HMS Rushen Castle (K 372) :: Convoy OS.102/KMS.76: Reports of Proceedings (Part), Undated

In transcribing the report below I have corrected errors which I consider are obvious typos in the original text (eg "effected" for "affected" - 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 documents.

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

Reports of Proceedings I have transcribed to date have been prepared by Colin Warwick as Senior Officer. This is a departure in that the report below has been prepared by the Commanding Officer of HMS Pimpernel who appears to have acted as Senior Officer Escort until such time as she, together with HMS Amberley Castle and SS Dundee (Rescue Ship) detached from OS.102/KMS.76 (halfway between Liverpool and Gibraltar) to reinforce the northbound MKS.74 convoy.

The report comprises Lt Cdr Palmer's Section I of his Reports of Proceedings, namely the Narrative of Events. The document forwarded me by National Archives is undated but will have been prepared early to mid-January 1945.

What is interesting is that with effect from 6 January 1945 HMS Rushen Castle appears to have been the sole escort. I have not as yet found any reports from her (or other ships) that fill in the events of 6-11 January 1945 inclusive, the latter date being when she is recorded as having arrived in Gibraltar (see HMS Rushen Castle's Movements 1944-1946).

This is particularly frustrating as "Seawaves Today in History" records that on 10 January 1945 at "1603, SS Blackheath in Convoy KMS-76 ... was torpedoed & damaged by U-870 west of Gibraltar. She was set aground two miles south of Cape Spartel, Algeria, but broke in tow and was declared a total loss. Frigate HMS Ballinderry & sloop HMS Kilbirnie picked up the master, 41 crew members & nine gunners. Landed at Gibraltar" - no mention of HMS Rushen Castle, where she was and what she was up to. If anyone can solve this mystery I would be very grateful to hear from them. Whatever, the claim in Ship's History from the Castle Class Corvette (Frigate) Association that HMS Rushen Castle in escorting 18 convoys lost no ships to enemy action is currently looking a little shaky.

(Noted 9 December 2007: I have subsequently come across a photograph in an album belonging to Lt Robert McMullan, RNVR, beneath which he writes, "Blackheath is torpedoed in the Straits of Gibraltar. We drop charges. Operation Artichoke. Unifoxer port." At last, a crew member has made mention of this incident.)

I have a further observation concerning this document, particularly when read in conjunction with the information provided by Kevin Murphy in Convoys OS.100/KMS.74 and MKS.72, December 1944. It is apparent that in December '44 and January '45, for convoys between Liverpool and Gibraltar, the areas seen as posing the highest risk of a U-boat attack were the approaches to the English Channel, the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea. Accordingly convoys passing through or near these areas were strongly reinforced by diminishing the number of escorts covering convoys further south.

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.

SECRET

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS - CONVOY OS.102/KMS.76

SECTION I

NARATIVE OF EVENTS

(All Times are Zone - 1)

In accordance with amended orders received from Captain (D), Liverpool (Appendix Signal No 1) HMS PIMPERNEL sailed from Gladstone Dock in company with HMS AMBERLEY CASTLE at 1200 2 January 1945. Fog delayed sailing the previous evening to rendezvous with the Belfast and Clyde sections of the convoy (Appendix Signal No 2).

2. Rendezvous was made with the Liverpool section off the bar Light Vessel at 1345 2nd January and the convoy weighed and proceeded at 1415 with the Commodore (Commodore HNM Hardy DSO) in SS "MARTAND". Four ships were present at this time, two ships subsequently joining on passage to the Skerries rendezvous. SS "FORT CHURCHILL" (Pendant 31) was a non-sailer.

3. In accordance with the Flag Officer-in-Charge, Liverpool's signal timed 011132A/1 (Appendix Signal No 3) HMS LOCH TULLA also joined the escort at the Bar Light Vessel. Screening diagram for the passage to the Skerries rendezvous was as follows:-

          PIMPERNEL        - Position ABLE
          AMBERLEY
          CASTLE           -     "     ROGER
          LOCH TULLA       -     "     HOWE

4. Rendezvous was made with the Belfast and Clyde sections at 2400 2nd January in position 53^o 28'N 05^o 00'W. This section consisted of six ships and HM Submarine "Solent" escorted by HMS RUSHEN CASTLE. The following ships were non-sailers:-

          SS CITY OF DURBAN (Pendants 52)
          SS MARKHOR            "     44
          SS FRANK A VANDERLIP "     42.

5. After this rendezvous had been effected HMS LOCH TULLA was detached in accordance with the Flag Officer-in-Charge, Liverpool's signal TOO 011132A/1 (Appendix Signal No 3) and the escort was then re-disposed as follows:-

          PIMPERNEL        - Position ABLE
          RUSHEN CASTLE    -     "     EASY
          AMBERLEY CASTLE -     "     OBOE

6. A strong south-westerly (veering to westerly) gale was experienced throughout the following day which made the forming up of the convoy into cruising order at daylight a lengthy operation and delayed the speed of advance considerably. HMS HELIER II escorting Milford Haven section was accordingly advised that the convoy's ETA at the Tuskar Rock rendezvous would be five hours late (Appendix Signal No 4).

7. Rendezvous was subsequently made with the Milford Haven section in position 52^o 00'N 06^o 02'W at 2000, 3rd January and after ships had taken station astern for the night HMS HELIER II was instructed to return to base. This section consisted of 5 ships; SS EMPIRE PRINCE (Pendants 12) and SS KIMMEROL (33) being non-sailers. The final composition of the convoy was therefore 17 ships disposed in six columns, with HM Submarine "Solent" between the 3rd and 4th columns.

8. At 0730, 4th January in approximate position "J" on standard route "B" the 15th Escort Group (Senior Officer HMS LOUIS) joined and supported the escort in accordance with the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches' signal TOO 031312 (Appendix Signal No 5). The screen was then disposed as follows:-

          PIMPERNEL        - Position ABLE
          INGLIS           -     "     CHARLIE - DOG
          RUSHEN CASTLE    -     "     EASY
          LAWSON           -     "     MIKE - NAN
          AMBERLEY CASTLE -     "     OBOE
          NARBOROUGH       -     "     X-RAY
          LOUIS            -     "     ITEM

The wind at this time was North force 8 and course of the convoy 177o.

9. Station-keeping of the convoy throughout the night of 3rd-4th January was generally bad partly attributable to the Milford Haven section not being in their correct cruising

order and partly to weather conditions. Shortly after daylight on the 4th January, however, the Commodore re-formed the convoy into five columns and subsequently into 4 columns and from then on station-keeping improved considerably. SS INGLETON (Pendants 11) was straggling about 10 miles astern throughout the day on account of defects. HM Submarine "Solent" hove to for a short period during the forenoon of this day, HMS AMBERLEY CASTLE being detailed to stand by her.

10. At 1315 on the 4th January, the 15th Escort Group detached in position 50^o 37'N 07^o 54'W in accordance with the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches' signal TOO 031312 (Appendix Signal No 5) and were requested to pass in a convoy position course and speed report (Appendix Signal No 6) after detaching.

11. Air cover was provided during daylight hours on the 4th January by a single Liberator (Call sign THW1) - the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches' signal TOO 040631 (Appendix Signal No 7) refers. Details of the homing procedure carried out and of patrols ordered are given in Section III of this report.

12. In view of the strong Northerly wind still prevailing the wing escorts were disposed astern during the night of 4th/5th January in positions FOX/GEORGE and PETER/QUEEN respectively. HMS PIMPERNEL remained in position ABLE. Escorts were moved up to bow positions just before dawn.

13. SS INGLETON rejoined the convoy from astern during the night of 4th/5th January, taking position 25.

14. Although the wind had moderated considerably on the night of 5th/6th January, it was still strong and as this direction was considered the most likely approach for U-boats, escorts were again moved back to quarter positions after dark. HMS RUSHEN CASTLE assumed position ABLE, HMS PIMPERNEL and HMS AMBERLEY CASTLE taking up positions GEORGE and QUEEN respectively.

15. At 2359 on the 5th January in position 46^o 27'N 09^o 37'W HMS PIMPERNEL and HMS AMBERLEY CASTLE detached from the convoy to escort HMS DUNDEE (Rescue Ship) and rendezvous with MKS.74. The Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches' signal TOO 051054A/5 (Appendix Signal No 8) refers.

16. After clearing OS.102/KMS.76 a position course and speed signal was passed in to the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches (Appendix Signal No 9).

17. Course was steered for a position ahead of MKS.74 based on the latest estimated position course and speed of the convoy as reported by the Senior Officer (E) in HMS FOWEY (Appendix Signal 10). The intention was to rendezvous at daylight and if not met to alter to the reciprocal course of the convoy.

18. At 0930 on the 6th no sighting or radar contact had been obtained and course was accordingly altered to the southward at 1000.

19. Radar conditions were extremely poor in view of numerous rain squalls and many gremlin echoes were reported and disregarded. Course was continued to the southward and HMS FOWEY was requested to carry out homing procedure "H" on 385 K/cs at 1040.

20. This procedure was carried out most satisfactorily, good bearings being obtained and the convoy was finally sighted on a bearing of 220o, 15 miles at 1230 being some 36 miles astern of estimated position.

21. In addition to bearings obtained on 385 K/cs, SS DUNDEE was of considerable assistance in obtaining bearings of R/T transmissions on 2410 K/cs which provided a useful check.

22. On joining MKS.74 HMS PIMPERNEL acted under the orders of the Senior Officer (E) in HMS FOWEY.