Corvette Command Campaign January 1942 (3)

January 1942

HMCS Windflower

Fast convoy (ON/59) of forty nine merchant ships from LIVERPOOL to HALIFAX, Nova Scotia

23rd January

After slight delay due to bomb damage to docks, convoy departs LIVERPOOL in poor weather, with rain showers and heavy swell. 

24th - 26th January

Good progress made despite inclement weather on passage North of Ireland. Weather partially clears as depression blows through but met office forecast for crossing is not good.

27th January

Poor weather returns overnight, with rain squalls and intermittent light snow fall as temperature drops to below freezing. 

09.46 Report of Coastal Command Avro Anson ditching due to icing in proximity of convoy. HMCS Windflower dispatched to conduct area search in last known position. A/C not located and crew assumed missing, presumed dead. C/O informed that this was a high priority research flight testing new A/S radar equipment, now assumed to have been lost with the A/C. At least Jerry didn't get his grubby hands on it! 

28th - 29th January

Weather deteriorates further to fog and intermittent blizzard conditions. Visibility reduced and risk of collision evident but good seamanship and a sharp lookout prevents any problems.

30th January - 1st February

Three days of rough weather, with high seas and storm force winds. Galley fires out so crew on cold rations and nutty. At least the U-Boats will be forced under for the duration. 

2nd February

Storm blows itself out with fog and snow showers reducing visibility, although sea state now light swell rather than choppy. HMCS Windflower ordered to search for three convoy stragglers, scattered by the storm, using RADAR and lookouts to locate missing vessels.

15.23 Lookout reports E/S on surface, bearing 030, 800yds off starboard bow. Identified as Type VII. 4'' gun at action stations, gets off two rounds, first falling short but second very close. Good show! 

E/S crash dives but ASDIC fails to make contact. E/S assumed to have gone deep and escaped. Number One, a pre-war artist of some repute no less, has made a rather good charcoal sketch of the action now hanging on the wardroom bulkhead. 

Stragglers not located so HMCS Windflower re-joins convoy.

3rd - 5th February

Slight improvement in weather conditions but fog and snow soon return after a brief break in the overcast. Visibility poor and constant watch kept in case of collision.

Inspection reveals storm damage to aft Mk VIII AA pom-pom mount, with traverse mechanism seized and one breech jammed by salt water corrosion. Temporary repairs made but AA now U/S until parts can be replaced alongside in Halifax.

6th February

Arrive HALIFAX. No ships lost to E/S whilst under convoy escort but three stragglers still missing. Subsequent ASR search locates lifeboat from M/V Algonquin (7000t). Survivors confirm sinking by E/S. No trace of M/V Ceronia (8000t) or M/V White Crest (4000t) assumed lost with all hands. 

END

That was a much quicker game, mainly due to the weather which prevented a U-Boat attack and because I now have a good grasp of the rules so don't need to keep checking things. 

The rough weather was great as it happened in the air gap south of Iceland and prevented the U-Boats from hitting the convoy, although the random sub on the surface meant I did get to try out the gunnery rules, with a very near miss resulting. The overall tonnage lost was down to the three stragglers, but only added up to 19000 tonnes, resulting in a major victory for the RN and 2 VP's. 

I now have seven days to repair, rearm and refuel before HMCS Windflower is back on escort duty!