Transcribed from several documents received from Tony Cooper, England (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

Additional details have been added with the help of:
"Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer
"The World's Merchant Fleets", 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.

MOWT = Ministry of War Transport

Ships joining from Halifax only are included here.

The stations given are the pendants flown on departure; stations may have changed as the voyage progressed.

* Note that Washington is not included in the Advance Sailing Telegram. This ship may have been going out for other reasons; she shows up again in Convoy SC 81 (later joined Convoy PQ 17 to Murmansk at the end of June).

As mentioned, the ships denoted * joined Convoy PQ 16 to Russia, which sailed from Reykjavik on May 21 (see also SC 77). Syros was sunk on May 26 (U 703). Stary Bolshevik was damaged by aircraft attack on May 27, but could continue, while Steel Worker was struck by a mine dropped from German aircraft on June 3, in Murmansk Roads - no casualties.

Koll had ben sunk on Apr. 6 by U-571 - my page about Koll has more info, including crew list.

Nemanja, on a voyage from Macaris for Clyde, via Halifax, with 7207 tons of sugar, had been sunk on Apr. 8 by U-84. She had a crew of 47, 13 of whom perished, including 3 gunners (no mention of the passengers).

Trongate had a fire in her cargo (which included explosives) off Halifax on Apr. 11. Sunk by allied war ships.

Empire Lotus foundered in bad weather off Halifax on Apr 12-1942 - engine room flooded. No casualties.

The ships left port in the following order (from Ted's Halifax diary - as mentioned, some later returned):
The first ship to leave at 10:05 was Mary Luckenbach, followed at 10:57 by Empire Activity, and with a few minutes between each ship:
Empire Grebe, Baron Elgin, King Neptune, Kelvinbank, Drakepool, Prins Willem Van Oranje, Yorkmar, Alpera, British Glory, Granville, Selfoss (TFEB), Dean Emery (KOFG - ex American), Empire Lotus, Nathaniel Green, Titanian, John Randolph, Chernyshevski (many tanks), Sirehei (lumber), Calobre (long crates, 3 bombers), Ingertre, Shchors, Astrell, Kaweah (Naval tanker), Syros, West Nilus, Ville d'Anvers, Hybert, Stary Bolshevik, American Press, Havsten, Boris, Arosa, Empire Cranmer ("B" flag, I think this means she carried explosives), Standella, Solstad, Point San Pedro (4 masts), Aquila (Naval supply ship - K 47), Ioannis Frangos, Massmar, Charles R. McCormick, Troubadour, Theomitor (SVQE), Lord Cochrane, Mauna Kea, Sarnolite, Colorado, Wearwood, Reigh Count, Godafoss, Theoskepasti, Pan Gulf, Elisabeth Lensen, Lackenby, American Robin, Mount Taygetus, Steel Worker, Trekieve. The last ship to go out at 17:45 was Washington.

All the Norwegian ships in this convoy have been included on this website - use the alphabetical index below to fnd more information on them.

Related external link:
Russian Convoys

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