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22 Jan 1940

Convoy HX 17.

This convoy departed Halifax on 22 January 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Agia Marina (Greek, 4151 GRT, built 1912), Anadara (British (tanker), 8009 GRT, built 1935), Antonios Chandris (Greek, 5866 GRT, built 1918), Athelduke (British (tanker), 8966 GRT, built 1929), Balmoralwood (British, 5834 GRT, built 1937), Beaverdale (British, 9957 GRT, built 1928), Boston City (British, 2870 GRT, built 1920), Bretwalda (British, 4906 GRT, built 1939), Brockley Hill (British, 5287 GRT, built 1918), Cadillac (British (tanker), 12062 GRT, built 1917), Crispin (British, 5050 GRT, built 1935), D.L. Harper (British (tanker), 12223 GRT, built 1933), Dakotian (British, 6426 GRT, built 1922), Dalblair (British, 4608 GRT, built 1926), Danby (British, 4281 GRT, built 1937), Davila (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, built 1938), Dean Emery (British (tanker), 6664 GRT, built 1919), Eclipse (British (tanker), 9767 GRT, built 1931), El Mirlo (British (tanker), 8092 GRT, built 1930), Emmy (Greek, 3895 GRT, built 1914), Ena de Larrinaga (British, 5200 GRT, built 1925), Filleigh (British, 4856 GRT, built 1928), Gold Shell (British (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1931), Housatonic (British (tanker), 5559 GRT, built 1919), Invershannon (British (tanker), 8154 GRT, built 1938), King Stephen (British, 5274 GRT, built 1928), Kingswood (British, 5080 GRT, built 1929), Langleebrook (British, 4246 GRT, built 1930), Llangollen (British, 5056 GRT, built 1928), Manchester Citizen (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), Mont Everest (French, 5183 GRT, built 1918), Mount Pelion (Greek, 5655 GRT, built 1917), Nailsea River (British, 5548 GRT, built 1917), Northleigh (British, 5450 GRT, built 1937), Ontariolite (British (tanker), 8932 GRT, built 1925), Ornefjell (British, 1334 GRT, built 1937), Patella (British (tanker), 7468 GRT, built 1927), Pomella (British (tanker), 6766 GRT, built 1937), Saint-Malo (French, 5875 GRT, built 1917), Saugor (British, 6303 GRT, built 1928), Seminole (British (tanker), 10389 GRT, built 1936), Somersby (British, 5168 GRT, built 1930), Sulairia (British, 5802 GRT, built 1929), Tasis (Greek, 4706 GRT, built 1913), Torinia (British (tanker), 10364 GRT, built 1939), Torr Head (British, 5021 GRT, built 1937), Trocas (British (tanker), 7406 GRT, built 1927), Victor Ross (British (tanker), 12247 GRT, built 1933) and Vilk (Estonian, 1933 GRT, built 1913).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Fraser (Cdr. W.N. Creery, RCN) and HMCS Restigouche (Lt.Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN).

Around 1430Q/23, in position 44°39'N, 58°39'W, both Canadian destroyers were detached to return to Halifax.

On 28 January 1940, in approximate position 49°10'N, 38°40'W, the following merchant vessels lost contact with the convoy in bad weather conditions; Brockley Hill, El Mirlo, Ena de Larrinaga, Mount Pelion. Somersby. The Ena de Larrinaga and Mount Pelion rejoined the convoy on 4 February. The Brockley Hill arrived independently in the Downs on 5 February. The El Mirlo arrived independently at Liverpool on 6 February. The Somersby passed Barry Roads on 6 February and arrived independently at Avonmouth on 8 February.

Around 1430O/31, in position 51°20'N, 26°10'W, the Housatonic parted company to proceed independently to Invergordon but she was later ordered to proceed to Kirkwall where she arrived on 8 February.

Around 1030Z/3, in position 51°00'N, 13°10'W, the destroyers HMS Vanessa (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Plumer, RN), HMS Warwick (Lt.Cdr. M.A.G. Child, RN) and HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Emerald then parted company to proceed to Portsmouth.

Around 0900Z/4, in position 50°23'N, 09°50'W, the convoy split in two sections.

The Irish Sea / West coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Antonios Chandris (arrived at Dublin on 6 February), Athelduke (arrived at Liverpool on 8 February), Balmoralwood (arrived at Liverpool on 7 February), Boston City (arrived at Cardiff on 6 February), Cadillac (arrived at Avonmouth on 7 February), Crispin (arrived at Liverpool on 7 February), Dakotian (arrived at Avonmouth on 7 February), Dalblair (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), Emmy (grounded off Barmouth, see below), Ena de Larrinaga (arrived at Liverpool on 6 February), Filleigh (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), Invershannon (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), King Stephen (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), Langleebrook (arrived at Sharpness on 8 February), Llangollen (arrived at Avonmouth on 7 February), Manchester Citizen (arrived at Liverpool on 7 February), Patella (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), Pomella (arrived at Liverpool on 7 February), Saugor (arrived at Liverpool on 7 February), Sulairia (arrived in the Clyde on 7 February), Tasis (arrived at Liverpool on 8 February), Torinia (arrived at Liverpool on 8 February) and Torr Head (arrived at Dublin on 6 February). They were escorted by HMS Warwick which arrived at Liverpool on 6 February.

Around 2200Z/4, in position 51°17'N, 07°45'W, the five ships with destinations in the Bristol Channel area parted company. The destroyer HMS Keith (Cdr. (Retd.) H.T.W. Pawsey, OBE, RN) had joined around 1715Z/4 to escort them. HMS Keith arrived at Milford Haven on 6 February.

The Irish Sea / West coast section ran into thick fog on the 5th and quite a number of ships lost contact with the convoy.

At 1844Z/5, the Emmy signalled that she was aground in an unknown position in the Irish Sea but probably between Waterford and The Smalls. D/F location showed that she was most likely near Barmouth in Cardigan Bay and she was informed of this and also that help was coming. The rescue tug HMRT Superman was sen from Milford Haven and later made contact with the ship in position 52°43'N, 04°18'W, which was indeed to the west of Barmouth. The ship was succesfully towed off at 1920Z/7 after an earlier attempt had failed.

The Channel / East coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Agia Marina (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Anadara (arrived at Donges, France on 8 February), Beaverdale (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Bretwalda (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), D.L. Harper (arrived at Southampton on 6 February), Danby (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Davila (arrived at Le Havre, France on 7 February), Dean Emery (arrived at Southampton on 6 February), Eclipse (arrived at Le Havre, France on 8 February), Gold Shell (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Kingswood (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Mont Everest (arrived at Le Verdon, France on 7 February), Mount Pelion (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Nailsea River (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Northleigh (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Ontariolite (arrived at Le Havre, France on 8 February), Saint-Malo (arrived at Le Verdon, France on 7 February), Seminole (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Trocas (arrived in the Downs on 6 February), Victor Ross (arrived at Portsmouth on 6 February) and Vilk (destination was La Pallice, France, arrival date not known). They were escorted by HMS Vanessa (arrived at Dover on 6 February) and HMS Vansittart (arrived at Plymouth on 5 February). (1)

16 Jan 1941
HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN), HMRT Superman and HMRT Tenacity together pick up 143 survivors from the British passenger ship Oropasa that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-96 southeast of Rockall in position 56°28'N, 12°00'W.