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Notable events involving Hibiscus include:

30 Aug 1940
The Norwegian merchant Norne is torpedoed and sunk 58 nautical miles west-north-west of Cape Wrath in position 58°48'N, 06°49'W by German U-boat U-32. HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. R. Phillips, RNR) later picks up 11 survivors.

18 Oct 1940
The British merchant Sandsend is torpedoed and sunk 254 nautical miles west-north-west of Rockall in position 58°12'N, 21°29'W by German U-boat U-48. HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. R. Phillips, RNR) later picks up 34 survivors.

28 Nov 1940

Convoy SL 57.

This convoy departed Freetown on 28 November 1940.

The convoy was made up the following merchant vessels; Baron Ardrossan (British, 3896 grt, built 1932), Beckenham (British, 4636 GRT, built 1937), Benvannoch (British, 6427 GRT, built 1921), Boskoop (Dutch, 5620 GRT, built 1927), British Fortitude (British (tanker0, 8482 GRT, built 1937), Burma (British, 7821 GRT, built 1914), Danmark (British (former Danish), 8391 GRT, built 1925), Defoe (British, 6245 GRT, built 1940), Godfrey B. Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929), Jessmore (British, 4099 GRT, built 1921), Kerma (British, 4333 GRT, built 1928), Lalande (British, 7453 GRT, built 1920)), Laplace (British, 7327 GRT, built 1919), Lombardy (British, 3379 GRT, built 1921), Mahanada (British, 7196 GRT, built 1914), Mobeka (Belgian, 6111 GRT, built 1937), Mulbera (British, 9100 GRT, built 1922), New Brooklyn (British, 6546 GRT, built 1920), Port Melbourne (British, 9142 GRT, built 1914), Streefkerk (Dutch, 6185 GRT, built 1921), Sylvia de Larrinaga (British, 5218 GRT, built 192) and William Wilberforce (British, 4013 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Bridgewater (A/Cdr. (Retd.) H.F.G. Leftwich, RN) and the A/S trawler HMS Bengali (Lt. F.R. Pike, RCNVR.

Around 2000N/29, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 1820N/30, HMS Bridgewater and HMS Bengali parted company with the convoy.

Around 1720Z/15, HMS Canton parted company with the convoy to return to Freetown.

Either late on 15 December or early on 16 December the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Lt. Adrian Paul Northey, DSC, RN), HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Gentian (Lt.Cdr. R.O. Yeomans, RD, RNR) and HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, RNR) joined.

Around 1430Z/16, the catapult ship HMS Pegasus (Capt.(Retd.) P.G. Wodehouse, DSO, RN) and the corvette HMS Periwinkle (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR) joined.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 19 December 1940.

6 Apr 1941

Convoy HX 119

This convoy departed Halifax on 6 April 1941 in two sections, convoy HX 119A and convoy HX 119B. They merged in the morning of April 13th.

Convoy HX 119A was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Argos Hill (British, 7178 GRT, built 1922), Bendoran (British, 5567 GRT, built 1910), Bra-Kar (Norwegian, 3778 GRT, built 1928), British Consul (British (tanker), 6940 GRT, built 1924), British Tenacity (British (tanker), 8439 GRT, built 1939), Brittany (British, 4772 GRT, built 1928), Ceronia (British (tanker), 4955 GRT, built 1929), Clan MacIlwraith (British, 4839 GRT, built 1924), Cliona (British (tanker), 8375 GRT, built 1931), Curacao (British, 8269 GRT, built 1930), Cymbula (British (tanker), 8082 GRT, built 1938), Davila (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, built 1938), Dolius (British, 5507 GRT, built 1924), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Goolistan (British, 5851 GRT, built 1929), Induna (British, 5086 GRT, built 1925), Kentar (British, 5878 GRT, built 1920), Lista (British, 3671 GRT, built 1920), Lobos (British, 6479 GRT, built 1921), Mangkalihat (Dutch, 8457 GRT, built 1928), Mount Helmos (Greek, 6481 GRT, built 1923), Oscilla (Dutch (tanker), 6341 GRT, built 1939), Port Auckland (British, 8789 GRT, built 1922), Port Sydney (British, 9129 GRT, built 1914), Radmanso (Swedish, 4280 GRT, built 1914), Reaveley (British, 4998 GRT, built 1940), Robert Maersk (British, 2290 GRT, built 1937), San Eliseo (British (tanker), 8042 GRT, built 1939), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Spondilus (British (tanker), 7402 GRT, built 1927), Toorak (British (tanker), 8627 GRT, built 1927), Trevalgan (British, 5299 GRT, built 1937), Tucurinca (British, 5412 GRT, built 1926) and West Totant (British, 5628 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Halifax convoy HX 119A was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Aurania (A/Capt. I.W. Whitehorn, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Chambly (T/A/Cdr. J.D. Prentice, RCN) and HMCS Orillia (T/Lt.Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, RCNR). The corvettes were detached to return to Halifax the next day.

The convoy was joined by the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) around 0900Q/8.

Around 1400P/11, HMS Revenge parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

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Convoy HX 119B was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Alphacca (British, 5759 GRT, built 1928), Barberrys (British, 5170 GRT, built 1920), Braddock (British, 6619 GRT, built 1919), Edward Blyden (British, 5003 GRT, built 1930), Gard (Norwegian (tanker), 8259 GRT, built 1938), Glaiglas (British, 4312 GRT, built 1940), Hermiston (British, 4813 GRT, built 1939), Idefjord (Norwegian, 4287 GRT, built 1921), Kars (British (tanker), 8888 GRT, built 1939), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Maasdam (Dutch, 8812 GRT, built 1921), Maihar (British, 7563 GRT, built 1917), Merchant Prince (British, 5229 GRT, built 1939), Mercier (Belgian, 7556 GRT, built 1915), Peder Bogen (British (tanker), 9741 GRT, built 1925), Rio Azul (British, 4088 GRT, built 1921), San Ernesto (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1939), Soekaboemi (Dutch, 7051 GRT, built 1923), Southgate (British, 4862 GRT, built 1926) and Tureby (British, 4372 GRT, built 1936).

On departure from Halifax convoy HX 119B was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare (Capt.(Retd.) H.M. Spreckley, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Cobalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.B. Campbell, RCNR) and HMCS Collingwood (T/Lt. W. Woods, RCNR). The corvettes were detached to return to Halifax the next day.

Around 0900P/13, Convoy HX 119B merged with convoy HX 119A.

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At 1215Z/14, the convoy was joined by the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. A.J.L. Phillips, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN).

At 1210Z/15, the armed merchant cruisers HMS Aurania and HMS Montclare parted company with convoy HX 119 (now combined).

At 1815Z/15, the destroyers HMS Havelock (Cdr. E.H. Thomas, RN) and HMS Hurricane (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Simms, RN) joined the convoy. Followed during the night of 15/16 April by the destroyers HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, OBE, RN) and HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN).

At 2130Z/16, HMS Norfolk parted company with the convoy to proceed to Hvalfjord.

On the 17th, destroyer HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN), sloop HMS Scarborough (Lt. A.P. Northey, DSC, RN) and corvettes HMS Auricula (T/Lt. W.W. White, RNR), HMS Campanula (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) and HMS Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.M. Faichney, DSO, RNR) joined the convoy.

On the 18th, destroyer HMS Rockingham (Lt. A.H.T. Johns, RN) and corvette HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) joined the convoy.

On the 19th, corvette HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, OBE, RNR) joined the convoy

On the 20th, HMS Havelock, HMS Hurricane, HMS Restigouche and HMS Saguenay parted company with the convoy.

On the 21st, HMS Viscount and corvette HMS Freesia parted company with the convoy.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 22 April.

27 Apr 1941

Convoy OG 60.

This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 27 April 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.

The Milford Haven section (sailed 25 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
British Dominion (British (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1928), Caledonia (British, 1268 GRT, built 1913), East Wales (British, 4358 GRT, built 1925), Nueva Granada (Norwegian (tanker), 9968 GRT, built 1937), Palacio (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927), Queen Anne (British, 4937 GRT, built 1937) and Selene (Swedish, 1347 GRT, built 1894). They were escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Vanity ( Lt. I.W.T. Beloe, RN) and the A/S trawler HMS Sphene ( Ch.Skr. W.J.J. Tucker, RNR).

The Liverpool section (sailed 26 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Ardeola (British, 2609 GRT, built 1912), Baltallinn (British, 1303 GRT, built 1920), Cressado (British, 1228 GRT, built 1913), Grelhead (British, 4274 GRT, built 1925), Polo (British, 1950 GRT, built 1919), Spinanger (Norwegian (tanker), 7429 GRT, built 1927), Waldinge (British, 2462 GRT, built 1925) and Zurichmoor (British, 4455 GRT, built 1925). With the Liverpool section the following escorts also sailed; destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Rockingham (Lt. A.H.J. Johns, RN), sloop HMS Deptford (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Thring, DSO, RN) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN), HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) and HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR). The corvette HMS Rhododendron (Lt.Cdr. W.N.M. Faichney, DSO, RNR) was also with them but she was only with the convoy briefly as she arrived at Tobermory on the 27th for A/S exercises after a repair period.

On 27 April 1941, HMS Vanity and HMS Sphene arrived at Belfast.

The Clyde section (sailed 27 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aldergrove (British, 1974 GRT, built 1918), Fano (British (former Danish), 1889 GRT, built 1922), Fendris (British, 1018 GRT, built 1925), Inga I (Norwegian, 1304 GRT, built 1921), Leonardia (Swedish, 1583 GRT, built 1906), Marit (Norwegian (tanker), 5563 GRT, built 1918), Nava (Swedish, 1456 GRT, buil 1928), Norwegian (British, 6366 GRT, built 1921), Procris (British, 1033 GRT, built 1924), Snar (Norwegian, 3176 GRT, built 1920) and Wallonia (Swedish, 1435 GRT, built 1919).

The Oban section (sailed 27 April 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Blairatholl (British, 3319 GRT, built 1925), Cara (British, 1760 GRT, built 1929), Empire Snipe (British, 2497 GRT, built 1919), Fanefjeld (Norwegian, 1354 GRT, built 1920), Hampton Lodge (British, 3645 GRT, built 1911), Henrik Ibsen (Norwegian, 4671 GRT, built 1906), Lily (Greek, 5735 GRT, built 1920), Magne (Swedish, 3103 GRT, built 1912), Sheaf Crown (British, 4868 GRT, built 1929) and Varangberg (Norwegian, 2842 GRT, built 1915).

Two further escorts joined coming from Londonderry on its final assembly, these were the sloop HMS Londonderry (Cdr. J.S. Dalison, RN) and the armed yacht HMS Philante (Capt.(Retd.) H.S. Bowlby, RN).

All escorts, except HMS Deptford parted company with the convoy on 30 April.

At 1845Z/1, in position 49°48'N, 19°50'W, the Lily left the convoy without orders to do so. She ignored signals to clarify her movements. She arrived at Halifax on 11 May 1941.

The ships with destinations in North America / Carribean parted company with the convoy at an unknown date, time and position [this is not listed in the convoy report]. The ships in question were the following;
British Dominion (arrived at Trinidad on 17 May), Fano (arrived at Sydney, Cape Brenton Island on 14 May), Grelhead (arrived in a Cuban port on 19 May), Marit (arrived at Curacao on 16 May), Norwegian (arrived at Quebec on 11 May), Nueva Granada (arrived at Curacao on 18 May), Snar (arrived at Tampa on 22 May), Spinager (arrived at New York on 15 May) and Zurichmoor (arrived at Halifax on 11 May).

The ships with destinations in the South Atlantic area parted company with the convoy at an unknown date, time and position [this is not listed in the convoy report]. The ships in question were the following;
East Wales (arrived at Durban on 7 June), Hampton Lodge (arrived at Freetown on 19 May) and Queen Anne (arrived at Capetown on 2 June).

Around 1607Z/3, in position 45°25'N, 20°44'W, the submarine HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. G.B.M. van Erkel, RNN) sighted the convoy which she then joined shortly afterwards.

The ships with destinations in Portugal and south-west Spain parted company with the convoy at an unknown date [most likely on 10 May], time and position [this is not listed in the convoy report]. The ships in question were the following;
Aldergrove (arrived at Leixoes on 13 May), Baltallinn (arrived at Lisbon on 11 May), Caledonia (arrived at Leixoes on 12 May), Cara (arrived at Huelva on 11 May), Cressado (arrived at Oporto on 12 May), Empire Snipe (arrived at Lisbon on 11 May), Fanefjeld (arrived at Seville on 11 May), Fendris (arrived at Oporto on 12 May), Inga I (arrived at Seville on 11 May), Leonardia (arrived at Seville on 11 May), Magne (arrived at Lisbon on 11 May), Procris (arrived at Oporto on 12 May), Selene (arrived at Lisbon on 11 May), Sheaf Crown (arrived at Huelva on 11 May), Varangberg (arrived at Huelva on 11 May) and Wallonia (arrived at Seville on 11 May).

The remainder of the convoy continued on to Gibraltar where they arrived on 10 May escorted by HMS Deptford and HrMs O 23.

The Henrik Ibsen continued on past Gibraltar to Melilla where she arrived on 11 May. (1)

10 May 1941

Convoy SL 74

This convoy departed Freetown on 10 May 1941 for the U.K. where it was dissolved on 4 June 1941.

It was made up of the following merchant ships;
Afghanistan (British, 6992 GRT, built 1940), Aliakmon (Greek, 4521 GRT, built 1913) retuned 11-04 after collision with Zephyros, Amstelkerk (Dutch, 4457 GRT, built 1929), Anselm (British, 5954 GRT, built 1935), Arosa (Norwegian, 5043 GRT, built 1924), Benalder (British, 5161 GRT, built 1919), Bonita (Panamanian, 4929 GRT, built 1918), City of Lyons (British, 7063 GRT, built 1926), Clan MacNair (British, 6096 GRT, built 1921), Corvus (Norwegian, 1317 GRT, built 1921), Empire Success (British, 5988 GRT, built 1921), Empire Trader (British, 9957 GRT, built 1908), Evros (Greek, 5283 GRT, built 1918), Gamaria (British, 5255 GRT, built 1918), Glenstrae (British, 9460 GRT, built 1922), Holmside (British, 3433 GRT, built 1930), Koumoundouros (Greek, 3598 GRT, built 1925), Liberian (British, 5129 GRT, built 1936), Llandaff (British, 4825 GRT, built 1937), Linge (Dutch, 2114 GRT, built 1928), Marsa (British, 4405 GRT, built 1928), Melpomene (French, 7011 GRT, built 1923), Nagara (British, 8791 GRT, built 1919), Nicolas Pateras (Greek, 4362 GRT, built 1910), Norita (Swedish, 1516 GRT, built 1924), Olivebank (British, 5154 GRT, built 1926), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), P.L.M. 17 (French, 4008 GRT, built 1922) left the convoy on 20 May with engine trouble, Pendeen (British, 4174 GRT, built 1923), Queensbury (British, 3911 GRT, built 1931), Rosenberg (Dutch, 2068 GRT, built 1918), Saturnus (Dutch, 2741 GRT, built 1909), Scotia (Swedish, 1874 GRT, built 1918), Shahristan (British, 6935 GRT, built 1938), Southern Empress (British, 12398 GRT, built 1914), Taurus (Norwegian, 4767 GRT, built 1925), Tombouctou (French, 5636 GRT, built 1919), Tovelil (Danish, 2225 GRT, built 1925), Trentbank (British, 5060 GRT, built 1929), Tudor Star (British, 7199 GRT, built 1919), Vassilios A. Polemis (Greek, 3429 GRT, built 1907), Viking Star (British, 6445 GRT, built 1920), Waterland (Dutch, 6847 GRT, built 1922), Wentworth (British, 5212 GRT, built 1919) and Zephyros (Greek, 4796 GRT, built 1909).

Escort was initially provided by the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Bulolo (Capt.(Retd.) R.L. Hamer, RN) (10 May 1941 to 3 June 1941) and the corvettes HMS Amaranthus (Lt. N.B.J. Stapleton, RNR), HMS Anchusa (T/Lt. P. Everett-Price, DSC, RNR), HMS Asphodel (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN) and HMS Calendula (Lt.Cdr. A.D. Bruford, RNVR). (All from 10 May 1941 to 19 May 1941).

They were joined on 12 May 1941 by the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. B.C.S. Martin, RN).

At 1300N/13, in approximate position 13°07'N, 19°22'W, HMS Bulolo sighted a ship which turned out to be the Vichy-French transport Bourbonnais (4484 GRT, built 1914). The ship was ordered to stop but she refused to do so initially. A shot was fired across her bow which resulted in the ship to stop. She was then boarded. It turned out that she was en-route from Dakar to Tamatave with stores and 400 native troops. HMS Bulolo and the Vichy ship then remained in the general area while the light cruiser HMS Dragon (Capt. R.J. Shaw, MBE, RN) was sent out from Freetown to take her over and then escort her to Freetown so that HMS Bulolo could rejoin the convoy. HMS Dragon joined around 0930N/14 and the Vichy ship was then turned over to her custody.

On 26 May 1941, HMS Dorsetshire parted company with the convoy to join the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck. She succeeded in making contact on the next day he delivered the coup de grace to her and torpedoed the heavily damaged German battleship from both sides and she sank soon afterwards. HMS Dorsetshire picked up German survivors until she was forced to leave the scene after a U-Boat alarm. More survivors had to be left in the water.

The convoy was joined by more escorts for the passage through the Western Approaces, these were;
Destroyer HMS Reading (Lt.Cdr. D.V. Clift, RN) and the corvettes HMS Gentian (Lt.Cdr. R.O. Yeomans, RD, RNR), HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR). These ships all joined on 30 May 1941 and remained with the convoy until it was dissolved on 4 June 1941. The destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN) and HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) also joined on 30 May but left the convoy on 2 June 1941. Finally the corvette HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) joined the convoy on 31 May and remained with it until dissolved on 4 June 1941.

26 May 1941

Convoy OG 63.

This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 26 May 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.

The Milford Haven section (sailed 24 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Dimitrios Inglessis (Greek, 5275 GRT, built 1918), Disa (Swedish, 2002 GRT, built 1918), Fjord (Norwegian, 4032 GRT, built 1914), Katvaldis (British, 3163 GRT, built 1907), Lapwing (British, 1449 GRT, built 1920), Osric (Swedish, 1418 GRT, built 1919), Pandis (Greek, 4981 GRT, built 1912) and Pelayo (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927). They were escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Vivien (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Beattie, RN), HMS Woolston (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN) and the A/S trawler HMS Paynter (Lt. R.H. Nossiter, RANVR).

The Liverpool section (sailed 25 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Avoceta (British, 3442 GRT, built 1923), Empire Dunlin (British, 6323 GRT, built 1919), Leonidas N. Condylis (Greek, 3923 GRT, built 1912), Lublin (Polish, 1409 GRT, built 1932), Marionga D. Thermiotis (Greek, 4784 GRT, built 1904), Solitaire (Norwegian, 3350 GRT, built 1920) and Vernon City (British, 4748 GRT, built 1929). With them the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Reading (Lt.Cdr. D.V. Clift, RN) and the corvettes HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) and HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) also departed Liverpool. With the Liverpool section the M/S trawlers HMS Runswick Bay (T/Lt. S. Sparrow, RNVR) and HMS St. Melante (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.C. Gilbert, RNR) also sailed for passage to the South Atlantic Station via Gibraltar.

From Preston the following merchant vessels sailed on the 25th;
Como (British, 1295 GRT, built 1910), Cortes (British, 1390 GRT, built 1919) and Erato (British, 1335 GRT, built 1923).

The Milford Haven section, Liverpool section and Preston section joined company around 1820B/25.

On the 26th, HMS Vivien, HMS Woolston and HMS Paynter arrived at Belfast.

The Clyde section (sailed 26 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Christine Marie (British, 3895 GRT, built 1919), Delilian (British, 6423 GRT, built 1923), Glen Head (British, 2011 GRT, built 1909), King Edward (British, 5224 GRT, built 1919), Mars (Dutch, 1662 GRT, built 1925) and Taberg (Swedish, 1392 GRT, built 1920). The sloop HMS Wellington (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN) and armed boarding vessel HMS Corinthian (A/Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR) also sailed with the Clyde section.

The Oban section (sailed 26 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Baron Lovat (British, 3395 GRT, built 1926), Belgravian (British, 3136 GRT, built 1937), Blairdevon (British, 3282 GRT, built 1925), Campus (British, 3667 GRT, built 1925), Dago II (British, 1993 GRT, built 1917), Empire Brook (British, 2852 GRT, built 1941), Empire Strait (British, 2841 GRT, built 1940), Shuna (British, 1575 GRT, built 1937), Tintern Abbey (British, 2471 GRT, built 1939), Waziristan (British, 5135 GRT, built 1924) and William Wilberforce (British, 4013 GRT, built 1930).

Around the time of the final assembly of the convoy the destroyers HMS Reading, HMS Vanquisher and HMS Winchelsea topped off with fuel at Londonderry while the corvette HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) also joined having departed Londonderry on 27 April.

HMS Vanquisher however arrived back at Londonderry on 29 May 1941 after having parted company with the convoy.

Around 0800A/30, in position 51°00'N, 21°40'W, HMS Reading, HMS Winchelsea, HMS Freesia, HMS Hibiscus and HMS Pimpernel parted company with the convoy.

Around 1130A/30, in position 50°50'N, 21°40'W, ships with destinations in North America and Caribbean parted company. This were the following merchant vessels;
Blairdevon (arrived at Clarke City on 9 June), Campus (arrived at Three Rivers on 9 June), Delilian (arrived at Quebec on 9 June), Dimitrios Inglessis (arrived at Montreal on 10 June), Empire Dunlin (arrived at Philadelphia on 13 June), Fjord (arrived at Wabana on 11 June), Katvaldis (arrived at Halifax on 9 June), King Edward (arrived at Three Rivers on 11 June), Marionga D. Thermiotis (arrived at Sorel on 11 June), Solitaire (arrived at New York on 15 June) and Vernon City (arrived at Philadelphia on 13 June).

Around 1900A/1, in position 44°00'N, 21°30'W, ships with destinations in the South Atlantic area parted company. This were the following merchant vessels;
Belgravian (arrived at Bathurst on 9 June [which seem a bit fast !?]), Christine Marie (arrived at Freetown on 18 June), Dago II (arrived at Bathurst on 13 June), Leonidas N. Condylis (arrived at Freetown on 14 June), Mars (arrived at Bathurst on 13 June), Waziristan (arrived at Pernambuco on 19 June) and William Wilberforce (arrived at Freetown on 13 June).

Around 2330A/1, the submarine HrMs O 23 (Lt.Cdr. G.B.M. van Erkel, RNN) and A/S trawler HMS Lady Hogarth (T/Lt. S.G. Barnes, RNR) joined the convoy.

At 1825A/5, the Italian submarine Velella sighted and reported the convoy in position 35°38'N, 11°22'W.

At 2312A/5, the Italian submarine Marconi also sighted the convoy.

At 0422A/6, the Marconi commenced to attack the convoy. A total of 6 (3x2) torpedoes were fired and the merchant vessels Baron Lovat and Taberg were hit and sunk in these attacks.

At 0604A/6, the Velella also attacked with torpedoes but no hits were obtained. Following this attack she was fired upon by HMS Wellington which claimed a hit near the conning tower but this was not the case.

At 0825A/6, a German Focke Wulf Condor aircraft attacked the convoy in position 35°58'N, 10°35'W, and managed to hit the merchant vessel Glen Head with one ore more bombs. She sank in two minutes.

At 1016A/6, the Italian submarine Emo sighted the smoke of a convoy in position 35°45'N, 10°15'W and six minutes later she sent out an enemy report. The submarine then closed to the attack.

At 1400A/6, in position 35°53'N, 09°46'W, the Emo made a submerged attack in which two torpedoes were fired and two ships were claimed sunk but this was not the case. The Tintern Abbey was in fact hit in No.4 hold but the torpedo failed to explode and only caused a small leak. HMS Wellington and HMS Lady Hogarth then searched for the attacked but were unable to gain contact.

Around 2045A/6, the motor launches ML 129 and ML 134 joined the convoy escort and were placed on either beam of the convoy.

Around 0140A/7, the corvette HMS Azalea (Lt. G.C. Geddes, RNR) joined the convoy escort.

Around 0600A/7, the motor launches ML 132 and ML 135 joined the convoy escort.

Around 0842A/7, the destroyer HMS Wrestler (Lt. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) joined the convoy escort. She parted company around 1237A/7.

Around 1240A/7, near Cape Trafalgar, the following merchant vessels parted company with the convoy to proceed directly to ports in Portugal and south-west Spain. This were the following merchant vessels;
Cortes (arrived at Lisbon on 9 June), Empire Strait (arrived at Lisbon on 8 June), Erato (arrived at Oporto on 9 June), Osric (arrived at Lisbon on 9 June) and Shuna (arrived at Huelva on 8 June).

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar around 1630A/7. (2)

30 May 1941

Convoy SL 76.

This convoy departed Freetown on 30 May 1941 for the U.K.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Albion Star (British, 7946 GRT, built 1919), Anadyr (British, 5321 GRT, built 1930), Asphalion (British, 6274 GRT, built 1924), Bactria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Bennevis (British, 5356 GRT, built 1918), Bothnia (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Calabria (British, 1277 GRT, built 1916), Cape of Good Hope (British, 4963 GRT, built 1925), Capo Olmo (British, 4712 GRT, built 1923), Cathrine (British, 2727 GRT, built 1919), Clan MacPherson (British, 6940 GRT, built 1929), Clan Murray (British, 5953 GRT, built 1918), Dahomian (British, 5277 GRT, built 1929), Diomed (British, 10374 GRT, built 1922), Djurdjura (British, 3460 GRT, built 1922), Eirini Kyriaidgou (Greek, 3781 GRT, built 1922), Elswick Park (British, 4138 GRT, built 1920), English Trader (British, 3953 GRT, built 1934), Glenapp (British, 9503 GRT, built 1920), Gudrun Maersk (British, 2294 GRT, built 1937), Hamla (British, 4416 GRT, built 1929), Hampton Lodge (British, 3645 GRT, built 1911), Harbury (British, 5081 GRT, built 1933), Hatasu (British, 3198 GRT, built 1921), Kana (British, 2783 GRT, built 1929), Kerma (British, 4333 GRT, built 1928), Kiruna (Swedish, 5484 GRT, built 1921), Lackenby (British, 5112 GRT, built 1928), Lafian (British, 4876 GRT, built 1937), Lerwick (British, 5626 GRT, built 1938), Leto (Dutch, 4712 GRT, built 1929), Macgregor (British, 2498 GRT, built 1919), Magdala (Dutch (tanker), 8248 GRT, built 1931), Marylyn (British, 4555 GRT, built 1930), Miguel de Larrinaga (British, 5231 GRT, built 1924), Montferland (Dutch, 5790 GRT, built 1921), New Brunswick (British, 6529 GRT, built 1919), Observer (British, 5881 GRT, built 1928), Ogmore Castle (British, 2481 GRT, built 1919), Orfor (British, 6578 GRT, built 1921), Peebles (British, 4982 GRT, built 1936), Rinos (Greek, 4649 GRT, built 1919), River Afton (British, 5479 GRT, built 1935), Rothley (British, 4996 GRT, built 1936), Sheridan (British, 4665 GRT, built 1918), Silverlaurel (British, 6142 GRT, built 1939), Sitoebondo (Dutch, 7049 GRT, built 1916), St. Clair II (British, 3753 GRT, built 1929), Steaua Romana (British (tanker), 5311 GRT, built 1914), Sutherland (British, 5170 GRT, built 1940), Tantalus (British, 7724 GRT, built 1923), Teucer (British, 9079 GRT, built 1906), Thode Fagelund (Norwegian, 5757 GRT, built 1920), Ella (British, 1575 GRT, built 1930), Umvuma (British, 4419 GRT, built 1914) and Weirbank (British, 5150 GRT, built 1925).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Moreton Bay (Capt.(Retd.) C.C. Bell, RN) and the corvettes HMS Amaranthus (Lt. N.B.J. Stapleton, RNR), HMS Asphodel (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) K.W. Stewart, RN), HMS Clematis (Cdr. Y.M. Cleeves, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Columbine (T/Lt. S.J. Lavis, RNR).

At 1410N/1, HMS Amaranthus parted company with the convoy to return to Freetown with engine defects.

At 2320N/1, HMS Clematis parted company with the convoy.

At 2010N/4, the destroyer HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) joined the escort of the convoy in position 18°23'N, 19°37'W.

At 1800N/6, HMS Velox parted company with the convoy in position 22°56'N, 19°41'W.

At 0600N/7, HMS Asphodel and HMS Columbine parted company with the convoy in position 23°40'N, 19°27'W.

Around 1200Z/10, the heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN) joined the convoy escort in position 32°26'N, 20°59'W.

In the early hours of 13 June the convoy was attacked by the Italian submarine Benedetto Brin which managed to sink two merchant vessels; the Djurdjura and the Eirini Kyriakides

At 1855/13, the convoy was joined in position 40°30'N, 22°35'W by the corvettes HMS Coreopsis (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR) and HMS Fleur de Lys (Lt.Cdr. L.M. Carter, RNR).

During the morning of the 14th, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Fleur de Lys fuelled from HMS Moreton Bay.

During the fuelling of the corvettes the light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.A.A. Larcom, RN) joined around 1130Z/14 in position 42°09'N, 22°07'W.

At 1030Z/16, the armed boarding vessel HMS Corinthian (A/Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR) joined in position 47°25'N, 21°47'W.

At 1600Z/16, the armed boarding vessel Maron (Cdr. (Retd.) J.H. Blair, DSC, RD, RNR) joined in position 47°55'N, 21°51'W.

At 1630Z/16, the destroyers HMS Roxborough (Lt. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) and ORP Piorun (Cdr. S. Hryniewiecki) joined in position 47°55'N, 21°51'W.

At 2200Z/16, HMS Cumberland and HMS Sheffield parted company with the convoy in position 48°48'N, 21°48'W.

In the early hours of the 17th the merchant vessel Cathrine, which had straggled from the convoy, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-43.

At 1730Z/18, the destroyer HMS Westcott (Cdr. I.H. Bockett-Pugh, RN) and the corvettes HMS Auricula (T/Lt. W.W. White, RNR), HMS Marigold (T/Lt. J. Renwick, RNR) and HMS Periwinkle (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR) joined.

At 1740Z/18, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Fleur de Lys parted company.

At 0620A/19, the destroyer HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St.G. Orpen, RN) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) and HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) joined in position 53°44'N, 17°35'W.

At 2000A/19, HMS Roxborough parted company.

On 21 June 1941 the convoy arrived in British waters and at 0625A/21, the convoy split in position 55°50'N, 08°00'W. The Clyde, Belast, Mersey and Bristol Channel sections of the convoy (25 ships) proceeded up the North Channel escorted by HMS Moreton Bay, HMS Corinthian, HMS Maron, HMS Westcott, ORP Piorun, HMS Marigold, HMS Auricula, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Fleur de Lys. The remainder of the convoy proceeded to Oban where it arrived around 1900A/21 escorted by HMS Wanderer, HMS Hibiscus, HMS Periwinkle and HMS Freesia.

In the early hours of 22 June the Swedish merchant vessel Calabria, a straggler of convoy SL 76, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-141.

3 Jul 1941

Convoy SL 80.

This convoy departed Freetown on 3 July 1941.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Agioi Victores (Greek, 4344 GRT, built 1918), Christine Marie (British, 3895 GRT, built 1919), Dago II (British, 1993 GRT, built 1917), Emmy (Greek, 3895 GRT, built 1914), Empire Lough (British, 2824 GRT, built 1940), Medon (British, 5444 GRT, built 1923), Modasa (British, 9070 GRT, built 1921), Mulbera (British, 9100 GRT, built 1922), Perth (British, 2259 GRT, built 1915), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939) and Stad Haarlem (Dutch, 4518 GRT, built 1929).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, RN), destroyer HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), corvettes HMS Amaranthus (Lt. N.B.J. Stapleton, RNR), HMS Bergamot (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.P. Chapman, RNR), A/S yacht HMS Surprise (Capt.(Retd.) E. Stubbs, RN) and the M/S trawler HMS Canna (T/Lt. G.C.L. Payne, RNVR).

Around 1845N/7, HMS Canton parted company with the convoy after having been relieved by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Esperance Bay (Capt.(ret) G.S. Holden, RN). HMS Canton then proceeded on patrol in the mid-Atlantic.

On 8 July 1941, HMS Highlander parted company with the convoy.

On 9 July 1941, HMS Surprise parted company with the convoy.

On 11 July 1941, HMS Amaranthus, HMS Bergamot and HMS Canna parted company with the convoy.

On 23 July the destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. W.T. Couchman, OBE, RN), HMS Wolverine (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Rowland, RN), HMS Verity (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and the corvettes HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) and HMS Periwinkle (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR) joined.

On 26 July HMS Verity was detached to Belfast after having sustained serious damage below the waterline due to having collided with HMS Broke. She arrived at Belfast on 27 July.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 27 July 1941.

27 Sep 1941
HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. H. Roach, RNR) picks up survivors from the British fighter catapult ship HMS Springbank that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-201 in convoy HG-73 north-north-east of the Azores in position 49°09'N, 20°10'W.

28 Sep 1941
HMS Hibiscus (Lt.Cdr. H. Roach, RNR) picks up 34 survivors from the British merchant Margareta that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-201 in convoy HG-73 south-west of Cape Clear in position 50°15'N, 17°27'W.

12 Nov 1941
HMS Tuna (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed from Holy Loch for her 10th war patrol. She is to patrol off the Norwegian Coast. Tuna was escorted out by HMS Hibiscus (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) until 0100/14.

No logs are available for this period so no map of this patrol can be displayed. (3)