uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving St. Apollo include:

12 Oct 1940

Convoy SL 51.

This convoy departed Freetown on 12 October 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adda (British, 7816 GRT, built 1922), Armathia (British, 4683 GRT, built 1919), Baarn (Dutch, 5621 GRT, built 1927), Bactria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Balingkar (Dutch, 6318 GRT, built 1921), Barneveld (Dutch, 5597 GRT, built 1928), Baron Elphinstone (British, 4635 GRT, built 1937), Baron Maclay (British, 6317 GRT, built 1924), Beaconsfield (British, 4635 GRT, built 1938), Benrinnes (British, 5410 GRT, built 1921), Bereby (British 5248 GRT, built 1919), Breda (Dutch, 6941 GRT, built 1921), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), British Mariner (British (tanker), 6996 GRT, built 1922), British Officer (British (tanker), 6990 GRT, built 1922), British Prestige (British (tanker), 7106 GRT, built 1931), British Reliance (British (tanker), 7000 GRT, built 1928), British Security (British (tanker), 8470 GRT, built 1937), City of Canterbury (British, 8331 GRT, built 1922), Clan Macfadyen (British, 6191 GRt, built 1923), Clan Mackinlay (British, 6365 GRT, built 1918), Clan Macnair (British, 6096 GRT, built 1921), Delane (British, 6054 GRT, built 1938), Dunkwa (British, 4752 GRT, built 1927), Ernebank (British, 5388 GRT, built 1937), Gdynia (Swedish, 1636 GRT, built 1934), Grena (Norwegian (tanker), 8117 GRT, built 1934), Harborough (British, 5415 GRT, built 1932), Mahseer (British, 7911 GRT, built 1925), Marklyn (British, 3090 GRT, built 1918), Marquesa (British, 8979 GRT, built 1918), Muncaster Castle (British, 5853 GRT, built 1928), Nailsea Manor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937), Niceto de Larrinaga (British, 5591 GRT, built 1916), Noesaniwi (Dutch, 6737 GRT, built 1936), Pendrecht (Dutch (tanker), 10746 GRT, built 1939), Primero (British, 4414 GRT, built 1925), Sardinian Prince (British, 3491 GRT, built 1922), Scottish Prince (British, 4917 GRT, built 1938), South Africa (Norwegian (tanker), 9234 GRT, built 1930), Stentor (British, 6148 GRT, built 1926), Teucer (British, 9079 GRT, built 1906), Thorshavet (Norwegian (tanker), 11015 GRT, built 1938), Tongariro (British, 8729 GRT, built 1925), Tysa (Dutch, 5327 GRT, built 1938), Wellpark (British, 4649 GRT, 1938) and Wray Castle (British, 4253 GRT, 1938).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (Capt.(Retd.) J.G.P. Ingham, DSO, RN).

Around 1020Z/29, the corvette HMS Primrose (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Sanders, RNVR) joined the convoy.

On 30 October, the destroyers HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. the Viscount Jocelyn, RN) and HMS Arrow (Cdr. H.W. Williams, RN), sloop HMS Rochester (Cdr. G.F. Renwick, RN) and the auxiliary A/S trawler HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. A.J.S. Anderson, RNR) joined.

On 31 October the destroyer HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Roper, RN) also joined. The convoy arrived in U.K. waters later the same day.

21 Mar 1941

Convoy HX 116.

This convoy departed Halifax on 21 March 1941 for Liverpool where it arrived on 9 April 1941.

Upon departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant ships: Anna Knudsen (Norwegian (tanker), 9057 GRT, built 1931), Birgitte (British, 1595 GRT, built 1930), British Dominion (British (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1928), British Prince (British, 4879 GRT, built 1935), Coulbeg (British, 5237 GRT, built 1940), Duke of Athens (British, 5217 GRT, built 1940), Ferncastle (British (tanker), 9940 GRT, built 1936), Gregalia (British, 5802 GRT, built 1929), Grey County (Norwegian, 5194 GRT, built 1918), Haakon Hauan (Norwegian (tanker), 6582 GRT, built 1935), Hercules (Dutch, 2317 GRT, built 1914), Iddesleigh (British, 5205 GRT, built 1927), Innerton (British, 5276 GRT, built 1919), Kaipara (British, 5882 GRT, built 1938), Lyras (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1918), Mahout (British, 7921 GRT, built 1925), Mariso (Dutch, 7659 GRT, built 1930), Murena (Dutch (tanker), 8252 GRT, built 1931), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), Pacific Shipper (British, 6290 GRT, built 1924), Port Campbell (British, 7851 GRT, built 1924), Richmond Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1940), San Arcadio (British (tanker), 7419 GRT, built 1935), San Florentino (British (tanker), 12842 GRT, built 1919), Sovac (British (tanker), 6724 GRT, built 1938), Stanwell (British, 5767 GRT, built 1914), Tetela (British, 5389 GRT, built 1926) and Tornus (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ausonia (Capt.(Retd.) G.H. Freyberg, OBE, RN).

On 23 March the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN) joined the convoy.

On 31 March HMS Royal Sovereign parted company with the convoy.

On 4 March 1941 HMS Ausonia parted company with the convoy after the destroyers HMS Ambuscade (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN), HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN) and corvettes HMS Campanula (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN), HMS Heartsease (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Proudfoot, RN), HMS Pimpernel (Lt. F.H. Thornton, RNR) and A/S trawler HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. R.H. Marchington, RNVR) had joined. The destroyer HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSC, RN) joined on 5 April. The destroyer HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) and corvette HMS Orchis (Lt. A.D. White, RNR)both joined on 6 April. HMS Orchis was detached on 7 April.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 9 April.

20 Apr 1941

Convoy HX 122.

This convoy departed Halifax on 20 April 1941.

On departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Antigone (British, 4545 GRT, built 1928), Athelregent (British (tanker), 8881 GRT, built 1930), Bornholm (British, 3177 GRT, built 1930), Brant County (Norwegian, 5001 GRT, built 1915), Capira (Panamanian, 5625 GRT, built 1920), Empire Cheetah (British, 5673 GRT, built 1918), Empire Gannet (British, 5630 GRT, built 1919), Empire Hail (British, 7005 GRT, built 1941), Empire Silver (British, 8602 GRT, built 1941), G.S. Walden (British (tanker), 10627 GRT, built 1937), Hopepeak (British, 5179 GRT, built 1938), Inversuir (British, 9456 GRT, built 1938), James J. Maguire (British (tanker), 10525 GRT, built 1939), Michalis (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1919), Moorby (British, 4992 GRT, built 1936), Pacific Exporter (British, 6734 GRT, built 1928), Saganaga (British, 5454 GRT, built 1935), Saint Gobain (Swedish (tanker), 9959 GRT, built 1936), Salamis (Norwegian (tanker), 8286 GRT, built 1939), Sama (Norwegian, 1799 GRT, built 1937), San Delfino (British (tanker), 8072 GRT, built 1938), Stiklestad (Norwegian (tanker), 9349 GRT, built 1938), Strinda (Norwegian (tanker), 10973 GRT, built 1937), Strix (Norwegian (tanker), 6219 GRT, built 1930), Sveve (Norwegian (tanker), 6313 GRT, built 1930), Tortuguero (British, 5285 GRT, built 1921), Torvanger (Norwegian, 6564 GRT, built 1920) and Yselhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Chambly (T/A/Cdr. J.D. Prentice, RCN) and HMCS Orillia (T/Lt.Cdr. W.E.S. Briggs, RCNR).

On departure from Halifax thick fog was encountered and it is not (currently) known to us when the two Canadian corvettes were detached to return to Halifax but most likely this was the next day.

Around 1030Q/22, in position 42°48'N, 56°30'W, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 1930Q/23, in position 42°19'N, 50°38'W, HMS Ramillies parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

Around 1700P/25, in position 45°20'N, 44°45'W, the Empire Hail parted company with the convoy to proceed to St. John's, Newfoundland due to engine trouble.

Around 1315O/30, The battlecruiser HMS Hood (Capt. R. Kerr, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN) escorted by the destroyers HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. C.H.deB. Newby, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, RN) was sighted. They were sighted again several times on 1 and 2 May 1941. These ships were to provide additional cover in this area for convoys SC 29 and HX 122. On 3 May 1941, these ships returned to Iceland (Reykjavik / Hvalfjord).

Around 0700O/1, in approximate position 58°48'N, 34°11'W, the destroyer HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN), corvettes HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR), HMS Picotee (Lt.Cdr. N.C.H. Scallan, RNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Daneman (Lt. A.H. Ballard, RNR) and HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. R.H. Marchington, RNVR).

Around 0850O/1, additional escorts had joined, these were the destroyer HMS Chesterfield (Lt.Cdr. E. Gleave, RNR) and corvettes HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, OBE, RNR) and HMS Nigella (T/Lt. T.W. Coyne, RNR).

Around 0735O/2, in approximate position 60°48'N, 30°36'W, the destroyers HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Roper, RN) and HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 0730N/3, in approximate position 62°30'N, 25°22'W, HMS Chesterfield parted company.

Around 1830N/3, in approximate position 62°27'N, 22°10'W, the merchant vessels Diana (British (former Danish), 942 GRT, built 1911) and Ronan (British, 1489 GRT, built 1938) joined the convoy coming from Iceland.

Around 0500Z/4, in aproximate position 62°25'N, 19°36'W, the Sveve parted company with the convoy to proceed to Reykjavik, Iceland. She took HMS St. Apollo and HMS Daneman with her as escorts.

Around 0600Z/4, in aproximate position 62°27'N, 19°00'W, the destroyer HMS Caldwell (Lt.Cdr. E.M. Mackay, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1045Z/4, in aproximate position 62°29'N, 17°48'W, the destroyer Walker joined the convoy.

Around 1130Z/4, in position 62°28'N, 17°50'W, HMS Alaunia parted company to proceed to Iceland (Hvalfjord) escorted by HMS Amazon and HMS Broadway.

By 1330Z/4, more escort vessels had joined the convoy at intervals, these were the destroyers HMS Chesterfield (which had returned after having fuelled at Hvalfjord), HMS Ramsey (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Stannard, VC, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Candytuft (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Collinson, RD, RNR), HMS Honeysuckle (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RNR) and HMS Hydrangea (Lt. J.E. Woolfenden, RNR).

HMS Bulldog, HMS Aubretia, HMS Hollyhock and HMS Nigella then parted company to proceed to Hvalfjord.

Around 2100Z/5, in approximate position 59°45'N, 10°00'W, the destroyers HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN) and HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 1430B/6, in approximate position 58°38'N, 06°22'W, the Diana parted company for Scrabster. She took HMS Picotee with her as escort.

Around the same time also HMS Electra and HMS Escapade parted company to join convoy SC 29.

Around 1830B/6, in approximate position 58°03'N, 05°59'W, the Loch Ewe section of the convoy parted company. It was made up of the Antigone, Bornholm, Empire Silver, Saganaga and Tortuguero. HMS Walker went with them as escort.

Around 1430B/7, in approximate position 55°35'N, 07°00'W, Candytuft, Honeysuckle and Hydrangea parted company to proceed to Londonderry.

Around 1945B/7, in approximate position 55°09'N, 05°49'W, the Athelregent, Ronan and Strinda parted company to proceed to the Clyde. They took HMS Chesterfield with them as escort.

Around 2020B/7, in approximate position 55°05'N, 05°44'W, the Michalis parted company to proceed to Belfast.

Around 0515B/8, the Bristol Channel section parted company. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Brant County, Empire Cheetah, G.S. Walden, James J. Maguire, Moorby, Saint Gobain, Sama, Sticklestad, Strix and Torvanger.

The remaining ships made up the Liverpool section which proceeded to Moelfre Bay where they anchored for the night before proceeding to their destination.

HMS Ramsey subsequently proceeded to Greenock. (1)

6 Jul 1941

Convoy HX 137.

This convoy departed Halifax on 6 July 1941 for the U.K.

On departure from Halifax it was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alchiba (Dutch, 4427 GRT, built 1920), Beaverhill (British, 10041 GRT, built 1928), Beechwood (British, 4987 GRT, built 1940), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), British Integrity (British (tanker), 8412 GRT, built 1927), Clairton (British, 6080 GRT, built 1919), Empire Guillemot (British, 5720 GRT, built 1919), Empire Summer (British, 6949 GRT, built 1941), Empire Woodcock (British, 5572 GRT, built 1918), Gold Shell (British (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1931), Heina (Norwegian, 4028 GRT, built 1925), Hjalmar Wessel (Norwegian, 1742 GRT, built 1935), King Arthur (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928), Lechistan (Polish, 1937 GRT, built 1929), Manchester Spinner (British, 4767 GRT, built 1918), Margartia Chandris (Greek, 5401 GRT, built 1920), Matiana (British, 9045 GRT, built 1922)), Michalis (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1919), Modavia (British, 4858 GRT, built 1927), Moorby (British, 4992 GRT, built 1936), Mount Rhodope (Greek, 5182 GRT, built 1919), Nellie (Greek, 4826 GRT, built 1913), New Westminster City (British, 4747 GRT, built 1929), Nicoya (British, 5364 GRT, built 1929), Olympos (Greek, 5216 GRT, built 1918), Penrose (British, 4393 GRT, built 1928), Pentridge Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1941), Pontfield (British (tanker), 8319 GRT, built 1940), Port Caroline (British, 8263 GRT, built 1919), Redgate (British, 4323 GRT, built 1929), Saint Gobain (Swedish (tanker), 9959 GRT, built 1936), Sandar (Norwegian (tanker), 7624 GRT, built 1928), Sourabaya (British (tanker / whale factory ship), 10107 GRT, built 1915), Taron (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Torfinjarl (Norwegian, 1481 GRT, built 1922), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Trehata (British, 4817 GRT, built 1928), Tyndareus (British, 11361 GRT, built 1916), Varand (British (tanker), 6023 GRT, built 1927) and Virgilia (British (tanker), 5723 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and the corvettes HMS Dianthus (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.E. Bridgman, RNR), HMCS Snowberry (T/Lt. R.S. Kelley, RCNR) and HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR).

During 7/8 July 1941, the corvettes HMCS Barrie (T/Lt. R.M. Mosher, RCNR) and HMCS Matapedia (T/Lt. R.J. Herman, RCNVR) were also with the convoy.

At 0617P/9, in thick fog, HMS Circassia struck the fishing schooner Andavaka in position 44°37'N, 52°31'W. The schooner quickly sank and 15 survivors were picked up, there were no casualties and no one was injured also HMS Circassia sustained no damage.

On 9 July 1941, the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), HMS Reading (Lt.Cdr. D.V. Clift, RN) and corvette HMS Honeysuckle (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RNR) joined the convoy coming from St. John's, Newfoundland.

On 10 July 1941, Convoy BHX 137 joined, which had departed Bermuda on 4 July 1941 and was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelvictor (British (tanker), 8320 GRT, built 1941), Baron Dechmont (British, 3675 GRT, built 1929), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), British Fortitude (British (tanker), 8482 GRT, built 1937), British Resolution (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), City of Leicester (British, 3351 GRT, built 1926), City of Marseilles (British, 8317 GRT, built 1913), Collegian (British, 7886 GRT, built 1923), Diloma (British (tanker), 8146 GRT, built 1939), Empire Hawk (British, 5033 GRT, built 1919), Gorjistan (British, 5888 GRT, built 1929), Grangepark (British, 5132 GRT, built 1919), Hammaren (Swedish, 3220 GRT, built 1930), Prins Willem III (Dutch, 1524 GRT, built 1939), Recorder (British, 5981 GRT, built 1930) and Siris (British, 5242 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Bermuda convoy BHX 137 had been escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cheshire (Capt.(Retd.) J.M. Begg, RN) which was detached to Halifax after the convoys had joined company.

Around 0600N/17, the corvettes HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR) and HMS Nigella (T/Lt. T.W. Coyne, RNR) and the rescue ship Zamalek (British, 1567 GRT, built 1921) joined the convoy.

Around 1920N/17, the destroyers HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Roper, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN) joined the convoy.

Also joining on the 17th was the destroyer HMS Georgetown (Lt. A.J.R. White, RN) and the A/S trawler HMS St. Apollo (T/Lt. R.H. Marchington, RNVR).

Around 1955N/17, HMS Circassia, HMCS Saguenay, HMS Reading, HMS Honeysuckle, HMS Dianthus, HMCS Snowberry and HMCS Spikenard parted company with the convoy to proceed to Iceland.

Later the destroyer ORP Burza (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) Z.I. Wojewodzki) and A/S trawler HMS Daneman (T/Lt. G.O.T.D. Henderson, RNVR) also joined. These ships had departed Scapa Flow on the 17 July and Stornoway on 15 July respectively.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 21 July 1941.