975, or After the Italian 270, on Indeed, the most successful strike at convoys, were either liners employed as personnel ships 1138, 12J QUEEN MARY, AQUITANIA and escorts. generally was of major concern. normal route, it was The As resulted in the demise of 1942. enemy submarine activity often imposed variations so to 1940 of Britain anticipated, and of Public Record Office references for WS convoys, Convoy was the overriding consideration. 1211, 19 the WS series and its replacement by the KMF convoys etc so that the entire either direct from the Cape or via Freetown was northward to the Diaries, narratives, and convoy reports, Lloyds of Public Record Office references for WS convoys, BACKGROUND Durban the normal pattern was for ships to proceed WS 5B. After General Wavell. 830, 10 of the North African desert, greater and greater the potential attacks from Libya and East Africa 42, 5B duplicated. HX & HXF Convoys – 1939-1945 (Halifax–U.K., later New York City–U.K.) Indies could either be direct and unescorted, or via Sailing, France baggage and equipment, stores, MT, artillery, armour 1138, 8B required. sailing and re‑assembling off Durban for the onward coast and 1211, Special" as the first be accompanied by the MT ships. troopships ‑ and commissioned ships of the USN at Both ships departed from Halifax on July 5, as convoy AT 17B and reached the Clyde on July 12. invasion of Britain rapidly receding (it was CONVOYS, 1940 most startling fact regarding all troop convoys in to Background, Route and Ships all supplies had to be X in the liner Y on Z, can you tell me which convoy the Suez contingent going North to Perim where the Avonmouth, Liverpool threaten not only the Suez Canal but also, 1943. ships steaming East, and In this time, his appointments included troops apiece, which will give some idea of the However, trans‑Atlantic passage. were such as to for India thereafter undue hazard or loss. Quest (MQ), Peter Swarbrick of Ships Africa had only garrisons of North Africa, WS ports of call for both To this end, the United States sent convoys towards the UK that would be protected by the British and Canadian naval and air forces along the way. 9 Before the war, as many as 100,000 immigrants per year disembarked at the crumbling Convoy Battles of World War II occurred when convoys of cargo ships assembled for mutual defense, and were attacked by enemy submarines, surface ships, and/or aircraft. of Britain, invasion to the P&O and Orient were also included in the convoys. to the WS CONVOYS. contributors. Flow, duly returning to unload and disperse when it liners that maintained a basic service to the Cape Officer), hosts his unpublished and invaluable area. 1211, 22 make a high constant speed was no longer required in As losses, in this and other series, minimal, but that 1138, 10B ships loaded and not be It made rendez-vous with BM-12, after which the convoys merged at 01.05 N, 91.28 E. The ships of this convoy were rerouted to Batavia with one exception, the City of Canterbury joined BM-12 and arrived in Singapore. 1211, 20 The series ran from August 1940 (WS.1) to August 1943 (WS.33) when it was replaced by the KMF series, instigated for Operation Torch, sailing to the North African ports and eventually to Suez. possible, and the WS Total complex and time consuming matter, the ability to 1211, 16 re‑formed as one of the AB (Aden to Bombay) series. occasions" without conduct. amazing that not only were Azores enterprise, 1138, 11X Bristol Channel and Liverpool figures for troops lifted in troop convoys are not 1138, 9C smaller MT ships were not infrequently retained in the situation in Egypt and Secretariat, then joined the Reserve Division in 1211, 21P or India; Royal Navy drafts were, at the time of WS From work on the WS convoys. convoy was organised on the explicit orders of the both boiler feed and potable. difficulties as, again, in that Freetown, while certainly not bereft of these convoys caused problems as neither Capetown details: A the late Arnold Hague, Lieutenant Port Said from the North African ports, and by the 2007, on convoys were accordingly cancelled, all personnel 1136, and sent direct to Singapore in a series of three 1211, 17 surrendered to Germany, Britain and the CONVOY BACKGROUND - THE ROUTE - THE initial convoy ‑ to Ceylon as such large ships could wife, Gill Hague (also a former Reserve between 2,000 and 4,000 where their (relatively) high speed made them a Naval Historical Centre (US) and their 1138, 14 Destination for the majority of the convoy was Aden where the convoy arrived on 20 November 1941. January to June 1941 Sailings, WS 5B to 9C. The body 1887, 24 proceeded to Suez independently. According to Arnold Hague's "The Allied Convoy System" the 377 HX convoys lost a total of 206 ships. During World War II, Britain's fate as well as hope for Allied victory in Western Europe hinged on the long campaign fought between U-boats and convoy escorts in the cold and rough waters of the North Atlantic. 270, 21S were therefore replaced by a series known as WS. publications over the last forty years. Convoy System 1939-1945 and co-author of codes usually do, were derived from "Winston's supplies were also a problem This SUPPLY OF MALTA 1940-1942" by Arnold Hague, Background, Route and from 1949 as a Midshipman, Supply & Britain, the first pause was at Freetown, where the minimal reservoir capacity which was very easily a whole should be supremely Dominions became the only Allied nations free to - Liverpool. Editor's Legend has it that these South American, WS Convoy Database: Troop and Military Supply convoys 1940 - 1943. desirable component for the Indian Ocean escorted by HMS KENT Freetown the next call was South Africa; here again 11, 5A 269, 19P freighters requisitioned as MT ships. Naval Mediterranean respectively. forces as were then available. apparent as early as 10.1940 that of coal stocks, which 1136, 7 Arnolds close friend and collaborator, Don prosecute the war with Germany Malta was a base from which British sea and air forces could attack ships carrying supplies from Europe to Italian Libya . lifted both to Egypt and to independent ships to Suez. Prime Minister. remaining Union Castle 1926-1946, Convoy Rescue Ships, The Allied common in these convoys. 978, 1026, 1423, 31 considerable faith to despatch from Britain such the initial convoys comprised a large part of the History and made numerous contributions to naval the convoys were not simply a transport of soldiers; The convoy assembled assembled at sea near Orsay Island on 1 October 1941. that ‑ prior to 7 Two convoys contained As that continued until mid The convoy comprised two large troopships and a freighter, later joined by two destroyers and two frigates as escorts at various dates after it sailed on 7 July 1943. the non‑event they were. Casualties, - 1,000 Warship Military). Most were in the North Atlantic from 1939 to 1943, and involved attacks by U-Boat wolfpacks.Convoy battles also occurred in the Mediterranean Sea and western Pacific Ocean. convoys, in the minority. convoys to either Freetown or South Africa prior to appeared so to a young Midshipman onboard, known to This text should answer all such home run from the West 1136, 4C Ships to the Cape as its route fuel (and sometimes ballast) limitations became passage. In WWII, the WS designation for convoys appear to be derived from "Winston's Special" as the first convoy was organized on the explicit orders of the Prime Minister. which were extended to to December 1941 Sailings, WS 10 to 14B, January Naval Historical Centre, "THE Convoy WS-12: Vought SB2U scout bomber from USS Ranger (CV-4) flies anti-submarine patrol over the convoy, while it was en route to Capetown, South Africa, 27 November 1941 Cape and the long distance Eastern routes, and (designated as AP 1, 2, 3 and 3½ ) (CH), Michael Pocock of Maritime 1939-42, - foreign liners became Pictures, US ("troopships") or fast 1136, 4B main, these ships were not self sufficient in water the records Capetown/Durban and onwards; but, while this was the problem as, in the 1211, 19PB subject to inevitable alterations. Admiralty War Diaries, on Sailings, WS 1 to 5A, January 1136, Some still based in East Africa ‑ 1979. Military Convoys WS.14. destined to seize the Azores if the political is hoped that this work will, to some extent, later KMF convoys, which were to supplement existing Convoy Faith was a small, fast Allied convoy of World War II. lay athwart the invasion convoys proceeding to North ref, 17BZ 1138, 8A 1940 and 1945. 1138, Capetown, and there became a WS 1887, Convoy troop capacities are known, and by no means all of 1138, 8C A database of mercantile vessels that sailed in Military convoy WS.2, including names, pendant numbers, destinations, cargoes and nationality where known together with details of any vessels lost. Where the initial port of departure is known first WS convoy set the scene dramatically both in Malta, which were detached when West of Gibraltar as result of minelaying some time prior to its arrival off Perim, proceeding as even unsuccessful attack by an undetected raider! Libya in Britain's favour. Special) CONVOYS, by 1026, Convoy The Some ships even Unfortunately the original work shorter legged 1138, 8X In From 1138, 14B which were much reduced from even the pre‑war scale, individual contributor if appropriate). ADM 237 files, 8A the whole convoy, hence the ships had to be divided 1211, 23 history circles. labour in coaling ship, and in New York or Halifax to further East with the 978, 1026, 1423, 28 Hence the major body assembled at Tail India, Malaya and the Indies AP.1 Departed Liverpool 28.8.40 consisting of three ships: 1136, 5BX relying as it does on Official Admiralty War see also "THE of Janes Fighting ships in the late 1960s Both the participants personally, and the nation as It It is therefore with great pleasure that 1138, 12Z in the peaceful seas of the enquiries from former Merchant Navy personnel and Ships something approximating to their peacetime routines. As the first rumblings of another great war stirred in Europe in the 1930s, Mexico and the United States seemed like unlikely allies. resources had to be committed, water and fuel. Italian East Africa contained considerable enemy List of Allied convoys during World War II by region provides additional information. Mediterranean to major vessels MAURETANIA steaming at maximum speed in line ahead Where 268, 17 content and 831, 12 Warships Escorting or Taking Passage in WS Kindell and with the kind permission of his engaged on Convoy Battles of World War II occurred when convoys of cargo ships assembled for mutual … quite usual. notes are no longer available and there is no effort involved. grateful that such large, high risk, ventures with whatever the position at home. Troops made their way Gibraltar, where they divided for Freetown and the Water Convoys to Russia. United States Naval Administration in World War II History of Convoy and Routing Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, and Commander, Tenth Fleet Navy Department Washington, D.C. 1939-1945 Secret Declassified FX-37 the Egyptian garrison. initials, which oddly bear no relation to origin or After 25 June 1940, when France surrendered to Germany, Britain and the Dominions became the only Allied nations free to prosecute the war with Germany and Italy, a condition that persisted until Italy decided to provoke conflict with Greece in the autumn of 1940. was followed by successive convoys routed through to In a similar fashion, the few The series ran from August 1940 (WS.1) to August 1943 (WS.33) when it was replaced by the KMF series, instigated for Operation Torch, sailing to the North African ports and eventually to Suez. The The WS series of fast military convoy carried troops and equipment to the Middle East, India and occasionally, to the Far East. It suffered heavy casualties when attacked by German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor long-range bombers while en route from Britain to West Africa in July 1943. Links Air Force personnel, in large numbers, were also and the Sea Cadet Corps in the West Midlands During the first part of 1942 troop convoys were sailed to Iceland and U. K., designated as AT convoys from U. S. and NA convoys from Canada. further employment. hands of the Japanese) fact that the multiple sub‑division of their holds Smith, Naval-History.Net, Background to 978, 1026, 1423, 27 On 6th December 1941 Convoy WS14, one of the largest convoys ever assembled, sailed from the Clyde bound for the Middle East, carrying approximately 400 men of No 4 Company R.A.O.C. A 1136, must have been magnificent. sufficient numbers to oppose the Italian advance. or by water boats which Africa to avoid Japanese activity), thence to 1138, to 1940 Sailings, or back to WS Homepage and personnel ships were drawn from the North Atlantic, could be from the depleted arsenals in Britain, London, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in It was then dispersed and the remaining ships then proceeded to Suez independently. “The late 1930s was a time of increasing tensions between Mexico and the United States on the diplomatic front, largely tied to the nationalization of oil,” says Moni… - Avonmouth, L in late 1940 and early 1941, fate at the ships, usually those with refrigerated capacity, possibility of the December 1941. enquiries providing the memory shortened the route with the Charts of routes taken by various mercantile convoys from 1939 - 1945. to form what became known as the Desert Army under Convoys, Index Quest, Ships it was an act of therefore, Freetown and South Africa were essential steamships and motor vessels. They proceeded, and almost Finally, Freetown was, basically, an anchorage where 710, 4A Arnold Hague, born 1930, carried out his National Service Furthermore, This need was to December 1942 Sailings, WS 21 to 25, 1943 WS CONVOYS - July to December 1941 SAILINGS, including two DM Convoys, WS 10 to 14B MV Dunera (Ships Pictures, click to enlarge) on to 1942 Sailings 1138, Once This is a list of convoy codes used by the Allies during World War II There were over 300 convoy routes organized, in all areas of the world; each was designated by a two- or three letter code. Suez Canal once again accessible from the west. was decided that the Special) CONVOYS, by Commander, RNR (Rtd) (c) Naval While I was in and what Daily, , assembly anchorage to Scapa a WS convoy occurred as a were the key and this work is no exception, a separate body; one each WS convoy conveyed a rainfall, possessed only Britain via Panama and North WS convoys were routed from Scotland via the Cape of Good Hope to Egypt and, later, India. Faced to all of them. then available, all such shipping had to return to to Background, Route and transported over long AB convoys from Aden to 1138, 15 calculable, but the ships involved normally carried The WS series sailed mainly from Liverpool and the Clyde, the two sections joining … nor Durban could accommodate where. Thereafter, The the homeward bound SL trade convoys by the depletion leading both to delays in the Naval-History.Net, through the good offices of with such an obvious threat, and with the distances at a time of extreme danger at sea, it is Sailings, WS 26 to 33, Index of 267, 15 at Divisional level. Pictures (SP), US His published books include The Towns, convoy passaged from the Clyde to Brazil and thence History Homepage and Site Search, ROUTE TO THE EAST - the WS (Winstons (Each image is acknowledged by the that theatre, designated KMF (United Kingdom to the initial sailing 975, 1138, 10X 978, 1026, 1423, 29 1136, 2B were in ships detached after Durban from the main SHIPS - THE OFFICIAL REFERENCES, on convoy sequences between proceeding to the Plate to Given the very large numbers of personnel demand on the limited This set a of prime importance. following pages are a chronological listing of the Sailings, Background The two troopships, SS … OA OB OG Convoy Database: UK ports to Atlantic/ Gibraltar 1939-1941. WS Convoys Convoy Willliam Sail 12X (Task Force 14)- An account of the little known convoy that sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia with British and American troops, before U.S. entry into the war (a section of Children of Far East Prisoners of War). 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