Convoy HX 300 explained

Conflict:Convoy HX.300
Partof:World War II
Date:17 July – 3 August 1944
Place:North Sea
Combatant2: United Kingdom
Commander1:Admiral Karl Dönitz
Commander2:Rear-Admiral Sir A T Tillard KBE DSO
Strength1:unknown
Strength2:159 merchant ships
32 escorts
Casualties1:unknown
Casualties2:none

Convoy HX 300 was the 300th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax to Liverpool. It started its journey on 17 July 1944 and was the largest convoy of the war, comprising 166 ships.

Background

These HX convoys had been established shortly after declaration of war; and the first sailed on 16 September 1939.[1] Ships in convoy were less vulnerable to submarine attack than ships sailing independently, but the Allies had difficulty providing an adequate number of escorting warships to establish a protective perimeter for detecting and defeating approaching submarines. British Admiralty operations research scientists evaluating convoy battles of 1941 and 1942 determined losses of ships in convoy were independent of convoy size, but varied with the number of attacking submarines and, when patrol aircraft were unavailable, with the number of escorting warships. They suggested convoy losses could be reduced by 64 percent by decreasing the frequency of convoys to increase the average number of merchant ships in each convoy from 32 to 54 and the number of escorting warships from 6 to 9.[2] Additional reduction of losses was theoretically possible with even larger convoys, but difficulties maneuvering large formations of ships and providing port services for simultaneous arrival of so many ships discouraged very large convoys until trade convoy escort warships were required to support the Invasion of Normandy. More than one hundred ships sailed in each of 7 ON convoys and 9 HX convoys during the summer of 1944. HX 300 was the largest of these with 166 merchant ships arranged in 19 parallel columns to produce a formation approximately 9miles wide and 4miles long.[3] Ships sailing from New York City on 17 July 1944 were joined by 30 merchant ships sailing from Halifax Harbour on 19 July, 24 sailing from Sydney, Nova Scotia on 20 July, and 3 from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador to form the largest trade convoy of the war.[4]

Escorting warships

Ships sailing from New York were escorted by United States Navy submarine chasers SC 1338 and SC 1340, and by Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) and s, and . Ships sailing from Halifax were escorted by WLEF minesweeper and corvettes,, and . Rosthern and the escorts from New York were detached when the remaining ships from Halifax assumed responsibility for the convoy on 20 July. Ships sailing from Sydney were escorted by WLEF s and, and Norwegian . The escorting warships from Sydney detached from the convoy after the escorting warships from Halifax assumed responsibility for the ships from Sydney on 22 July. The four warships from Halifax were detached when Mid-Ocean Escort Force group C5 and corvettes,,,,, and assumed responsibility for the convoy on 24 July. The latter two corvettes had escorted the merchant ships sailing from St. Johns. Naval trawlers HMS Cape Mariato and HMS Southern Spray assumed responsibility for the convoy in the Western Approaches on 2 August. The convoy was not attacked by submarines and arrived in United Kingdom ports by 3 August 1944.[5]

Results

After the seven Canadian warships of escort group C5 brought the largest convoy of the Battle of the Atlantic safely across the mid-ocean, many of the convoy's ships began offloading food, fuel, and materials to support the civilian population of the British Isles. One ship from the convoy waited in Loch Ewe to carry supplies to the United States garrison in Iceland; nine ships waited in the Firth of Clyde until convoy JW 59 formed to carry war materials to the Soviet Union; and 46 waited at Oban until channel ports were ready for them to offload food, fuel, and ammunition for Allied armies moving east from France, and trucks, jeeps, half-tracks, and locomotives to move those supplies to the front. HX 300 was one of six hundred World War II trade convoys from North America to the British Isles. The following list describes the British, American, Norwegian, Greek, Dutch, Panamanian, Polish, Yugoslavian, French, and Swedish ships of this convoy and the cargoes they were transporting.[4]

Merchant Ships

NameFlagDestinationTonnage (GRT)CargoNotes
Agia Marina (1912)Avonmouth4,151Grain & armoured fighting vehiclesJoined from Sydney
(1943)Europe7,244General cargoLiberty ship fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Aleksandar I (1927)Liverpool5,948Sugar
(1942)Immingham7,181General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship joined from Halifax
(1942)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
American Press (1920)Port of Hull5,131General cargo including explosivesJoined from Halifax
Ancylus (1935)Clyde8,017USN fuelsMerchant aircraft carrier tanker ferrying a deck-load of non-operational aircraft joined from St.John's, Newfoundland
(1944)Europe7,240General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Anna N Goulandris (1921)Thames4,358GrainJoined from Sydney
(1943)Europe7,176ExplosivesLiberty ship
(1942)Liverpool7,181Landing craft and locomotivesLiberty ship
Athelduke (1929)Bromborough8,966Molasses
Athelprince (1926)Salt End8,782MolassesJoined from Sydney
Athelregent (1930)Greenock8,881MolassesCarried 59 spare depth charges for escorting warships
(1944)Thames7,176General cargoLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
Baxtergate (1925)Thames5,531WheatJoined from Sydney
(1944)Europe7,182General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Bente Maersk (1928)Firth of Clyde5,722Gas oilServing as escort oiler
Bernhard (1924)Liverpool3,563Sugar
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
Bonita (1918)Thames4,929LumberJoined from Sydney
British Colonel (1921)Leith6,999Gas oilServing as escort oiler carrying 70 spare depth charges for escorting warships
British Promise (1942)Soviet Union8,443AlcoholCargo loaded at Philadelphia
Cairnvalona (1918)Tyne4,929Refrigerated general cargoJoined from Sydney fitted with HF/DF
Calobre (1919)Belfast6,891Motor vehicles
Cataraqui Park (1944)Bristol2,877LumberJoined from Sydney
(1942)Newport7,176Explosives and poison gasLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
(1944)Soviet Union7,176General cargo including locomotivesLiberty ship
(1943)Immingham7,194General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship joined from Halifax
Chesapeake (1928)Firth of Clyde8,955Diesel oil and aircraftServing as escort oiler carrying 58 spare depth charges for escorting warships
Christine Marie (1919)Rochester3,895WoodpulpJoined from St.John's, Newfoundland
(1942)Europe7,177General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax
City of Lancaster (1924)Thames3,041Asphalt, sugar & rum
City of Leicester (1926)Manchester3,351Flour & general cargoJoined from Sydney
Clan MacInnes (1920)Avonmouth4,672Flour & general cargoJoined from Halifax
(1944)Soviet Union7,198General cargo including locomotivesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
Clydefield (1928)Scapa Flow7,365Fuel oil
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Dalhanna (1930)Liverpool5,571Lard & general cargo
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1942)Liverpool7,181ExplosivesLiberty ship
Daylight (1931)Heysham9,180Petrol, oil & barges
Dimitrios Chandris (1910)Thames4,643General cargoJoined form Sydney
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship
Dramatist (1920)Liverpool5,443General cargo
Eastern Guide (1918)Loch Ewe3,704General cargo including lumber and 300 depth charges bound for Iceland
(1944)Europe7,240General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
(1943)Soviet Union7,176General cargo including locomotivesLiberty ship
Elg (1930)Greenock4,014Sugar & rum
(1944)Soviet Union7,176Locomotives & machineryLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax
Elisabeth Dal (1910)Manchester4,258WheatJoined from Sydney; constructive total loss following collision
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including pontoonsLiberty ship
(1943)Liverpool8,252GrainMerchant aircraft carrier joined from Halifax
(1941)Avonmouth6,327Ore concentrates
(1921)Hartlepool3,234General cargo including explosivesJoined from Sydney
(1942)Liverpool7,046Refrigerated general cargoCarried convoy commodore RADM Sir A T Tillard KBE DSO
(1943)Liverpool7,022Meat, flour & general cargoJoined from Halifax fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Evanger (1920)Tyne3,869General cargo including barges
Exilona (1919)Europe4,971General cargo including motor vehicles
Ferncourt (1938)Manchester9,918Diesel oil & armoured fighting vehiclesServing as escort oiler
Fluor Spar (1919)Cardiff5,055General cargo including explosivesJoined from Halifax
Fort Nipagon (1942)Thames7,132General cargo
(1944)Europe7,210General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176ExplosivesLiberty ship fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
(1943)Immingham7,176General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship
Franka (1918)Liverpool5,273Sugar
Frontenac (1928)Portsmouth7,350USN fuelServing as escort oiler carrying 10 spare depth charges for escorting warships
(1942)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Gatineau Park (1942)Hull7,128General cargo including ammunitionJoined from Sydney fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
(1943)Europe7,244General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Georgian (1920)Europe5,825General cargo including motor vehicles
Gerard Dou (1941)Thames7,242Sugar & general cargoCarried convoy vice-commodore Vice-Admiral Sir R H O Lane-Poole KBE CB
Gerassimos Vergottis (1920)Liverpool6,343WoodpulpJoined from Halifax
Glarona (1928)Manchester9,912Crude oil & aircraft
Gylfe (1930)Grangemouth6,129Diesel fuel
(1943)Europe7,180Military stores including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Hartlepool (1932)Tyne5,500LumberJoined from Sydney
Helder (1920)Liverpool3,629Sugar & rumJoined from Halifax
Henrik Ibsen (1906)Ipswich4,671GrainJoined from Sydney
Hoegh Hood (1936)Liverpool9,351USN fuel & aircraft
(1943)Scapa Flow7,218USN fuelLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including explosives & motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1943)Port of Hull7,176General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship joined from Halifax
(1944)Immingham7,200Explosives & machineryLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Jan Van Goyen (1919)Thames5,704Sugar & powdered milk
(1943)Firth of Clyde7,218USN fuelLiberty ship
(1944)Glasgow7,247General cargo including tractors & sulfurLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including trailersLiberty ship fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
(1943)Firth of Clyde7,176Locomotives & building materialsLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,191General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship
Junior Van Noy (1919)Europe2,372Military stores & explosivesArmy repair ship
Kohistan (1933)Glasgow5,884General cargo
Kronprinsessen Margareta (1914)Swansea3,746General cargo
Lansdowne Park (1943)Manchester2,861WoodpulpJoined from Halifax
(1943)Soviet Union7,176General cargo including explosives and locomotivesLiberty ship
Lista (1920)Manchester3,671General cargo including motor vehicles
Lucerna (1930)Thames6,556Gas oilServing as escort oiler carrying 50 spare depth charges for escorting warships
Macoma (1936)Firth of Clyde8,069USN fuelMerchant aircraft carrier joined from Halifax
Maliakos (1912)Thames3,903WoodpulpJoined from Sydney
Margarita Chandris (1920)Thames5,401GrainJoined from Sydney
Maud (1930)Liverpool3,189Sugar
Merchant Royal (1928)Manchester5,008NewsprintJoined from Sydney
(1942)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Mimosa (1905)Thames3,071LumberJoined from Sydney
Minerva (1930)Liverpool5,883General cargo including landing craft
Mobile City (1920)Europe6,157General cargoJoined from Halifax
Morska Wola (1924)Garston, Merseyside3,208General cargo including explosives
Mount Othrys (1919)Leith6,527GrainJoined from Sydney
Nacella (1943)Soviet Union8,196Aviation gasolineFitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Nanceen (1929)Thames2,895Woodpulp & motor vehiclesJoined from Halifax
(1943)Europe7,200General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Nathaniel Matthews (1944)Hartlepool2,437General cargo
(1944)Avonmouth7,240General cargoLiberty ship
Norma (1930)Liverpool4,487Sugar & general cargo
Norsk Tank (1928)Manchester9,720Fuel oil
Ocean Fame (1942)Thames7,173SugarFitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Odysseus (1913)Thames4,577Ammunition & general cargo
(1943)Europe7,244General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax
Ovula (1938)Southampton6,256Diesel fuel and aircraftServing as escort oiler
Peik (1930)Derry6,099Furnace fuel oilJoined from Halifax
Pencarrow (1921)Cardiff4,841GrainJoined from Sydney
(1942)Europe7,176ExplosivesLiberty ship
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehicles and explosivesLiberty ship
Pomona (1920)Europe7,583General cargoJoined from Halifax
Prometheus (1925)Liverpool6,095General cargo including motor vehiclesJoined from Halifax
Rapana (1935)Firth of Clyde8,017USN fuelMerchant aircraft carrier joined from Halifax
Riley (1936)Manchester4,993GrainJoined from Sydney
(1943)Europe7,191General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
Rudby (1924)River Tyne4,846GrainJoined from Halifax
Saintonge (1936)Thames9,386USN fuelServing as escort oiler carrying 60 spare depth charges for escorting warships
Salando (1920)Thames5,272General cargo including motor vehicles
Samfield (1943)Manchester7,219Steel & lumberFitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Samsperrin (1944)Liverpool7,219Grain
(1942)Europe7,177General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,191General cargoLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,176Motor vehiclesLiberty ship
(1942)Europe7,176General cargoLiberty ship joined from Halifax
San Valerio (1913)Isle of Grain6,493Furnace fuel oilServing as escort oiler
Senga (1913)Glasgow5,140Steel & woodpulpJoined from Sydney
(1943)Firth of Clyde7,176Locomotives and explosivesLiberty ship fitted with Anti-torpedo Net Device
Skeldergate (1930)Manchester4,251WoodpulpJoined from Sydney
Solstad (1927)Birkenhead5,952Lubricating oil
Stalowa Wola (1924)Sunderland3,133General cargo including explosives
Suerte (1910)3,649
(1944)Soviet Union7,210General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship
Thorshov (1935)London9,955Diesel fuel and aircraftServing as escort oiler carrying 60 spare depth charges for escorting warships
Tilapa (1928)Thames5,392Meat and general cargoJoined from Halifax
Torr Head (1937)Glasgow5,021Metal & general cargoVeteran of convoy ON 67; joined from Halifax
Trocas (1927)Thames7,406Furnace fuel oil
Tynebank (1922)Liverpool4,651Sugar
Voco (1925)Birkenhead5,090Lubricating oilCarried 60 spare depth charges for escorting warships
(1944)Soviet Union7,210General cargo including locomotivesLiberty ship
(1942)Liverpool7,177General cargo including explosivesLiberty ship
Wind Rush (1918)Cardiff5,586Motor vehicles and explosivesVeteran of convoy JW 51A and convoy ON 166
Winona (1919)Liverpool6,197General cargo including ammunition and motor vehiclesVeteran of convoy SC 7
Wisla (1928)Bristol3,106General cargoVeteran of convoy ON 154; joined from Halifax
Zamalek (1921)1,567convoy rescue ship
veteran of convoy PQ 17 and convoy SC 130
(1943)Europe7,176General cargo including motor vehiclesLiberty ship

References

Notes and References

  1. Hague 2000 pp. 126–129
  2. Potter & Nimitz (1960) pp. 557–558
  3. Potter & Nimitz (1960) pp. 543–545
  4. Web site: Convoy HX 300. Warsailors.Com. 2011-06-25.
  5. Web site: HX Convoy Series. Arnold Hague Convoy Database. 2011-06-25.