Convoy HX 133
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Convoy HX.133
|partof=World War II
|date=16 June 1941 – 3 July 1941
|place=North Atlantic
|result=German victory
|combatant1={{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Germany
|combatant2={{flagicon|United Kingdom|navy}} United Kingdom
{{flagicon|United Kingdom|navy}} Canada
|commander1=Admiral Karl Dönitz
|commander2=
|strength1=~4 U-boats
|strength2=64 merchant ships
20 escorts
|casualties2=6 ships sunk
7 damaged
107 killed
}}
{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}
Convoy HX 133 was the 133rd of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed Halifax on 16 June 1941,Hague p.127 and were found on 23 June by U-boats of the 1st U-boat Flotilla, operating out of Brest, France.
U-boats sank six ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 3 July. There was strong criticism of the RCN corvette's signalling capabilities as borne out by the number of collisions that occurred.{{cite web|url=http://www.Convoyweb.org.uk/HX/index.html|title=Convoy HX.133
|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=31 October 2013}}
{{toclimit|2}}
Ships in the Convoy
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| scope="col" width="150px" |Name
! scope="col" width="150px" |Flag ! scope="col" width="30px" |Tonnage (GRT) ! scope="col" width="420px" |Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| align="left"|Anadara (1935)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|8,009 |align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133 | ||
| align="left"|{{HMCS|Annapolis|I04}}
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy |align="right"| |align="left"|Escort 16 Jun – 20 Jun | ||
| align="left"|{{HMS|Arabis|K73}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}} |align="right"| |align="left"|Escort 27 Jun | ||
| align="left"|Atlantic City (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|5,133 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Baltara (1918)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|3,292 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Bello (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}} |align="right"|6,125 |align="left"|Possibly via Convoy BB 41 | ||
| align="left"|British Progress (1927)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|4,581 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|British Workman (1922)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|6,994 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Brockley Hill (1919)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|5,297 |align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-651 | 2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1005.html|title=Brockley Hill – British steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. All crew rescued. | |
| align="left"|HMS Celandine (K75)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}} |align="right"| |align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 30 Jun | ||
| align="left"|Ceronia (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|4,955 |align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133 | ||
| align="left"|{{HMCS|Chambly|K116}}
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy |align="right"| |align="left"|Escort – 27 Jun | ||
| align="left"|City Of Oxford (1926)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|2,759 |align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133, collision 19 Jun, returned | ||
| align="left"|Cliona (1931)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|8,375 |align="left"|As station oiler at Reykjavík until April 1942 | ||
| align="left"|{{HMCS|Collingwood|K180}}
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy |align="right"| |align="left"|Escort 20 Jun – 27 Jun | ||
| align="left"|Colytto (1926)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}} |align="right"|4,408 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Corbis (1931)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|8,132 |align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133 | ||
| align="left"|Dalhousie (1940)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|7,072 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Debrett (1940)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|6,244 |align="left"|2 passengers | ||
| align="left"|Dolabella (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|8,142 |align="left"|Returned to Halifax after collision on 19 Jun | ||
| align="left"|Dornoch (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|5,186 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Emma Bakke (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}} |align="right"|4,721 |align="left"|Returned | ||
| align="left"|Empire Granite (1941)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK|RFA}} |align="right"|8,028 |align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133 | ||
| align="left"|Empire Oil (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|8,029 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Empire Salvage (1941)
|align="left"| |align="right"| 10,746 |align="left"| Originally the Dutch Papendrecht, requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1941 and renamed Lothringen to support naval operations by the German battleship {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck | 2}} and cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen | 2}} in the Atlantic. Captured the Allies in June 1941 and renamed Empire Salvage. |
| align="left"|Erviken (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}} |align="right"|6,595 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|Everleigh (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}} |align="right"|5,222 |align="left"| | ||
| align="left"|{{HMS|Fleetwood|U47| |
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 27 Jun
Sloop
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Gladiolus|K34}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 27 Jun
Corvette
|-
|align="left"|Glenpark (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,136
|align="left"|Capt R Gill CBE RD RNR (Commodore)
|-
|align="left"|Grayburn (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|6,342
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-651||2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1024.html|title=Grayburn – British steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} S of Iceland. 35 of her 53 crew lost. Survivors rescued by HMS Arabis, HMT Northern Wave and HMS Violet
|-
|align="left"|Hartlebury (1934)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,082
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Havprins (1935)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|8,066
|align="left"|Motor tanker
|-
|align="left"|Henry Dundas (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|10,448
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Icarus|D03}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort. Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|Inverilen (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|9,456
|align="left"|3 passengers
|-
|align="left"|Inverlee (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|9,158
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133. Bound for Scapa Flow
|-
|align="left"|Kongsgaard (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,467
|align="left"|Torpedoed amidships by {{GS|U-564||2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship.html?shipID=1015|title=Kongsgaard – Norwegian motor tanker|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} and caught fire on 27 Jun. The crew partially abandoned her, but the remaining crew were able to extinguish the fire and she arrived safely into Belfast on 2 Jul
|-
|align="left"|Loch Ranza (1934)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,958
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Lowther Castle (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,171
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Maasdam (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|8,812
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-564||2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1014.html|title=Maasdam – Dutch steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} {{convert|300|nmi|km}} S of Iceland. 32 passengers. Only 2 people were lost of the 80 persons on board; rescued by Havprins
|-
|align="left"|Malaya II (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|8,651
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-564||2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1013.html|title=Malaya II – British motor merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} E of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 41 of 49 crew lost. Survivors rescued by HMS Collingwood
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Malcolm|D19}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 30 Jun
Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|HMS Maplin
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort
|-
|align="left"|Mooncrest (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,202
|align="left"|Vice Commodore
|-
|align="left"|Nailsea Manor (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,926
|align="left"|Returned to St John's, Newfoundland after collision
|-
|align="left"|HMS Nasturtium (K107)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 29 Jun
Corvette
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Niger|J73}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun
Minesweeper
|-
|align="left"|HMS Northern Gem (FY194)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort
ASW trawler
|-
|align="left"|HMS Northern Pride (FY105)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort
ASW trawler
|-
|align="left"|HMS Northern Wave (FY153)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort
ASW trawler
|-
|align="left"|Oakworth (1925)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,968
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMCS|Orillia|K119}}
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 20 Jun – 27 Jun
Corvette
|-
|align="left"|HMCS Ottawa (H60)
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 20 Jun – 27 Jun
Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Polyanthus|K47}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 23 Jun – 27 Jun
Corvette
|-
|align="left"|Primero (1925)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|4,414
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133, collision 19 Jun, returned
|-
|align="left"|Randa (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|1868}} Canada
|align="right"|1,555
|align="left"|Straggled 27 Jun, to Reykjavík
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Ripley|G79}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 29 Jun
Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|Salamis (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|8,286
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|San Delfino (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|8,072
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133
|-
|align="left"|Saugor (1928)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|6,303
|align="left"|2 passengers
|-
|align="left"|HMS Scimitar (H21)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 30 Jun
|-
|align="left"|Scottish Trader (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,016
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Skeldergate (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,251
|align="left"|Returned to Halifax after collision on 19 Jun
|-
|align="left"|Soløy (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|4,402
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133. Sunk by {{GS|U-203||2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1002.html|title=Soløy – Norwegian motor merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} All 32 crew rescued by Traveller.
|-
|align="left"|Southgate (1926)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,862
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|HMS Speedwell (J87)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun
Minesweeper
|-
|align="left"|{{HMCS|St. Croix|I81}}
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Canada|naval-1911}} Royal Canadian Navy
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 17 Jun – 20 Jun
Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|St Rosario (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,312
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133
|-
|align="left"|Stylianos Chandris (1919)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Greece}}
|align="right"|6,059
|align="left"|Returned
|-
|align="left"|Tibia (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|10,356
|align="left"|Damaged by torpedo
|-
|align="left"|Tornus (1936)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|8,054
|align="left"|Joined ex convoy BHX 133
|-
|align="left"|Traveller (1922)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|3,963
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Trefusis (1918)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,299
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Treworlas (1922)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,692
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Tricula (1936)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|6,221
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Ulysses (1918)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|2,666
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Vigrid (1923)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|4,765
|align="left"|10 passengers. Straggler; Sunk by {{GS|U-371||2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1003.html|title=Vigrid – Norwegian motor merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=31 October 2013}} {{convert|400|nmi|km}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 28 of 49 people lost.
|-
|align="left"|HMS Violet (K35)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 30 Jun
Corvette
|-
|align="left"|Voco (1925)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,090
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Watchman|D26}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 27 Jun – 30 Jun
Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|Winkleigh (1940)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|5,468
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|Winsum (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|3,224
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|HMS Wolfe (F37)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 16 Jun – 27 Jun
|-
|align="left"|Zaafaran (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,559
|align="left"|Rescue ship
|-
|}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book
| last = Hague
| first = Arnold
| title = The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945
| year = 2000
| isbn = 1-86176-147-3
| ref = {{sfnRef|Hague}}
}}