Halcyon Class Ships
Convoy PQ18

This is not a comprehensive account of the convoy but records the important roles that the Halcyon Class ships played.

For more details of the ships that sailed in these convoys visit www.convoyweb.org.uk

 

SECRET  From: The Senior Officer, Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla, HMS Harrier  Date 1st October 1942  To: The Senior British Naval Officer, Archangel  Copies to: The Rear Admiral (Destroyers), Home Fleet, The Director of Minesweeping, Admiralty.   Report of Proceedings of HMS Harrier as Close Escort to PQ18 At 0830 on Monday 8th September, HMS Harrier weighed and proceeded out of Hvalfjord as part of escort for local portion of PQ18 sailing from Iceland, and was in station on the port side of the combined convoy by 1900. During the night it was appreciated that the three trawlers detailed were experiencing difficulty in towing the three Motor Minesweepers although weather conditions were favourable. During the night the weather deteriorated and by daylight four of the convoy was found to have straggled considerably. At 1100 on 8th September 4 merchant ships, 5 trawlers and 3 motor minesweepers were sighted well astern of the convoy and about 4 miles to the west of the route. The merchant ships had to be repeatedly chased closer to the North Cape, as they appeared to be in danger of running into the minefield, the existence of which they seemed unaware.  The Motor Minesweepers were now proceeding independently and were clearly much happier than when in tow. They remained with the convoy throughout, having ample fuel for the voyage. They withstood some severe weather but no ice was encountered, which would undoubtedly have hampered them severely. At 1100 on 14th September HMS Harrier was ordered alongside HMS Scylla to transfer survivors. HMS Scylla reduced speed to 8 knots with sea 25 astern and HMS Harrier was secured with a spring and a breast as for oiling at sea. Unfortunately HMS Harrier’s starboard .5 inch gun came exactly abreast HMS Scylla’s Oerlikon platform which caused some damage to former. This might have been avoided if the spring could have been veered quickly. It is suggested that it is advisable to load the spring to the cruiser’s capstan rather than  a bollard. At 0035 on 15th September, Motor Minesweeper No. 90 who had reported that she was very short of coal for cooking and of drinking water, came alongside and 5 cwt of coal was transferred and 3 tons of drinking water were then pumped across comfortably with both ships under way steaming at 9 knots: sea, calm. A detailed list of aircraft seen to have crashed astern of the convoy is as follows:- Sunday 15th September: 15.15 approximately, one HE111 torpedo bomber which had passed through the convoy crashed into the sea about ¾ mile on HMS Harrier’s starboard beam. 2038 Aircraft, probably HE115 torpedo bomber seen to crash in flames about three miles on starboard quarter.  Monday 14th September: 1416 HE111 torpedo bomber which had passed through convoy crashed into the sea ½ mile on the starboard beam. Motor Minesweeper No 212 states definitely that this was the aircraft which torpedoed SS Mary Luckenbach. Friday 18th September. One Ju88 torpedo bomber which had passed through the convoy crashed into the sea and blew up about ½ mile on port beam. No survivors were rescued from any of these aircraft which crashed. In all cases but the second, HMS Harrier’s Oerlikons were hitting, but as these aircraft had already passed through a hail of fire from the convoy and the other escorts, it is considered that they represented victories shared by a large number of ships. At 1830 on 18th September, HM Ships Halcyon, Britomart, Salamander and Hazard were sighted off Cape Gorodetski and the following signals were exchanged:-  TO Halcyon  FROM Harrier Do you consider it necessary for convoy to be swept through channel? TO Harrier    FROM Halcyon Do not consider it necessary as we have been sweeping for past seven days. Propose going ahead now or early morning to sweep Dvina approaches for ground mines. Enemy air minelaying active recently.  TO Malcolm   FROM Harrier Halcyon reports channel clear. In view of this and unsuitable weather propose cancelling tonight’s sweep. 1844 TO Harrier   FROM Malcolm Concur.  1848 TO Malcolm   FROM Harrier Halcyon reports ground minelaying in Dvina approach channel. If  you can spare us from AA duties propose parting company at Pori and proceeding with all  available sweepers to search approach channel before arrival of convoy. Alternatively detach local sweepers now for this purpose. TO Halcyon    FROM Harrier When detached proceed as you propose. Have the sweeper marking edge of swept channel for convoy. After heading the convoy into the searched channel off  Cape Gorodetski, the four local minesweepers were detached at 1740 in accordance with my previous message. On being asked whether the Group 1A lights had been requested, HMS Halcyon replied that the SBNO Archangel had arranged for the lights to conform with the convoys NTA signal. Out of respect to Russian wishes, however, these lights were not shown. It is submitted that it is impossible to keep the convoy within the searched channel without shore lights under the conditions which were found to prevail, namely, unfamiliarity with the coast, a dark night, low visibility and strong tides. Radio beacons alone are not considered sufficient for such accurate navigation. In this connection it may be useful to recall that Group 1A lights were instituted for use by heavy ships and convoys at the suggestion of Rear Admiral Wake –Walker after he had had personal experience with QP2 in October 1941. In addition to the arrangements of the SBNO Archangel, the following provisions were made for the arrival of the convoy at the Fairway buoy.   TO:  S.O. Escort & Commodore                             FROM:   M.S.6 Have told Halcyon to have one ship marking outer end Dvina approach channel on convoy’s approach. Anticipate convoy will need to anchor in this channel leading ships near Fairway Buoy. A/S patrol required. Distribution of pilots will probably be expected if escort at head of convoy has up to date list of names and positions of merchant ships. Use of MMS would also expedite pilot distribution.   Four minesweepers were anchored at three mile intervals to mark the swept channel and to act as V/S links. HMS Harrier anchored close to Fairway Buoy as a leading mark for the convoy.  At 1850 on 19th September, HMS Harrier was forced by a strong westerly gale to weigh and steam to seaward. At 0205 on 20th the steering engine failed and the ship was hove to in hand steering. The after ballast tank (32 tons) was already full to reduce racing. The forepeak (7 tons) and the double bottom compartments (15 tons) between 57 and 65 stations port and starboard were now flooded and this made steering appreciably easier. Repairs to the steering engine were effected by 1250 on 20th and HMS Harrier returned to the convoy in time to organise A/S patrol of Minesweepers.  At 0845 on 21st HMS Harrier proceeded up river piloted by the Master of S.S. Stalingrad and landed 24 Russian survivors at Krasny quay.   Commander A D H Jay

 

Source: ADM 199/758   RESCUE OPERATIONS DURING PQ18 ENCLOSURE 1 to the Senior Officer, Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla’s Letter 26th September 1942  NARRATIVE The Rear Admiral Destroyers, Home Fleet, in his orders for the operation detailed as rescue ships ‘Minesweepers and Trawlers in rear of Convoy’. This was intended to comprise only HM Ships Harrier (Senior Officer), Sharpshooter, St Kenan, Daneman, Cape Mariato. Motor Minesweepers 90, 203 and 212, however, considered themselves to be included and played a part in the Rescue Operations, which reflects the greatest credit upon their Commanding Officers and Ship’s Companies. They were responsible for saving 229 lives. The Senior Officer Minesweepers (The Senior Officer, Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla in HMS Harrier) was ordered to take charge of rescue operations.  At 0858 on Sunday 13th September SS Stalingrad (Russian) and SS Oliver Ellsworthy (USA) were torpedoed by a U-boat. Survivors were picked up by HM Ships Harrier, Sharpshooter and St. Kenan and the three motor minesweepers. At 0945 HMS Harrier set on fire SS Oliver Ellsworthy by gunfire, after which 15 survivors (Russian) were transferred from MMS 203 to HMS Harrier. All the rescue ships rejoined the convoy by about 1100 and survivors from HMS St Kenan and MMS’s 90 and 212 were transferred to HMRS Copeland.  At 1515 eight ships were torpedoed by aircraft. All rescue ships and at least one destroyer proceeded to pick up survivors. While this work was in progress six HE115 torpedo planes attempted unsuccessfully to save us the trouble of sinking the disabled ships. HMS Sharpshooter was ordered to rejoin the convoy at about 1600 in case of further attack. By 1645, no more survivors could be found and the trawlers and motor minesweepers were ordered to rejoin. Three ships, SS John Penn, SS Macbeth and SS Empire Beaumont were still afloat and a fourth, SS Sukhona, had been lost to sight in snow storms without being seen to sink. Fire was opened by HMS Harrier upon SS John Penn and SS Macbeth but was apparently ineffective. I did not consider it advisable to use depth charges – of which ships were already getting short – for sinking ships. The convoy was by now nine miles ahead, out of sight in snowstorms, and I decided to abandon the attempt to ensure that all ships sank in order to escort the trawlers and Motor Minesweepers back to the convoy. At about 1815 SS John Penn could be seen settling by the stern but no other ships were visible.  At 1845 HMRS Copeland was ordered to stop and 107 survivors were transferred to her from the Motor Minesweepers. This was completed by 1935 and all ships rejoined the convoy just in time for a further attack at 2035. On this occasion there were no calls on the services of the rescue team.  At 0325 on Monday 14th September, SS Athel Templar was torpedoed in the engine room. Two boatloads of her crew were picked up by HMS Sharpshooter while HMS Harrier went alongside and embarked the remainder, including two seriously injured. It was evident that this ship was not sinking. The Rear Admiral (Destroyers) signalled that if she could steam HMS Sharpshooter was to tow her to Lowe Sound. I considered the possibility of doing this even though she could not steam, but decided that if this were attempted without an adequate escort (which would not be available) there was little chance of success since a further attack was almost certain and there would be an unjustified risk of losing the towing ship and also both ship’s companies. I therefore very reluctantly signalled my intention to sink her and was ordered to do so. At this point HMS Tartar arrived from a hunt and at my request undertook the destruction of HMS Athel Templar.  At 1530 on Wednesday 16th, on the departure of the Rear Admiral Destroyers and the covering force, HMS Harrier was ordered by the senior officer of the Escort to take up position M and act as guide of the screen. The duties of Senior Officer, Rescue Force were turned over to the Commanding Officer, HMS Sharpshooter with instructions that damaged ships should, if possible, be brought into Iokana.    At 1745 on 17th the Russian destroyer on the starboard quarter lost a man overboard and HMS Sharpshooter assisted her in an unsuccessful search.  At about 1030 on Friday 18th SS Kentucky (USA) was hit by a bomb in No. 2 hold. The crew promptly abandoned ship. As she appeared to be in no danger of sinking and capable of steaming, HMS Sharpshooter stood by with the intention of placing a Naval Salvage Party onboard and of inducing the crew to return as soon as the air attack was over. Before this could be done, however, SS Kentucky was again hit and set on fire, and HMS Sharpshooter sustained several near misses, which caused a slight leak in her port oil fuel tanks. HM Ships Sharpshooter and Cape Mariato and Motor Minesweepers 90 and 203 then rejoined the Convoy with the complete ship’s company of SS Kentucky; the Russian destroyer Uritsky, who was on her way to join the rescue party, also returned.    __________________________ ENCLOSURE 2 to the Senior Officer, Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla’s Letter 26th September 1942 Survivors Part 1 – Minesweepers   Rescue Ship Date (Sept) Time No. Survivors Ship of origin Disposal Harrier 13th 0900 25 Stalingrad (15 transferred from MMS 203) 1 died 24 Archangel Harrier 13th 0900 )..... Oliver Ellsworthy Scylla Harrier 13th 1515-1645 )126 Waicosta. John Penn Scylla Scylla Harrier 14th 0400 )..... Athel Templar 1 died, remainder Scylla Sharpshooter 13th 0900 30 Oliver Ellsworthy Scylla Sharpshooter 13th 1530 33 Empire Beaumont 30 Scylla 5 Archangel for Empire Bard Sharpshooter 14th 0345 35 Athel Templar Scylla Sharpshooter 14th 1430 1 Nathaniel Green Archangel Sharpshooter 15th 1500 1 Toilisi (from Fury) Archangel MMS 90 13th 0822 37 Stalingrad Copeland MMS 90 13th 0900 6 Oliver Ellsworthy Copeland MMS 90 13th 1530 46 Sukhona and Macbeth Copeland MMS 90 18th 1110 21 Kentucky Archangel MMS 203 13th 0900 15 Stalingrad Harrier MMS 203 13th 1530 47 Afrikander 46 Copeland 1 Archangel MMS 203 18th 1110 33 Kentucky Archangel MMS 212 13th 0900 10 Stalingrad Copeland MMS 212 13th 1500 14 Oregonian Copeland   Attack Ship Fate Submarine Attack – 0858, 13th September Stalingrad Sank in four minutes   Oliver Ellsworthy Forecastle awash. Harrier fired 8 4” rounds. On fire at 0950. Sank at 1115 (seen from Harrier) Torpedo Aircraft attack – 1515 13th September Empire Stevenson Blew up   Empire Beaumont Left on fire and forecastle head awash. Believed to have sunk by 1830.   Waicosta Sank (seen by Harrier)   Oregonian Sank (seen by Sharpshooter and MMS 212)   Afrikander Sank (seen by Sharpshooter and MMS 203)   Sukhona Abandoned while still under way. Crew picked up by MMS 90. Lost to sight in snow storms. Doubtful whether she sank.   Macbeth Sinking slowly by the head. Fire opened by Harrier. Uncertain whether she sank, but probable.   John Penn May not have been seriously damaged. 5 rounds 4” fired by Harrier. Last seen settling aft. Doubtful whether she sank. Submarine attack  - 0325 14th September Athel Templar Hit in Engine Room. Not sinking but could not steam. Set on fire by Tartar. Torpedo Aircraft attack – 1415 14th September Mary Luckenbach Blew up Torpedo and bombing attack – 1028 15th September Kentucky Bombed in No.2 hold. Abandoned. Hit by further bombs and left heavily on fire.