Merchant Vessels of Convoy ONS 5

Ships are arranged below as they were listed in Form D.  This document gave the position each ship was expected to assume as the convoy formed up.  In good weather the Columns were 7 cables (1680 yards) apart.  Ships were stationed 4 cables (960 yards) astern of the preceding ship (closed to 2 cables in bad visibility).  As the convoy progressed ships moved up to take the place of those that straggled or were sunk.  As the convoy neared Canadian waters, is was arranged in only 10 columns.  
 
Key
  Column
1
  Position / Pendant #
11
  Name
Bristol City
  Tonnage
2864
  Nationality
BR
  Remarks
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
101
111
121
Bristol City
Dolius
Ottinge
Fana
Losada
Rena
Empire Advocate
Penhale
North Britain
Yearby
Gharinda
Empire Planet
2864
5507
2870
5242
6520
5242
5787
4071
4635
5666
5396
4272
BR
BR
BR
NO
BR
NO
BR
BR
BR
BR
BR
BR
Sunk by U-358
Sunk by U-638
Vice Commo-dore
Commo- dore
Returned Clyde
Arrived Iceland 26-Apr
Sunk by U-707
Sunk by U-226
             
Straggler
Straggler
Straggler
    
                       
12
22
32
42
52
62
72
82
92
102
112
122
West Madaket
West Maximus
Baron Graham
McKee- sport
British Lady
Argon
Merton
Bonde
Omega
Selvistan
Comman- dant Dorise
Isobel
5565
5541
3242
6192
6098
6952
7150
1510
3638
5136
5529
1515
US
US
BR
US
BR
US
BR
NO
BR
BR
BR
PA
Sunk by U-584
Sunk by U-264
Sunk by U-258
Escort Oiler
Sunk by U-226
Sunk by U-226
Straggler
Straggler
Straggler
                       
13
23
33
43
53
63
73
83
93
103
113
123
Harperley
Bengkalis
Wentworth
Director
Baron Elgin
Campus
Harbury
Bornholm
Mano
Agios Georgios
Nicolas
4586
6453
5212
5107
3942
3667
5081
3177
1418
4248
4540
BR
NE
BR
BR
BR
BR
BR
DA
BR
GR
GR
Sunk by U-264
Sunk by U-358
Sunk by U-628
Collision departed
Straggler
Straggler
Arrived Iceland 27-Apr
Straggler
Straggler
                       
14
24
34
44
54
64
74
84
94
104
114
124
Temple Arch
Lornaston
Lorient
Ivan Topic
Empire Gazelle
Cydonia
Modlin
Baron Semple
Berkel
Dunsley
5131
4934
4737
4945
4128
3517
3570
4573
2130
3862
BR
BR
BR
YU
BR
BR
PO
BR
NE
BR
Sunk by U-125
Engine trouble returned
Collision remained in convoy
Did not sail
Straggler
Arrived Greenock 25-Apr
Straggler
Straggler
 
 
24
74
84
Sarpelo
Bosworth
Gudvor
12600
6672
2289
US
BR
NO
Joined from Iceland 26-Apr
Joined from Iceland 26-Apr
Joined from Iceland 26-Apr
Naval tanker

 

Some of the pendant numbers in the document below do not match the final assignments in the Form D - The document is of interest because it notes the cargo and armament of the vessels

     
 
 
 
CONVOY O.N.S.5.
 
     
LIVERPOOL SHIPS.
                   
51
   Losada m/v   LTS 9 6520 Con (Christobal/Panama/Callso/ (Arica/Antofagasta/Valpariso A.B.2C.6M.K
112
   Commandant Dorise D LTS 9 5528 Ball Saint John, N.B. B.2C.6M.K
61
   Rena (Nor) D LTS 9-1/2 5242 Ball Halifax f/o A.6M.
42
   McKeesport (USA) D LTS 9-1/2 6198 Ball New York A.9M.K
62
 Argon (USA)(T) D LTS 9-1/2 4271 Oiler New York F/O A.B.4M.
71
 Empire Advocate D LTS 9 5786 Ball Saint John, N.B. A.4C.2M.K
124
 Ocean Gallant DE LTS 9-1/2 7178 Ball Halifax f/o B.4C.2M
                 
MILFORD SHIPS.
23
   HARPERLEY D LTS 8 4585 Coal Buenos Aires A.B.2C.4M.K
22
   West Maximus (USA)   LTS 9 5561 Ball New York 5".60.K
12
   West Madaket (USA) D LTS 8 5565 Ball New York A.B.6M
21
   Bristol City D LTS 9-1/2 2846 Gen/Clay New York A.2C.4M.K
93
 Bornholm D LTS 9 3177 Ball Halifax A.4C.2M.K
84
   Modlin (Pol) D LTS 8 3569 Coal Saint John, N.B. B.2C.2M.K
104
   Berkel (Du) D LTS 8 2130 Coal Saint Johns, N.F. A.3M.K
74
   Cydonia D LTS 7-1/2 3517 Coal Halifax/Saint John, N.B. A.B.C.6M.K
83
   Harbury D LTS 9 5081 Coal Saint John, N.B. A.B.4C.4M.K
22
   Bonde (Nor) D LTS 8 1570 Coal Saint John, N.B. B.C.6M.K
44
   Ivan Topic (Y.S.) D LTS 9-1/2 4943 Coal Boston B.2C.8M.K
13
 Empire Chamois LTS 8-1/2 5683 Ball Norfolk, Va. A.2C.4M.K
21
   Dolius  m/v D LTS 9 5508 Ball New York A.2C.6M.K
42
   Director   LTS 9 5107 Ball Norfolk, Va. A.B.8M.K
                 
CLYDE SHIPS.
54
   Empire Gazelle   LTS 9 4828 Ball Saint John, N.B. B.4C.4M.k
31
   Gharinda   LTS 9 5306 Ball New York A.8M.K
91
   North Britain DE LTS 9-1/2 4635 Ball Halifax f/o  
92
   Omega   LTS 7-1/2 3788 Ball Halifax f/o A.4C.2M.K
41
   Fana (Nor)     9 1374 Gen New York A.B.6M.K
81
 Penhale LTS 7-1/2 4071 Ball Halifax A.5M
  [penned entries below]              
24
 Lornaston 8-1/2 Halifax
16
   Temple Arch     8-1/2     Halifax  
   
 
A
=
 4" or 4.7" gun  
(ND)
=
 Ship fitted with Admiralty Net Defence
B
=
 3" or 12 pdr. "  
(T)
=
 Tanker
C
=
 Oerlikon        "  
D
=
 Direction Finder
M
=
 Machine        "  
E
=
 Echo Sounder
K
=
 Kite  
LTS
=
 Coloured Lights
 
   
m/v
=
 Motor Vessel
 
     
     
     
     

Note:  the kite referred to in this document was a barrage kite which carried a steel wire aloft to deter aircraft from flying overhead.

     
 
 
 
- 2 -
 
     
OBAN SHIPS.
                   
33   Wentworth D   9 5212 Ball New York  f/o  
23   Bengkalis (Du) D   9-1/2 6453 Ball/Gen New York  
21   Ottinge DE   9 2870 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
72   Merton D   8 7195 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
101   Yeaby DE   8-1/2 5666 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
113   Agios Georgios (Gk)     8-1/2 4248 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
73   Campus D   7-1/2 3667 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
102   Selvistan D   8-1/2 3136 Ball Hallifax  f/o  
53   Baron Elgin     8-1/2 3942   New York  
94   Baron Semple D   9 4573   Halifax  
122   Isabel (Pan)     9 1514   Halifax f/o  
121   Empire Planet D   8 4272   Halifax f/o  
123   Nicolas (Gk)     8-1/2 4540 Ball Halifax  
32   Baron Graham D   8-1/2 3242 Ball New York f/o  
34   Lorient     8-1/2 4737 Ball New York  
114   Dunnley     8-1/2 3862 Ball Halifax  
                   
LONDONDERRY
52   British Lady (T) (?)   10 6098 Oiler New York f/o A.B.4C.4M.K
                   
    [penned entries below]              
                   
62   Argon (USA)(T) D LTS 9-1/2 6371 Oiler New York f/o A.B.6M
   
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

Some of the assignments in the document below do not match the convoy, for example OTTINGE replaced GHARINDA as the Vice Commodore's ship - The document is of interest because it sets forth the communications assignments for the merchant vessels

     
 
 
 
W/T GUARDS.
O.N.S.5.
20.4.43.
BAMS Guard & 500 kc/s (Cdre)   RENA
R/T
 LV
500 kc/s Guard & BAMS (V.Cdre) GHARINDA
-
 CLYDE
   
 
M/F D/F GUARDS.  
 
384 kc/s (781m) (YEARBY
R/T
 OBAN
  (CAMPUS
-
 OBAN
   
 
437 kc/s (686m) BRISTOL CITY
-
 M/H
350 - 450 kc/s (666 - 857m) EMPIRE GAZELLE
R/T
 CLYDE
   
 
STAND BY M/F D/F.  
 
  OTTINGE (2 R.O.'s)
-
 OBAN
  WENTWORTH
-
 OBAN
   
 
SPECIAL SEARCH SHIPS.  
 
600 - 428 kc/s (500 - 700m) OCEAN GALLANT
R/T
 LV
461 - 353 kc/s (650 - 850m) HARBURY
-
 M/H
375 - 300 kc/s (800 - 1000m) DOLIUS
-
 M/H
   
 
H/F D/F SHIP. MERTON
R/T
 OBAN
 
 
  NOTE:  When not in V/S Communication with the Commodore and during enemy shadowing or attack.  
     
  M/F D/F GUARDS keep loudspeaker watch on 2410 kc/s (124.5m) in addition to D/F.  They do not keep 500 kc/s (600m) watch.  W/T Signals for D/F guards must therefore be passed on 2410 kc/s (124.5m).  
     
  SPECIAL SEARCH SHIPS keep loudspeaker watch on second channel receivers on 500 kc/s (600m) in addition to search watch.