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3 Jan 1945

Convoy CU 53.

This convoy departed New York on 3 January 1945.

It was made up of the following ships (New York Section);
Antinous (American, 6126 GRT, built 1944), Borinquen (American, 7114 GRT, built 1931), Brazil (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929), Chickamauga (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Claymont Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), Empire Paragon (British, 9888 GRT, built 1944), Esso Wilmington (American (tanker), 10169 GRT, built 1942), Fort Henry (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1943), Fort Stevens (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Henry Gibbons (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943), Hubbardton (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Karsten Wang (Norwegian (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Kernstown (American (tanker), 10317 GRT, built 1944), Lightning (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Malvern Hill (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Marina (American, 5086 GRT, built 1942), Markay (American (tanker), 10342 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Mail (American, 7842 GRT, built 1941), Orpheus (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Paoli (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Sag Harbour (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Sea Robin (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944), Sirocco (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Spring Hill (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Stony Creek (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1943), Sturdy Beggar (American, 8271 GRT, built 1944), The Yakima (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944) and Yellow Tavern (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944).

The escort carriers HMS Thane (A/Capt. E.R.G. Baker, RN) and HMS Trouncer (Capt. B.J. Fisher, DSO, RN) were also part of this convoy carrying replacement aircraft.

On departure from New York the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Winslow (T/Cdr. W.T. Samuels, USN, with T/Capt. W.L. Benson, USN on board (Commander Task Group 61.1)) and the destroyer escorts USS Sellstrom (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Morrison, USCG with Cdr. J.H. Forney, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 23)), USS Ramsden (Lt.Cdr. S.T. Baketel, USCGR), USS Mills (Lt.Cdr. V. Pfeiffer, USCG), USS Rhodes ( Lt. A.C. Wagner, USCG) and USS Savage (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Norton, USCGR).

Also on 3 January 1945, four ships departed from Boston (Boston Section), these were the following;
General W.M. Black (American, 9943 GRT, built 1943), Santa Rosa (American (tanker), 9135 GRT, built 1932), Sea Tiger (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944) and Thomas H. Barry (American, 11250 GRT, built 1930).

They were escorted by the escort destroyers USS Gary (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Ayer, USNR, with Cdr. T.G. Murrell, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 57)), USS Brister (Lt.Cdr. R.D Tucker, USNR), USS Finch (Lt.Cdr. C.D. LeHardy, USNR) and USS Richey (Lt. R.J. Auge, USCG).

The two sections joined company around 1115R/4.

Around 1245Z/12, the convoy was divided into two sections in approximate position 49°20'N, 17°24'W.

English Channel section

This section was made up of the following ships;
Antinous, Borinquen, Brazil, Claymont Victory, General W.M. Black, Henry Gibbons, Karsten Wang, Lightning, Marina, Orpheus, Santa Rosa, Sea Robin, Sea Tiger, Spring Hill, The Yakima, Thomas H. Barry and Yellow Tavern.

The English Channel section was escorted by USS Sellstrom, USS Brister, USS Mills, USS Richey and USS Savage.

Around 0200A/14, the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) joined.

Around 0935A/14, the destroyers HMS Duncan (Lt.Cdr. D.G.D. Hall-Wright, RN) and HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. D.D. Bone, RN) joined.

Around 1815A/14, ten additional escorts, most of them from the 1st Escort Group joined, with HMS Balfour (Cdr. (Retd.) C. Gwinner, DSO, DSC, RN) as senior vessel [no further details available]. On these ships joining HMS Duncan and HMS Icarus parted company.

Around 1950A/14, five of the ships of the convoy parted company for Le Havre escorted by the ships of the British 1st Escort Group.

Around 2310A/14, two of the ships of the convoy parted company for Cherbourg escorted by USS Brister and USS Mills.

Around 0130A/15, four of the ships of the convoy parted company for Southend escorted by USS Richey and a British escort.

Around 0135A/15, the remaining ten ships of the convoy entered the Portsmouth Swept Channel escorted by USS Sellstrom and USS Savage. HMS Faulknor and HrMs Van Galen now parted company and set course for Plymouth.

Irish Sea section

The other section proceeded towards the Irish Sea by a route to the west of Ireland and was made up of the remaining ships and the remaining escorts.

Around 1040A/14, the Hubbardton parted company to proceed to the Clyde. She was escorted to the Clyde lightvessel by USS Rhodes.

Around 1130A/14, HMS Thane was detached to proceed independently to Belfast.

Around 1622A/14, the Bristol Channel section, made up of the Chickamauga, Esso Wilmington, Markay, Ocean Mail and Sag Harbour parted company. They were escorted by USS Gary, USS Finch and USS Ramsden.

Around 1640A/14, USS Rhodes rejoined the Liverpool section of the convoy.

Around 2015A/14, the Liverpool section of the convoy, made up of the Empire Paragon, Fort Henry, Kernstown, Malvern Hill, Paoli, Stony Creek as well as HMS Trouncer arrived at the Western Light Vessel and proceeded via the swept channel to the vicinity of the Bar Light Vessel to anchor. USS Winslow and USS Rhoades patrolled the area pending the entry of the ships of the convoy into Liverpool harbour.

19 Feb 1945

Convoy CU 59.

This convoy departed New York on 19 February 1945.

On departure it was made up of the following ships (New York Section);
Allatoona (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), Briar Creek (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Cape Avinof (American, 5124 GRT, built 1945), Cape Diamond (American, 5124 GRT, built 1944), Churubusco (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Crow Wing (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Edge Hill (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Empire Bounty (British (tanker), 12000 GRT, built 1944), Fort Ridgley (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), French Creek (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), James Lykes (American, 6760 GRT, built 1940), Lightning (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Marine Devil (American, 11757 GRT, built 1944), Marine Raven (American, 11757 GRT, built 1943), Marine Wolf (American, 11757 GRT, built 1944), Noonday (), Ocean Mail (), Paulus Hook (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Pine Bluff (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Queenston Heights (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1943), Robin Locksley (American, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Salmon Falls (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), Scotts Bluff (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1945), Sea Nymph (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Sea Robin (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944), Sea Serpent (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Surprise (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Towanda Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), Waxhaws (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Woodstock Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944) and Yaka (American, 6165 GRT, built 1944).

The escort carrier, HMS Battler (A/Capt. H. Norman, RN) [in an aircraft ferry role] and troop transport USS Monticello (Capt. L. Frisco, USNR) were also part of the convoy as was the RFA tanker Wave Empreror (8196 GRT, built 1944),

On departure from New York the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Winslow (T/Cdr. W.T. Samuels, USN, with T/Capt. W.L. Benson, USN on board (Commander Task Group 61.1)) and the destroyer escorts USS Thomas W. Gary (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Ayer, USNR, with Cdr. T.G. Murrell, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 57)), USS Brister (Lt.Cdr. R.D Tucker, USNR), USS Finch (Lt.Cdr. C.D. LeHardy, USNR), USS Mills (Lt.Cdr. V. Pfeiffer, USCG) and USS Richey (Lt. R.J. Auge, USCG).

At 0720Q/20, the Woodstock Victory had to stop due to engine trouble. USS Richey was detailed to escort her. They rejoined the convoy around 1930Q/20.

Around 1830Q/20, the Boston section of the convoy joined. This had departed Boston on the 19th and was made up of the following ships Bienville (American, 7626 GRT, built 1943), Hastings (American, 6065 GRT, built 1944), John Ericsson (American, 16552 GRT, built 1928), Edmund B. Alexander (American, 21329 GRT, built 1905) and USS Lejeune (T/Capt. F.W. MacDonald, USN).

On departure from Boston this section was escorted by the escort destroyers USS Sellstrom (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Morrison, USCG with Cdr. J.H. Forney, USCG on board (Commander Escort Division 23)), USS Ramsden (Lt.Cdr. S.T. Baketel, USCGR), USS Rhodes (Lt. A.C. Wagner, USCG) and USS Savage (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Norton, USCGR).

At 0530O/24, the Cape Diamond had to stop due to engine trouble. USS Ramsden was detailed to escort her. They rejoined the convoy around 1800N/25.

At 0730N/26, in approximate position 47°49'N, 22°45'W, the Irish Sea section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the following ships; Allatoona, Briar Creek, Churubusco, Empire Bounty, Fort Ridgley, French Creek, Paulus Hook, Wave Emperor and HMS Battler. USS Thomas W. Gary, USS Brister and USS Savage went with them as escorts.

At 1100A/28, to the west of Brest, the escort of the Channel section was reinforced by the destroyer HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN) and the escort destroyers HMS Tanatside (Cdr. B.J. de St. Croix, DSC, RN) and HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.D.E. Vivian, DSC, RN).

At 0030A/1, HMCS Iroquois was detached.

At 0045A/1, the escort of the Channel section was further reinforced by the frigates HMCS New Waterford (T/A/Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, DSC, RCNR), HMCS Teme (T/Lt. D.P. Harvey, RCNVR), HMCS Loch Achanalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.W. Hart, RCNVR), HMCS Loch Morlich (T/Lt. G.F. Crosby, RCNVR) and HMS Hotham (A/Lt.Cdr. S. Ayles, RNR).

At 0145A/1, the Pine Bluff and Sea Serpent were detached to Cherbourg escorted by HMCS New Waterford, HMCS Loch Achanalt and HMS Hotham.

At 0500A/1, the Edge Hill was detached to Southampton. Apparently unescorted.

At 0800A/1, the Cape Avinoff, Crow Wing, James Lykes, Lightning, Ocean Mail, Queenston Heights, Salmon Falls, Scotts Bluff and Waxhaws were detached to proceed to ports on the east coast of the U.K / Antwerp. They were escorted by HMS Tanatside and HMS Brissenden.

The remainder of the convoy arrived in Le Havre roads around 1330A/1. HMCS Teme and HMCS Loch Morlich were detached.

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The Irish Sea section had meanwhile proceeded towards the North Channel and was joined at 1635A/28, to the north of Ireland, in position 56°14'N, 07°59'W, by Force 33, which was made up of 4 corvettes of the 30th Escort Group; HMS Pevensey Castle (Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR), HMS Caistor Castle (A/Lt.Cdr. H. Hutchinson, RN), HMS Kenilworth Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.J. Allon, RNR) and HMS Launceston Castle (Lt. R.M. Roberts, RNR).

At 2345A/28, in position 55°08'N, 05°50'W the Empire Bounty was detached to Belfast escorted by USS Savage.

At 0500A/1, west of the Isle of Man, in position 54°04'N, 05°06'W the British support group Force 33 parted company.

At 0605A/1, in position 53°45'N, 05°08'W the Barry Roads section of the convoy was detached escorted by USS Brister. It arrived in the Bristol Channel late on the 1st.

USS Thomas W. Gary meanwhile continued with the Liverpool section, which included HMS Battler. The Liverpool section arrived at its destination in the afternoon of the 1st.

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