HMS Rushen Castle (K 372) :: Convoy OS.90/KMS.64: Reports of Proceedings, 2 October 1944

In transcribing the report below I have corrected errors which I consider are obvious typos in the original text (eg "Tompazis" for "Tompasis" - in all cases where I have made a conscious change, the text will be highlighted in red - this also applies where the original text is difficult to read). I have been unable in all cases to replicate the setting out of the original document.

If you are interested in viewing a copy of the original I am sure if you contact the National Archives they will sell you an electronic copy.

The report comprises Colin Warwick's Reports of Proceedings (9 pages) to which is attached a Memorandum from Captain (D) Liverpool to the C-in-C Western Approaches, which I have also transcribed - I have not concerned myself with the remaining Staff Minute Sheets/Memoranda which comment upon the Report.

If you would like further information about this convoy, particularly details of the merchant ships which sailed with the convoy, I recommend you take a look at Convoy Web.

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS

(ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64

Escorted by

B.21 ESCORT GROUP

HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE" SO Escort

HMS "BLUEBELL"

HMS "PIMPERNEL"

HHMS "TOMPAZIS"
Additional Escort on passage for Gibraltar

Distribution:-

FOGMA        3 Copies
CinC Med     1 Copy
Captain (D),
Liverpool    2 Copies

RC Warwick

Lieut Commander RNR
Senior Officer B.21
Escort Group

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Distribution: FOGMA 3 Copies. CinC Mediterranean 1 Copy.
The Captain (D) Liverpool 2 Copies.

Section 1. Narrative of Events

a. All R/Vs were made on time.

b. When Convoy assumed a broad front the escorts were stationed as follows:-

        Rushen Castle Pimpernel Bluebell Tompazis
Day:-         A            M         C         S
Night:-       A            P         F         S

Operation "Banana" was ordered in event of attack by U-Boat at night.

Operation "Artichoke" for attack by day.

c. This was the first convoy escorted by the newly formed B.21 Group, and owing to the ships being repaired at different ports it had not been possible for the Commanding Officers of the Escorts to meet before proceeding to sea.

Group orders were passed at sea to remedy this and to give the Commanding Officers and their Executive Officers an indication of the General Policy of the Group, so that in an emergency the ships would act as a team.

d. HHMS "Tompazis" on passage to Gibraltar had been appointed as additional escort.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 2. Detailed Report on Encounters with the Enemy

No enemy U-Boats, Aircraft, or Surface ships were encountered.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 3. Remarks on Air Escort

There was no Air Escort. No aircraft were sighted from the time of leaving the Irish Sea to arriving at the approaches to the Straits of Gibraltar.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 4. Remarks on Convoy

a. Convoy discipline was very good in every respect and manoeuvred well, particularly when a Convoy Shoot was carried out in accordance with AMSI 259.

b. Material failure in DEMS Equipment.

At 0400 on the 28th September two white rockets were fired from a ship in No 3 column, port side. Operation "Banana" was ordered for the Escort by R/T, and HHMS "Tompazis" was ordered to close No 3 column.

"Tompazis" and the Rescue Ship "St Clair" reported that no ship had fallen out, and it was assumed that the rockets had been fired in error.

No 31 SS "Clan MacNeil" the Vice Commodore reported to the Commodore in the morning that her PAC rockets had been fired owing to a short circuit, and she had tried to report on R/T. A test was carried out and it was found that her microphone was defective.

It is submitted that Merchant Ships should be instructed to remove the cartridges from their PAC and Snowflake projectors at night to avoid creating a false alarm, and also give the Convoy position away by causing R/T silence to be broken unnecessarily, as well as by the rockets themselves.

In any case PAC rockets are not used at night, and unless it is specifically stated that Snowflake will be used, at the Convoy conference, it is assumed the convoy will not illuminate.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 5: Oiling At Sea

No Escort Oiler sailed with the Convoy, or joined en route.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 6. Communications

a. Reception of Broadcasts.

The reception of BN. Routines was good throughout, but there was a slight tendency to fade when south of 37 degrees North.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMA "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 7. Material

a. Defect in Condenser. HMS Rushen Castle.

About 24 hours after leaving harbour during which heavy weather had been experienced, a defect developed in the condenser. This was reported by signal, and when the Milford section had been met, and the Convoy formed up in position 180 deg: 15 miles from Tuskar Rock, we handed over to HMS Bluebell informing the latter that we hoped to rejoin PM the following day, September 26th, and would take up position S, "Tompazis" having been moved up to position P, and "Bluebell" to A.

Leaving the Convoy at 1600 September 25th we arrived Milford Haven at 2000, anchored and the ship's staff overhauled the condenser. All the ferrules were tightened, and the tubes tested with water, and steam pressure.

At 0515 September 26th these repairs were completed, and we weighed anchor and sailed to re-join the Convoy.

Contact was made with the Convoy by Radar at a range of 13 miles at 0130 on the 27th September.

Some 12 hours after leaving Milford the trouble recurred, and in order to keep salinity in the boilers within reasonable limits, both boilers were given a three minute blowdown in each four hour watch.

It is submitted that consideration might be given to fitting permanent blow down pipes in lieu of the flexible hoses now supplied, as any weakness in the latter is liable to result in serious injury to personnel.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS (ACI Article 45)

CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64 B.21 ESCORT GROUP

Section 8. Special Exercises Carried Out

a. Convoy Gunnery Shoot

The Commodore had asked for Gunnery Practice for the LA guns of the Convoy, and on September 30th when the Convoy could be expected to be reasonably safe from attack, and R/T silence could be broken, it was decided to carry out a shoot in accordance with AMSI 259 commencing at 1000.

We arranged to spot as far as possible, and to drop the smoke floats for each of the 7 columns.

All ships had fired an average of about 4 rounds each by 0350, when after making 14 emergency turns the Convoy was in almost perfect station.

Brief results which might be of interest to DEMS are as follows:-

Column 8 (3 ships) 2 hits by No 83 SS "Blackheath"
                   1 hit by No 81 SS "Nolisement"
Column 7 (4 ships) 1 hit by No 71 SS "Empire Forest"
Column 6 (5 ships) 1 hit by No 62 SS "Samcleve"
                   1 hit by No 63 SS "Samdee"
Column 5 (4 ships) No hits
Column 4 (4 ships) 2 hits by No 41 SS "Thyra"
Column 3 (4 ships) 1 hit by No 31 SS "Clan MacNeil"
Column 2 (4 ships) 3 hits by No 23 SS "Schiaffino"
                   1 hit by No 22 SS "Jobshaven"
                   1 hit by No 24 SS "Cydonia"

The gunlaying was either good or very poor. As all ships did not fire in turn it was not possible to get an accurate record for all the fall of shot for each ship.

b. Streaming of Foxers

Escorts exercised the streaming of foxers, AM 29th September.

COMMANDING OFFICER
-2 OCT 1944
HMS "RUSHEN CASTLE"

That concludes the Senior Officer's Reports. There follows a brief response to various issues from the Captain (D), Liverpool.

SECRET

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS - CONVOY OS.90/KMS.64
(The Commanding officer, HMS Rushen Castle's letter
of 2nd October 1944)

-------------------------------------------------

No 0190/1a

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, WESTERN APPROACHES

(Copy to:- The Senior Officer, B.21 Escort Group, HMS Rushen Castle)

Forwarded.

2. Section 6. The Senior Officer, B.21 Escort Group has been informed that the readability and reception of BN routines in this latitude must not be relied upon; fading is bound to occur as they are not normally intended to be read south of 43 degrees North, at which latitude ships should shift to read Gibraltar routines (44.8 K/cs). A guard should be maintained on both routines twenty-four hours before and after reaching 43 degrees north to ensure reception of any signals transmitted during the overlap period.

3. Section 7. It is understood that the question of a permanent blow-down Boiler fitting has already been taken up. Meanwhile it is considered that there is little real danger as it is only on occasions of condenser trouble that frequent blowing-down of the Boilers is necessary. The condenser is reported to be satisfactory and no action is therefore required by the Base Staff.

4. Section 8. The attention of the Senior Officer is directed to Western Approaches Message No 5?4N with regard to the streaming of Foxers, and the Report required in accordance therewith.