Note that some of these ships had been transferred from Convoy HGF 23.
See also the earlier Convoy OA 105G going in the other direction.

Crossed out ships did not sail.

Br=British, Da=Danish, Sw=Swedish, Gr=Greek, Hun=Hungarian, Eg=Egyptian, Ca=Canadian, Fr=French

Total distance of voyage: 1547 miles.
Total duration: 9 days 11 hours.
Average speed: 6.81 knots.

Summary of Vice Admiral Goldsmith's narrative of voyage:
The Convoy left Gibraltar at 15:40 GMT on March 20-1940, 37 ships. Llanwern and British Dominion did not sail (for info, Llanwern is listed in Convoy HX 38 from Halifax to the U.K. in Apr.-1940, so she obviously crossed the Atlantic soon after HG 23 had sailed. I believe Gretavale was also in that convoy). Speed was 5 knots while the convoy was forming up, in fine weather with a southeasterly wind. The ships were assembled at 17:00, 5 miles 180° from Carnero Point, course 254°. Speed was increased to 6 knots at 17:30 and to 7 knots at 18:45. The air escort, which had been with the convoy since departure, left at 18:50, Tarifa being abeam at 19:00, and 5 minutes later course was altered to 262°.

At 06:28 the following morning, March 21, speed was increased to 7.5 knots, and zig-zagging was commenced at 07:30, with all 37 ships still present. Easterly wind, generally overcast. Speed was further increased to 8 knots at 08:15. Angele Mabro could only do 7 knots, so she lagged behind during the afternoon and by 17:00 she was out of sight. At that time course was altered 4° to 266°.
Gretavale parted company for San Domingo at 19:30 in 35 41N 09 24W.
Zig-zagging was ceased at 23:00, then half an hour later course was altered to 286° - 35 38N 10 04W. It being a clear night with a full moon, zig-zagging was recommenced at midnight.
Day's run (from 17:00 March 20 to 12:00* 21st): 142 miles, average speed: 7.47 knots.

*I'm not entirely sure whether this should be midnight or 12 noon; but the document does give the time as 12:00, rather than 24:00 on each day of the narrative).

35 ships were present at dawn on March 22, Angele Mabro still missing. Fresh northwesterly wind, rough sea. Zig-zagging was ceased at 08:30, convoy speed being only 7 knots. Course was altered 30° to 316° at 10:30 that morning and to 342° at 11:00, in 36 03N 11 47W. Zig-zagging was recommenced at 18:00.
Day's run (from 12:00 21st to 12:00 22nd): 190 miles, average speed: 7.92 knots.

The next morning, March 23, there was a north/northwesterly wind with a moderate northerly swell. The convoy had zig-zagged through the night. The speed logged at that time (7.5 knots) proved too much for Pacific, which started to drop astern at 08:50 that morning and finally disappeared out of sight at 10:55. Early that afternoon (13:25) speed was reduced slightly, as the convoy was well ahead of the time for the local escort rendezvous at Western Approaches, set for dawn the following Wednesday (March 23 was a Saturday). Also, zig-zagging was ceased at 15:45 because the ships were finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their stations at such a low speed in the heavy swell. Course was altered to 003° at 16:00, 39 36N 13 16W, and speed further reduced to 7 knots at 18:15.
Day's run (from 12:00 22nd to 12:00 23rd): 198 miles, average speed: 8.25 knots.

At 07:12 the following morning (24th), the convoy still being ahead of time, speed was reduced to 6 knots - fresh westerly wind and rough sea. 2 ships still missing.
Day's run (from 12:00 23rd to 12:00 24th): 160 miles, average speed 6.67 knots.

Early in the morning of March 25 the wind increased to gale force, with a very rough sea. Speed increased at 07:16 to 7 knots by revolutions, but during the afternoon only 4.5 knots was being logged over the ground. Anthippi N. Michalos, Kehrea and Turul started to drop astern and were out of sight by nightfall. At 18:30 course was altered to 023°, 44 08N 12 40W.
Day's run (from 12:00 24th to 12:00 25th): 118 miles, average speed: 4.92 knots.

The gale continued to blow from the northwest throughout the night, with an extremely heavy sea, and speed was reduced to 3.5 knots. 30 ships present at dawn, March 26, Baltara having dropped out during the night.
Mexphalte left for Port Jerome at 13:30 that day, in 45 10N 11 45W.
Convoy course was altered to 018° at 14:12 in 45 12N 11 42W.
Day's run (12:00 25th to 12:00 26th): - 96 miles, average speed: 4 knots.

At dawn on March 27 there was still a strong wind blowing from the north/northeast and a heavy swell, though the gale had begun to decrease in strength at midnight. 29 ships were present at 07:00, speed 4.5 knots. The local escort vessels (HMS Campbell, Walker and Volunteer) were sighted about half an hour later in 46 26N 10 59W. Course was altered at 09:30 to 037° to the splitting up point, 144 miles away. Convoy speed was increased to 6 knots that afternoon, the weather having improved.
Days run (from 12:00 26th to 12:00 27th): 113 miles, average speed: 4.71 knots.

The convoy (29 ships) arrived at the splitting up point 48 28N 08 45W at 06:33 on March 28, in fine weather with a north/northwesterly wind and slight swell, 7.25 knots.

The following ships left for English Channel ports at the above time and position, in charge of the Vice Commodore in City of Simla and escorted by HMS Scarborough, HMS Wellington and HMS Campbell:
For London: City of Simla, Cape York, Harmonides, West Point, Baron Yarborough, Baltrover, Turkistan, British Motorist, Petrel, Cavallo, British Industry (the destination of the latter had been changed from Falmouth to London).
For Portland: Baron Saltoun (destination had changed from Hull), Blairmore (destination changed from Middlesbrough), Blairesk (destination changed from Tyne) - all proceeding to Portland for de-gaussing.
For Falmouth: Silvio (destination changed from Liverpool, proceeding to Falmouth for provisions).
For Ipswich: Kingsborough.
For Le Havre: Victolite, Ontariolite.
(Pacific, destination changed from Hull to Portland for degaussing, and Angele Mabro for London were missing).

The Commodore's portion of 11 ships now altered course to 026°, commenced zig-zagging at 10:00. Convoy OA 117 was passed on the starboard beam at 16:30 that afternoon, heading south (this convoy had left Southend on March 26). At 17:00 course was altered to 023°, and zig-zagging was ceased at 19:00.
Day's run (from 12:00 27th to 12:00 28th): 168 miles, average speed: 7 knots.

Zig-zagging was recommenced at 01:00, March 29, when the moon was up. At dawn 10 ships remained, the Greek Despina missing. Southerly wind with slight sea, 8 knots. 5 ships parted company at 08:00 (named at * below), and at 08:55 The Smalls were abeam. 5 ships now remained, namely Arabian Prince (Commodore), Clydebank, Vasaland, Gerd, and Patrai (Anthippi N. Michalos, Baltara and Turul were missing - see below). Owing to poor visibility zig-zagging was ceased at 09:17, and at noon course was altered to 011° in 52 09N 05 50W, then to 005° at 14:12 in 52 27N 05 45W, and shortly thereafter zig-zagging was recommenced (14:30), but ceased later that afternoon at 16:45, the wind blowing very hard from the southwest. A single line was formed ahead at 19:35, and at 21:30 course was altered to 085°, 53 28N 05 14W, then to 050° at 22:16, and to 085° at 23:30.
Day's run (from 12:00 28th to 12:00 29th): 210 miles, average speed: 8.75 knots.

At 04:20, March 30, the 5 ships, escorted by Walker and Volunteer, arrived at the Bar Light Vessel, having sailed a total distance of 1547 miles for 9 days and 11 hours, at an average speed of 6.81 knots.

* The following 5 ships had parted company for Bristol Channel ports at 08:00 on March 29 in 51 46N 06 20W:
For Avonmouth: Starcross.
For Swansea: British Unity, Derrynane.
For Bristol: Fendris, Philotis.
(Kehrea, bound for Sharpness, was missing).

From the Commodore's notes re ability to maintain speed:
Angelo Mabro - missing since 17:00/21.
Pacific - missing since 11:00/23 (bound for Portland for degaussing, destination changed from Hull).
Kehrea (for Sharpness), Anthippi N. Michalos, and Turul (both for Liverpool) - missing since 07:00/25.
Baltara (for Liverpool) - missing since 07:00/26.
Despina - missing since 05:30/29.

Commended for very good station keeping and signalling:
Derrynane, Captain H. Perrett.
Fendris, Captain D. Mackay.
Starcross, Captain H. Burgess.
British Unity (captain not named).
Vasaland, Captain C. Kjellberg.
Gerd, Captain J. Thomsenn.

Bad station keeping:
Baltara, Captain M. Leak.
Blairmore, Captain R. Adamson,
Philotis, Captain B. McMilland.

Escorts:
Ocean: HMS Wellington and Scarborough from Gibraltar.
Local Escort: HMS Campbell, HMS Walker, HMS Volunteer.
Local escort met at 07:29 on March 27 in 46 26N 10 59W, the convoy being about 12 hours late owing to a heavy gale.

Air Escort:
From Gibraltar on day of departure March 20 - parted company at 18:50, abeam of Tarifa.
From 07:45 on March 21 in 36 47N 07 26W till 17:00 in 35 43N 09 02W.
From 07:28 on March 28 in 48 36N 08 40W till 18:30 in 49 52N 07 37W.
From 06:53 on March 29 in 51 37N 06 26W till 18:55 in 53 10N 05 18W.

Related external link:
HG (& SL) Convoys - In chronological order.

Back to Convoy Index