWARA
|
53
CHYEBASSA
|
HMS
RESOURCE
was with the convoy.
DILWARA
returned to Durban with defects shortly after sailing,
and RESOURCE detached
9.3.43 to Kilindini; LANCASHIRE detached to Tamatave
escorted by COMMANDANT
DUBOC 6.3.
Escorts
from the Durban rendezvous were the corvettes JASMINE
and FREESIA to 3.3,
COMMANDANT DUBOC to 6.3, destroyers BLACKMORE,
CATTERICK, and RELENTLESS and
minesweeper CARNATIC to 4.3, cruisers CERES to 8.3 and
BIRMINGHAM
to 9.3,
corvette NIGELLA to 2.3. The cruisers
HAWKINS
joined the convoy 9.3, and
FROBISHER
10.3.
WS 26A
The
cruiser
FROBISHER
detached on 11.3 escorting the following ships ARUNDEL
CASTLE, CITY OF PARIS, HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN, MALOJA,
ORDUNA, REMBRANDT and
SELANDIA to Aden arriving off that port 15.3 when
ships dispersed for Suez as independents.
WS 26B
The
cruiser
HAWKINS
detached on 11.3 with CALIFORNIA, CHYEBASSA, DEMPO,
DOMINION
MONARCH, MOOLTAN and STRATHEDEN under this designation
for Bombay, arriving
there 17.3.
WS 27
Forming
off Oversay 27.2.43 in company with KMF 10A, the joint
convoy comprised the
ships shown below:
|
11C
LETITIA
|
21C
BOISSEVAIN
|
31C
CIRCASSIA
(Commodore)
|
41C
ALMANZORA
|
51C
ANTENOR
|
|
12C
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
22C
BATORY
|
32L
FRANCONIA
|
42C
STRATHAIRD
|
52L
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
|
|
|
33L
STRATHMORE
|
43L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
|
|
When the
KMF ships detached on 2.4, there was a considerable
shuffling of positions and
the WS convoy was formed as shown:
|
11
CAPETOWN CASTLE
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
ALMANZORA
(Commodore)
|
31
ANTENOR
|
|
12
STRATHMORE
|
22
STRATHAIRD
|
32
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
The
convoy arrived at Freetown 8.3.43 and the escort from
the UK was the sloops
EGRET and ERNE, cutter FISHGUARD, frigate TEST and
destroyer CLARE to 2.3,
destroyer QUADRANT to 5.3, battleship
MALAYA
and destroyers QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH,
RAIDER and WOLVERINE to 8.3.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 11.3, the positions of
ships are unknown but the
following sailed:
|
ALMANZORA
ANTENOR (Commodore)
BERGENSFJORD
CAPETOWN CASTLE
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
|
LEOPOLDVILLE
ORBITA
STRATHAIRD
STRATHMORE.
|
JAMES
LYKES joined from Marshall 12.3 and detached to
Takoradi 14.3, and DUCHESS OF
RICHMOND, RUYS and SIBAJAK joined from Lagos 14.3.
Escort
from Freetown comprised the corvettes CROCUS and
PETUNIA to 14.3, US destroyer
GHERARDI 15 to 17.3, RN destroyers QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH
and RAIDER to 24.3,
FOXHOUND, QUILLIAM and RACEHORSE 24 to 26.3. Cruiser
SUSSEX provided major ship
escort 11 to 26.3 and the corvettes ARMERIA and
BELLWORT, which brought out the
Lagos ships, remained with the convoy from 14 to 17.3.
ALMANZORA,
BERGENSFJORD, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, JAMES PARKER,
LEOPOLDVILLE, ORBITA, RUYS and
SIBAJAK arrived at Capetown 23.3, CITY OF BRISTOL and
SYDNEY STAR detached to
Port Elizabeth 24.3 (it is not known at what stage in
the passage these ships
joined the convoy), the remaining ships to Durban
26.3.43
Ships
sailed from Capetown 26.3 and made a rendezvous off
Durban 29.3 with ships from
that port, when the following formation was taken up:
|
11
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
21
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND
(Commodore)
|
31
ORBITA
|
41
CHRISTIAAN HUYGENS
41
STRATHAIRD
(same position number)
|
|
12
STRATHMORE
|
22
CAPETOWN CASTLE
(Vice Commodore)
|
32
RUYS
|
42
BERGENSFJORD
|
|
|
|
33
SIBAJAK
|
|
Escort
was the destroyers QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH and RAIDER from
Capetown to Durban,
CATTERICK, FOXHOUND, NAPIER and ROTHERHAM from Durban
to 1.4, cruiser
FROBISHER
29.3 to 5.4,
DURBAN
5 to 9.4 and armed merchant cruiser CARTHAGE 3 to 9.4.
BERGENSFJORD
detached to Kilindini 4.4, the convoy dispersed off
Aden on 9.4.43.
WS 28
Sailed
from the Oversay rendezvous 16.3.43 with convoy KMF
11, ships in both convoys
are shown below:
|
11C
RANGITATA
|
21C
WINDSOR CASTLE
|
31C
NEA HELLAS
|
41
STRATHNAVER
|
51C
HMS BULOLO
|
61C
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
71C
PERTHSHIRE
|
|
12C
BANFORA
|
22C
ORION
|
32L
OTRANTO
|
42C
HMS KEREN
|
52L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
62L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
72C
EMPIRE MIGHT
|
|
13L
CUBA
|
23C
ORMONDE
|
33L
ORONTES
|
43C
HMS LARGS
|
53L
BRITANNIC
|
63C
TEGELBERG
|
73
WAIPAWA
|
|
|
24C
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
34L
JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
44C
HMS ULSTER MONARCH
|
54C
SOBIESKI
|
|
|
The convoy
proceeded in this formation to position 36.09N, 09.46W
where, at 0745 GMT on
21.3 the two convoys parted, whereupon the sailing
order of WS 28 became:
|
11
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
|
21
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
31
STRATHNAVER
|
|
51
HMS BULOLO
51
PERTHSHIRE
(same position number)
|
|
12
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
22
OTRANTO
|
32
ORONTES
|
42
HMS LARGS
|
52
WAIPAWA
|
|
13
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
23
TEGELBERG
|
33
BRITANNIC
|
|
53
EMPIRE MIGHT
|
|
|
|
34
SOBIESKI
|
|
|
The
joint convoy was escorted from sailing by the
destroyer SKATE for 16.3 only,
and until 21.3 by the destroyers BADSWORTH, DOUGLAS,
EGGESFORD, GOATHLAND,
KRAKOWIAK and WHADDON and the sloops WOODPECKER and
WREN. After detachment, WS
28 was escorted by the destroyers MALCOLM, QUADRANT,
WITCH and WOLVERINE to
27.3 when the convoy arrived at Freetown.
The
destroyer ASHANTI was part of the escort from 21.3 but
detached to Dakar 22.3
with EMPIRE MIGHT which was disabled by a stokehold
fire and proceeded to
Dakar.
When the
convoy sailed from Freetown 30.3 there was a slight
alteration to column 4 in
that the cruiser
KENYA
took position 41 while the naval LSI KEREN also joined
in position 43, BULOLO and LARGS moving to 42 and 44
respectively; other ships
and positions were unchanged.
The
escort on sailing was the destroyers WITCH and
WOLVERINE to 4.4, MALCOLM to
5.4, cruiser KENYA and destroyers QUADRANT and REDOUBT
to 11.4. Destroyers
RACEHORSE and RELENTLESS joined 5.4 to 11.4, and
FOXHOUND, QUILLIAM and
ROTHERHAM 11 to 14.4.
The
convoy arrived at Capetown 11.4 when BRITANNIC,
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD, MONARCH OF
BERMUDA, TEGELBERG, WAIPAWA and WINCHESTER CASTLE
entered, LARGS and ULSTER
MONARCH going to Simonstown while the remaining ships
went on to Durban where
they arrived 14.4.43.
Ships
sailed Capetown 15.4 and Durban 18.4 to form a convoy
for Aden in the following
formation, the convoy omitting BRITANNIC and EMPIRE
MIGHT:
|
11
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
REINA DEL PACIFICO
|
31
STRATHNAVER
|
41
HMS BULOLO
|
51
PERTHSHIRE
|
|
12
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
|
22
OTRANTO
|
32
ORONTES
|
42
HMS KEREN
|
52
WAIPAWA
|
|
13
WINCHESTER CASTLE
|
23
TEGELBERG
|
33
SOBIESKI
|
43
HMS LARGS
|
|
Commodore
was now in STRATHEDEN (position not known).
Escorts
were the destroyers QUADRANT from Capetown to Durban,
REDOUBT and RELENTLESS
from Capetown to 20.4, NAPIER and RAIDER from Durban
to 20.4, cruiser KENYA 15
to 27.4, armed merchant cruisers CHITRAL to 27.4 and
CANTON to 30.4.
The
convoy dispersed off Aden 30.4.43.
WS 29
Sailing
from various UK ports, final departure from the Clyde
14.4.43 and assembly off
Oversay 16.4 in company with KMF 13, the combined
convoy being as follows:
|
11L
TROILUS
|
21C
BANFORA
|
|
41C
ORION
|
51A
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
61A
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
71L
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
12L
SILVERWALNUT
|
22C
CUBA
|
32C
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
42L
EMPIRE PRIDE
|
52L
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
62L
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
72L
PARDO
|
|
13L
EMPIRE KAMAL
|
23C
FRANCONIA
23C
STAFFORDSHIRE
(same position number)
|
33L
ORMONDE
|
43L
INDRAPOERA
|
53L
GLOUCESTER
|
63C
NEA HELLAS
|
73A
STRAAT MALAKKA
|
|
|
24C
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
|
34C
BOISSEVAIN
|
44C
NIEUW HOLLAND
|
|
|
|
The convoys
divided on 20.4, WS 29 then becoming:
|
11
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
21
ORION
(Commodore)
|
|
41
CITY OF EDINBURGH
|
|
12
TROILUS
|
22
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
32
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
32
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
(same position number)
|
42
PARDO
|
|
13
SILVERWALNUT
|
23
GLOUCESTER
|
33
NEA HELLAS
|
43
STRAAT MALAKKA
|
|
|
|
34
EMPIRE KAMAL
|
|
Escorts
were provided by the destroyer SHIKARI from Bristol
Channel to Oversay.
minesweeper SHIPPIGAN Liverpool to Oversay, destroyers
LAUDERDALE and VENOMOUS,
sloops WELLINGTON and WESTON and cutters GORLESTON and
TOTLAND and frigate EXE
and NESS 16 to 20.4 and cruiser
NEWCASTLE
and destroyer RAPID 16 to 28.4.
Convoy
arrived at Freetown 28.4, having been met on 26.4 by
the destroyers MALCOLM,
WITCH and WOLVERINE.
NEA
HELLAS detached independent on 20.4 to New York City
and GLOUCESTER on 24.4,
while CHINA MAIL joined from Dakar on 26.4.43
WS 29A
This
small convoy sailed from the Clyde 20.4.43, consisting
of AORANGI and CLAN
LAMONT escorted by the destroyers ANTHONY to 26.4,
BRISSENDEN 21 to 26.4, LEWES
20.4 to 4.5 and BOREAS 26.4 to 4.5. The ships arrived
at Freetown 4.5.43 to
join WS 29, having made their passage via Casablanca
and Dakar.
WS 29
The
combined convoy sailed from Freetown 6.5.43:
|
11
PARDO
|
21
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
31
ORION
(Commodore)
|
41
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
|
12
STRAAT MALAKKA
|
22
ALMANZORA
|
32
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
42
AORANGI
|
|
|
23
SILVERWALNUT
|
33
CLAN LAMONT
|
|
CITY OF
EDINBURGH, HIGHLAND PRINCESS and TROILUS accompanied
the convoy until 7.5 when
these ships detached to Takoradi.
Escort
was provided by the destroyers BOREAS and WITCH 6 to
8.5, MALCOLM, RAPID and
WOLVERINE 6 to 11.5, cruiser
NEWCASTLE
and destroyer LEWES 6 to 18.5. RACEHORSE
and RELENTLESS joined 11 to 18.5 and ROTHERHAM 11 to
16.5; QUADRANT 16 to 20.5
and NORMAN and REDOUBT 18 to 20.5.
The
convoy arrived at Capetown 18.5, ALMANZORA, ATHLONE
CASTLE, PARDO and
SILVERWALNUT entering, the remaining ships arriving at
Durban 20.5.
There
was considerable re‑organisation of the convoy while
in South Africa, the
Capetown section sailed 22.5.43 in the following
formation:
|
11
ALCOA PIONEER
|
21
ALMANZORA
21
ATHLONE CASTLE
(same position number)
|
31
ORBITA
|
|
12
LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE
|
|
32
PARDO
|
|
13
EMPIRE KAMAL
|
23
SILVERWALNUT
|
|
Of these
ships LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE and EMPIRE KAMAL were for
passage to Durban only.
Escort was provided by the destroyers RACEHORSE,
RELENTLESS and ROTHERHAM until
the rendezvous off Durban 26.5.
Off
Durban, junction was made with the ships from that
port which sailed 25.5 and
the convoy re‑formed:
|
11
ALCOA PIONEER
|
21
RUYS
(Rear Commodore)
|
31
CLAN LAMONT
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
STRATHMORE
(Commodore)
|
51
STRATHAIRD
|
61
ORBITA
|
|
12
SELANDIA
|
22
BERGENSFJORD
|
32
LEOPOLDVILLE
|
42
ALMANZORA
|
52
ATHLONE CASTLE
|
62
STRAAT MALAKKA
|
|
|
23
SILVERWALNUT
|
33
PARDO
|
|
|
|
SILVERWALNUT
returned to Durban with defects shortly after sailing.
Escort
from the Durban rendezvous were the destroyers NORMAN
to 28.5, QUADRANT and
REDOUBT from 25 to 29.5, RACEHORSE 26 to 29.5, cruiser
KENYA
26.5 to 1.6 and
armed merchant cruiser CHITRAL 1 to 2.6. Armed
merchant cruiser ALAUNIA joined
1.6 to escort WS 29A.
WS 29A
When the
convoy divided on 2.6.43, ALAUNIA escorted the Aden
section composed of ALCOA
PIONEER, BERGENSFJORD, CLAN LAMONT, LEOPOLDVILLE,
PARDO, RUYS and SELANDIA,
arriving at Aden 8.6.43.
WS 29B
The
Bombay section of ALMANZORA, ATHLONE CASTLE, ORBITA,
STRAAT MALAKKA, STRATHAIRD
and STRATHMORE escorted by the armed merchant cruiser
CHITRAL arrived at Bombay
10.6.43 after detaching STRAAT MALAKKA on 9.6 to
Karachi.
STRATHAIRD
and STRATHMORE sailed from Bombay to Colombo, as
convoy BM 54 escorted by
CHITRAL, arriving 15.6. They sailed again 20.6 as
convoy MB 38, still escorted
by CHITRAL, and returned to Bombay 23.6.43.
WS 30
Sailing
from Liverpool 18.5.43 and the Clyde 19.5, the joint
convoys assembled off
Oversay 21.5. KMF 15 comprised:
|
11C
ARAWA
|
21L
ORMONDE
|
31C
SAMARIA
|
41C
STIRLING CASTLE
|
|
12C
INDRAPOERA
|
22L
FRANCONIA
|
32C
DUCHESS OF YORK
|
42C
JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT
|
|
13L
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
23C
HMS
ROYAL SCOTSMAN
|
33C
HMS ROYAL ULSTERMAN
|
43C
BOISSEVAIN
|
these
ships forming columns 1 to 4 of the joint convoy. WS
30 comprised:
|
51C
SIBONEY
|
61C
H F ALEXANDER
|
71C
MATAROA
|
|
52C
ARGENTINA
|
62C
SLOTERDIJK
|
72L
BRISBANE STAR
|
|
53C
LETITIA
|
63L
DESEADO
|
|
forming
columns 5,6 and 7. On detachment on 25.5 at 1040 GMT,
the WS columns became 1 2
and 3 of the convoy, the relative positions of the
ships being unchanged.
BRISBANE STAR detached independent for Cristobal on
5.6.
Commodore
of the joint convoy, and of WS 30 was in SIBONEY.
The
joint convoys were escorted by the aircraft carrier
UNICORN, destroyers ACTIVE,
CLEVELAND, and SLAZAK, sloops LOWESTOFT, WELLINGTON
and WESTON, frigates EXE
and NESS and cutters GORLESTON and TOTLAND 19 to 25.5.
The armed merchant
cruiser ASTURIAS escorted 19 to 24.5, destroyer
SARDONYX 19 to 20.5 the cruiser
SUFFOLK
19 to 29.5 and destroyer BOADICEA 19 to 28.5.
On the
departure of the principal escort on 25.5, the
destroyers ANTELOPE, CATTERICK
and FOXHOUND joined from Gibraltar and escorted the
convoy to Freetown where it
arrived 29.5.43, having been joined by the armed
merchant cruiser CORFU from
24.5 to 29.5.
The
convoy sailed, with the same ships and formation, from
Freetown on 3.6, being
joined at sea by CUBA on 6.6, EXCELLER and SANTA
BARBARA on 13.6, EXIRIA 16.6
and SIBAJAK 18.6, the three latter ships for Durban,
arriving at Capetown 16.6
and Durban 19.6.
Escort
from Freetown was the cruiser SUFFOLK and destroyer
CATTERICK to Capetown,
armed merchant cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE to Durban,
armed merchant cruiser CORFU
and destroyer BOADICEA 3 to 6.6, destroyers RAPID,
WITCH and WOLVERINE 3 to
9.6, NORMAN, QUADRANT and REDOUBT 9 to 19.6, and NIZAM
15 to 19.6. The French
sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA was with the convoy on 13.6.
Only the
Durban section proceeded beyond South Africa, with the
addition of several
ships, sailing on 25.6 as below:
|
11
SIBAJAK
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
NIEUW HOLLAND
(Commodore)
|
31
KARAGOLA
|
|
12
GENERAL FLEISCHER
|
22
CUBA
|
32
SAGOLAND
|
|
|
23
SANTA BARBARA
|
|
Escort
was the destroyers NORMAN 25 to 29.6, QUICKMATCH and
ROTHERHAM 25 to 30.6,
armed merchant cruiser CANTON 28.6 to 1.7.
KARAGOLA
and SAGOLAND detached on 1.7 escorted by CANTON and
arrived at Kilindini 2.7;
the remaining ships proceeded, escorted by the armed
merchant cruiser ALAUNIA,
which joined on 1.7, for Bombay. SANTA BARBARA
detached independent for Colombo
3.7, GENERAL FLEISCHER and SIBAJAK independent for
Aden from 4.7; the two
remaining ships reached Bombay 9.7.43.
WS 31
Sailing
in company with KMF 17, the convoy assembled off
Oversay 21.6.43 as below:
|
11L
LARGS BAY
|
21L
BRITANNIC
|
31C
SANTA ROSA
|
|
12C
J W McANDREW
|
22C
CRISTOBAL
|
32L
SAMARIA
|
|
|
23L
SILVERTEAK
|
33A
TAMAROA
|
being
KMF 17 forming columns 1 to 3.
|
41C
STRATHEDEN
|
51C
GEN GEORGE W GOETHALS
|
61L
CITY OF LINCOLN
|
|
42C
JOHN ERICSSON
|
52L
RANGITIKI
|
62L
CLAN MACAULAY
|
|
43C
CLAN MACARTHUR
|
|
|
being WS
31 forming columns 4 to 6.
Commodore
of the joint convoys, and WS 31, was in STRATHEDEN,
Vice Commodore of WS 31 in
RANGITIKI.
When the
convoys divided on 26.6, WS 31 retained the same
formation, numeration becoming
columns 1 to 3.
Escort
from Oversay to 26.6 was the cruiser
UGANDA
and destroyers ARROW, BLANKNEY, BLENCATHRA, BRECON,
BRISSENDEN, HAMBLEDON, LEDBURY, MENDIP, VICEROY,
WALLACE,
WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON relieved from Gibraltar by
AMAZON, BLACKMORE, BULLDOG
and FOXHOUND which escorted to Freetown where the
convoy arrived 4.7.43. French
armed merchant cruiser QUERCY joined on 1.7 for
Freetown.
The re‑organised
convoy sailed from Freetown 6.7.43 formed as below:
|
11
JOHN ERICSSON
|
21
STRATHEDEN
|
31
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
41
CITY OF LINCOLN
|
|
12
GEN GEORGE W GOETHALS
|
22
STIRLING CASTLE
|
32
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
42
CLAN MACAULAY
|
|
13
CLAN MACARTHUR
|
23
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
33
ARAWA
|
|
ARAWA,
HIGHLAND BRIGADE, HIGHLAND MONARCH and STAFFORDSHIRE
joined at sea on 11.7 from
Lagos.
Escorts
from Freetown were the armed merchant cruiser CORFU to
10.7, destroyer FOXHOUND
to 12.7 and armed merchant cruiser QUERCY to 14.7,
destroyers BLACKMORE,
BULLDOG and WOLVERINE to 15.7. Destroyer WITCH and
corvette ARMERIA were
present 10 to 12.7, destroyers RAPID joined 12 to 21.7
and QUADRANT and REDOUBT
15 to 21.7. The convoy arrived at Capetown 21.7.43.
From
Capetown a reduced convoy sailed on 26.7 as below:
|
11
STIRLING CASTLE
(Vice Commodore)
|
21
STRATHEDEN
(Commodore)
|
31
HIGHLAND MONARCH
|
|
12
ARAWA
|
22
STAFFORDSHIRE
|
32
HIGHLAND BRIGADE
|
Escort
was provided by the cruiser DESPATCH and destroyers
QUADRANT and REDOUBT 26.7
to 4.8, and the cruiser
FROBISHER
4 to 13.8.43 on which date the convoy arrived
at Bombay.
WS 32
Sailing
with KMF 20 from Oversay on 20.7.43 the convoy
consisted of the following
ships:
|
11
CITY OF BRISTOL
|
21
HIGHLAND PRINCESS
|
31
MOOLTAN
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
MALOJA
(Commodore)
|
51
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
(one of two Rear Commodores)
|
61
ROCHESTER CASTLE
|
|
12
CHYEBASSA
|
22
VOLENDAM
|
32
ORION
(one of two Rear Commodores)
|
42
RANGITATA
|
52
MORETON BAY
|
62
COPACABANA
|
|
|
23
REMBRANDT
|
33
DEMPO
|
43
ESPERANCE BAY
|
53
ROWALLAN CASTLE
|
|
The
convoy divided in the evening of 25.7 in position
34.26N 12.34W, the
composition of WS 32 is shown below:
|
11
ESPERANCE BAY
|
21
MALOJA
(Commodore)
|
31
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
(Vice Commodore)
|
41
ROCHESTER CASTLE
|
|
12
ROWALLAN CASTLE
|
22
RANGITATA
|
32
MORETON BAY
|
42
COPACABANA
|
Escort
to the splitting position was the sloops EGRET and
PELICAN and frigates JED,
ROTHER and WEAR reinforced by the cruiser
CHARYBDIS
22 to 25.7. From 20.7 to
arrival at Freetown on 28.7 the destroyer BEAGLE and
frigates DERG, KALE and
TAY escorted, joined on 25.7 by the destroyer DOUGLAS
and frigate NESS.
From
Freetown the convoy sailed on 5.8 both in a new
formation and with additional
ships:
|
11
ESPERANCE BAY
|
21
MALOJA
|
31
HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
|
41
ROCHESTER CASTLE
|
|
12
NEA HELLAS
|
22
BRITANNIC
|
32
MORETON BAY
|
42
RANGITATA
|
|
|
23
TAMAROA
|
33
LARGS BAY
|
|
LARGS
BAY, NEA HELLAS and TAMAROA joined at sea 9.8, 8.8 and
9.8 respectively.
Escort
was provided by destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG and DOUGLAS
5 to 12.8, frigates
DERG, KALE and TAY 5 to 19.8, destroyer WOLVERINE 8 to
12.8 and destroyers
NORMAN, QUIBERON, RAPID and RELENTLESS 12 to 18.8. The
convoy arrived at
Capetown 18.8.43, sailed again 19.8 and arrived at
Durban 22.8.
A
reduced convoy sailed from Durban 28.8.43 as follows:
|
11
MALOJA
|
21
STRATHMORE
|
31
BRITANNIC
|
|
12
TAMAROA
|
|
32
LARGS BAY
|
Escort
was provided by the cruiser
HAWKINS
and destroyers NORMAN, QUIBERON and RAPID
28.8. to 3.9 when the cruiser
EMERALD
joined to take the convoy to Bombay where
it arrived 10.9.43. EMERALD took position 21 in the
convoy on joining,
displacing STRATHMORE to position 22; STRATHMORE
detached independent on 6.9
for Aden.
WS 33
This,
the last WS convoy, sailed in company with KMF 22 on
17.8.43. Positions are not
known, but the two convoys comprised the following
ships.
WS 33
|
ANTENOR (Vice Commodore)
BOISSEVAIN
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND (Commodore)
|
INDRAPOERA
JOHAN
DE WITT
ORMONDE
|
KMF 22
|
ARUNDEL CASTLE
CAMERONIA
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
DURBAN CASTLE
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
GLENARTNEY
|
MARNIX
VAN ST ALDEGONDE
MONARCH
OF BERMUDA
ORDUNA
OTRANTO
TEGELBERG
|
Unusually,
both sections of the convoy proceeded to Gibraltar,
with the WS 33 ships
entering that port on 24.8.43.
Escort
to Gibraltar was the aircraft carrier
HUNTER,
cruiser
SHROPSHIRE,
destroyer
WRESTLER, sloops CHANTICLEER, NARBADA and WESTON,
cutter TOTLAND and frigates
BARLE, ETTRICK and USK. The cruiser
CHARYBDIS
escorted 20 to 22.8.
WS 33
sailed from Gibraltar 4.9, escorted by the destroyer
BULLDOG, frigates BANN and
NESS, sloop WESTON, cutter TOTLAND and corvette
HYDRANGEA to arrive at Freetown
9.9.43, the destroyer DOUGLAS joining on 8.9.
The
convoy sailed from Freetown 14.9 escorted to 19.9 by
the destroyers
BEAGLE,BOADICEA, BULLDOG and WOLVERINE and frigate
BANN on a complex passage
involving calls at both Lagos and Takoradi by all
ships to load West African
troops.
Movements are best summarised as
follows:
17.9.43
BOISSEVAIN, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, ORMONDE arr Takoradi
18.9.43
ANTENOR, INDRAPOERA, JOHAN DE WITT arr Lagos, sailed
again on 21.9 and arrived
Takoradi 22.9.43 as convoy LGW 2.
22.9.43
BOISSEVAIN, DUCHESS OF RICHMOND sailed Takoradi,
arrived Lagos 23.9.43 as
convoy TGE 1.
24.9.43
ANTENOR, JOHAN DE WITT sailed Takoradi, arrived Lagos
25.9.43 as convoy TGE 2.
29.9.43
ORMONDE sailed Takoradi to rejoin WS 33.
30.9.43
all other ships sailed from Lagos, and convoy
re‑formed at sea.
Escort
from the final departure on 30.9 comprised the
frigates BANN, PLYM, TEVIOT and
TRENT.
The
convoy arrived at Capetown 9.10 to water ship, sailed
again 10.10.43 and
arrived at Durban 13.10.43.
Convoy
sailed from Durban 20.10.43 escorted by the armed
merchant cruiser CHITRAL,
destroyer RAPID and frigates BANN, TEVIOT and TRENT
arriving at Kilindini 26.10.43.
Sailing
from Kilindini 27.10.43, escorted by CHITRAL, BANN and
TEVIOT, the convoy
divided on 30.10 with the ships for Bombay proceeding
under the title of CM 46
(ANTENOR, BOISSEVAIN, INDRAPOERA, JOHAN VAN
OLDENBARNEVELT and ORMONDE) finally
arriving at Bombay 4.11.43. WS 33, ie the DUCHESS OF
RICHMOND, proceeded,
escorted by the destroyer RAPID and frigate TRENT, and
arrived off Aden 2.11.43
thereafter steaming unescorted to Suez where she
arrived 6.11.43, thus
terminating the Cape route to the Middle East.
