Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.

The ships are listed in the order in which they appear on the various documents.
Crossed out ships did not sail, underlined ships returned to port.

For info, a number of the ships in this convoy later returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 202 (ONS 18).

Notes:
Commodore, Admiral Sir R. P. Drax K.C.B. was in Norwegian Laurits Swenson, Vice Commodore was Captain H. Jolivet of Empire Lancer. Commodore's vessel considered by the Commodore to be "Admirable. Clean, efficient, most comfortable. Captain Rød is a fine seaman and a good navigator".

72 ships sailed from New York, 12 from Halifax.

Average speed: 8.13 knots.

Daily positions of convoy at 08:00 DST, as well as distances sailed from noon to noon, w/average speed each day are available on request via contact address provided at the bottom of this page.

The Rescue Vessel Copeland was on her 24th voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on July 9-1943 with the westbound Convoy ON 192, to Halifax July 20, then returned with HX 251 from Halifax on Aug. 9, to Clyde Aug. 23-1943. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).

Empire Pibroch (91) returned to New York on Aug. 8.
Empire Cavalier (65) 'reported needing 50 tons fresh water and is unable to reach U.K." Sent to Halifax at 16:00 Aug. 10, with HMS Chelsea(?).
El Mundo (114) reported tube trouble in 2 boilers, sent to St. John's at 06:00 Aug. 12 (air cover ordered for her).
Nicholas Biddle (44) stopped for slight defects. Proved a constant straggler, ordered to stragglers' route Aug. 16.
Robert Trimble (13), Peter V. Daniel (46), and Casimir Pulaski (14) dropped astern due to wind and sea "which were not heavy" and failed to rejoin.
Other stragglers: Kelmscott, British Respect, Moveria, British Valour, Empire Chapman, Lucerna, Chester Valley.

The Commodore says:
"S.S.Copeland and her signal staff have been most useful in helping Commodore with news of stragglers, passing signals etc.". He is, however, very unhappy with a few other ships, saying "Judging by results, the Masters of No.'s 91, 114, 44, 13, 14, 46 (and pershaps 65) had no justification for representing that their ships were fit to cross the Atlantic with a 10 knot convoy. 83 other ships were delayed by having them in the company. It is disappointing to all concerned to go to sea with a 10 knot convoy and then to find that several ships can barely do 9.5 in smooth water, dropping rapidly to 8 or 7 knots when the sea gets up. The slow ships, in self-defence, are apt to blame the Commodore for going too fast (e.g. shortly after leaving New York I received a signal 'do you intend to continue your present speed of 10.25 kn?'. On enquiry, my Captain and 2 other ships said that we were going 9.3). It is suggested that any ships known to have delayed a 'fast' convoy should usually in future revert to slow convoys."

The convoy was almost 2 days behind time, partly due to holding back for stragglers, partly due to swell and strong headwinds between Aug. 13 and 18.

"Meeting other ships at an R/V in thick fog is always difficult, especially if they are on converging courses. For example, on 2nd July, some 50 ships from the South, steering N.N.W., had to meet 8 ships from Aultbea steering S.W. at an R/V 12 South of Barra Head. Visibility was half a cable. Possibility of collision was avoided by turning the main body to 300° some 10 miles South of the R/V. Suggest that orders be given before sailing that, in thick fog, each party will, so far as navigational dangers permit, turn to a prearranged course when within 5 or 10 miles of the R/V. This order is, I believe, usually given by that able officer who holds the appointment of N.C.S.O., Halifax (Captain Banyard).

Many ships fitted with nets have only 10 knot speed, and cannot maintain convoy speed with both nets streamed. It is slow and clumsy to signal 'Ships on Starboard side of Commodore, get out stbd. nets, ships on port side of Commodore, get out port nets'. A new signal is needed in the book, say - 'Get out nets on one side, whichever is the more exposed. Optional, get out nets on both sides if you can maintain convoy speed'."

Escorts:
5 with C.O. HMS Chelsea, relieved by B 6 escort group (Ocean Escort) at noon Aug. 13, Senior Officer in HMS Fame (10 escorts all total) - left when reaching longitude 7°W.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Most of the ships listed as American in the table above were Liberty Ships. This website lists them alphabetically. As will be seen, quite a few of the Liberty Ships in this convoy had just recently been delivered, which is probably why the Commodore says, "some American ships lack experience and are bad at signalling".
This site has more on the the "Fort" and "Park" ships.
Empire Ships listed in alphabetical order. The site also has a section listing the Liberty ships.

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