Convoy ON 153

Convoy ON 153 was the 153rd of the numbered series of ON convoys of merchant ships Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The World War II convoy departed Liverpool on 11 December 1942 and was met on 12 December by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. Two merchant ships and the escort group leader were sunk in a North Atlantic battle with U-boat Wolf pack Raufbold before reaching the Western Ocean Meeting Point (WOMP) where the Western Local Escort Force assumed responsibility for the convoy on 23 December. Surviving ships reached New York City on 31 December.

Escorts The convoy was protected by Escort Group B-7 comprising 2 Destroyers Royal Navy – , 4 Corvettes Royal Navy - HMS Alisma, HMS Pink, HMS Snowflake, HMS Sunflower 1 Replenishment oiler British Lady and by a Western Local Escort Force of 1 Destroyer Royal Canadian Navy – HMCS Annapolis 3 Corvettes Royal Canadian Navy - HMCS Buctouche, HMCS Edmundston, HMCS Timmins 1 Minesweeper Royal Canadian Navy - HMCS Minas

U-boats The convoy was attacked by 13 U-boats from Wolfpack Raufbold, namely , , , , , , , , , , , and

Ships in the convoy NameFlagTonnage (GRT)NotesEscort 12 Dec - 23 Dec. CorvetteAmstelkerk (1929)4,457Bound for FreetownEscort 25 Dec - 27 Dec. DestroyerAntilochus (1906)9,082Bound for South AfricaArgolikos (1921)4,786Bound for St John's, NewfoundlandAsbjorn (1935)4,387Bound for Halifax, Nova ScotiaBello (1930)6,125Sunk by On 16 Dec. 33 of 40 crew died. Survivors picked up by HMS Pink (K137)Bornholm (1930)3,177ReturnedBritish Lady (1923)6,098Replenishment oilerEscort 23 Dec - 31 Dec. CorvetteCanada (1921)5,52712 passengersEscort 12 Dec - 19 Dec. DestroyerCity of Hongkong (1924)9,609150 passengers. Bound for KarachiCity of Lille (1928)6,588Bound for BasraComedian (1929)5,122Bound for Halifax, Nova ScotiaEscort 23 Dec - 29 Dec. CorvetteEmile Francqui (1929)5,85911 Passengers. Sunk by on 16 Dec. 46 dead.Empire Grenadier (1942)9,811Bound for New York CityEmpire Highway (1942)7,166Bound for BeiraEscort 12 Dec - 17 Dec. Destroyer. Sunk by on 17 Dec. Broke in two in heavy weather. 170 of 196 crew died. Survivors picked up by HMS SunflowerGeo W McKnight (1933)2,502Bound for New York CityGulf of Mexico (1917)7,807Bound for New York CityHilary (1931)7,403365 Passengers, Bound for FreetownIdefjord (1921)4,287Bound for HalifaxJan Van Goyen (1919)5,704Fell Out DisabledKaldfonn (1936)9,931Mafuta (1920)6,322Bound for FreetownMagdala (1931)8,248Bound for New York CityMahana (1917)10,951Bound for New York CityMarquesa (1918)8,979Bound for MontevideoEscort 25 Dec - 31 Dec. MinesweeperNorbris (1930)7,619Bound for New York CityNorth Gaspe (1938)888Nueva Granada (1937)9,968Bound for New York CityOtina (1938)6,217StraggledPandorian (1941)4,159Bound for New York City. Rear-Admiral Sir E Manners KBE (Commodore)Escort 12 Dec - 20 Dec. CorvetteRegent Lion (1937)9,551Tanker. Torpedoed and damaged by on 16 Feb. Hulk towed to Falmouth, Cornwall, arriving 5 Jan 43Robert F Hand (1933)2,197Bound for New York CitySaint Bertrand (1929)5,522Bound for Saint John, New BrunswickSalamis (1939)8,286Bound for New York CitySan Andres (1921)1,975ReturnedSandanger (1938)9,432Bound for New York CitySantos (1928)4,639Bound for Halifax, Nova ScotiaEscort 12 Dec - 23 Dec. CorvetteSolstad (1927)5,952Bound for New York CitySovac (1938)6,724Bound for New York CityEscort 12 Dec - 23 Dec. CorvetteTetela (1926)5,38910 Passengers, Bound for New York City. Vice-commodore is Ship's MasterEscort 23 Dec - 31 Dec. CorvetteTorr Head (1937)5,021Bound for Saint John, New BrunswickTortuguero (1921)5,28510 Passengers. Bound for Halifax, Nova ScotiaTucurinca (1926)5,41210 Passengers. Bound for Halifax, Nova ScotiaVaalaren (1936)3,406Bound for New York CityVestfold (1931)4,547Bound for New York CityVillanger (1929)4,884Bound for New York CityWalter Jennings (1921)9,564Bound for New York City

References

Bibliography

Tramp to Queen autobiography by Capt. John Treasure Jones, The History Press (2008)

External links ON.153 at convoyweb