Convoy HX.253

Departed from NYC on 20 August 1943.
Arrived Liverpool on 4 September 1943.
Hague's records contain 56 merchants and 18 escorts (50 ships TDS)

Vessel
Pdt.
Tons
Built
Cargo
Notes
AKAROA (Br)
41
15,130
1914
FRIG
 
ALCOA LEADER (US)
31
5,041
1919
GENERAL, STEEL, AMMO
 
AQUAMARINE 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 03/09 - 04/09
BANADEROS (Nor)
13
2,728
1930
GENERAL
ST JOHNS NF FOR ARGENTIA
BRITISH DESTINY (Br)
92
8,470
1937
AVGAS
 
BRITISH POWER (Br)
83
8,451
1936
AVGAS, BENZINE
 
BRITISH PROMISE (Br)
53
8,443
1942
AVGAS
 
BURY (Br)
 
1,686
1911
 
RESCUE SHIP JOINED EX ST JOHNS NF
CAVINA (Br)
51
6,907
1924
GENERAL EX HALIFAX
 
CORRALES (Br)
95
5,363
1930
FRIG, METAL EX HALIFAX
 
CURACAO (Du)
81
8,269
1930
GENERAL
 
DIGBY 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 25/08
DRUPA (Br)
104
8,102
1939
PETROL
 
ELISABETH BAKKE (Nor)
21
5,450
1937
GENERAL
 
ELM PARK (Br)
45
7,136
1943
GENERAL EX HALIFAX
fitted with AND
EMPIRE MANOR (Br)
101
7,017
1943
FRIG, GENERAL
fitted with AND
EMPIRE TRISTRAM (Br)
15
7,167
1942
GRAIN, MT EX HALIFAX
 
ESSO MONTPELIER (US)
112
7,698
1940
PETROL
 
EUGENE FIELD (US)
73
7,176
1943
GENERAL, EXPL
fitted with AND
F T FRELINGHUYSEN (US)
11
7,176
1943
GENERAL
 
FLOMAR (US)
35
5,551
1919
GENERAL EX HALIFAX
 
FORT AMHERST (Br)
24
3,489
1936
GENERAL, PASSENGERS
HALIFAX FOR ST JOHNS NF
FORT ROUILLE (Br)
14
7,131
1943
GRAIN, MT EX HALIFAX
fitted with AND
FORT SOURIS (Br)
75
7,134
1942
GRAIN, MT EX HALIFAX
fitted with AND
FREDERICK DOUGLASS (US)
124
7,176
1943
GENERAL
 
GALLIA (Nor)
113
9,974
1939
PETROL
 
GEORGE POINDEXTER (US)
115
7,176
1943
GENERAL, EXPL EX HALIFAX
RETURNED
GRANBY 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 22/08 - 23/08
GULFPOINT (US)
103
6,972
1920
USN FUEL
 
GYDA (Br)
55
1,695
1934
GENERAL EX HALIFAX
 
HEGIRA (US)
23
7,588
1919
BOMBS, GENERAL
RETURNED
HEPATICA 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 25/08
HMS EMPEROR (Br)
82
11,420
1942
as ferry carrier
 
IONION (Gk)
56
7,035
1942
STEEL, LUMBER EX HALIFAX
 
JAMES A FARRELL (US)
22
7,176
1943
EXPL, GENERAL
fitted with AND
JAMES SMITH (US)
91
7,181
1942
SULPHUR COTTON
 
JIM BRIDGER (US)
84
7,180
1942
EXPL, GENERAL
 
JOHN CATRON (US)
122
7,176
1943
GENERAL
fitted with AND
JOHN LANGDON (US)
93
7,176
1942
GENERAL, EXPL EX HALIFAX
 
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA (US)
12
7,225
1943
GENERAL
 
KAFIRISTAN (Br)
25
7,248
1941
FLOUR, ALUMINIUM
 
KEPPEL 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
LECHISTAN (Pol)
54
1,937
1929
GENERAL
 
LETHBRIDGE 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 22/08 - 23/08
LINCOLN 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 25/08
LISTA (Nor)
114
3,671
1920
EXPL, GENERAL
 
LOBELIA 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
MATAPEDIA 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 21/08
MELVILLE 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 25/08
MORGENEN (Nor)
44
7,093
1930
LUB OIL
 
NARANIO (Br)
43
8,134
1943
PETROL
fitted with AND
NARCISSUS 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
NATHANIEL BACON (US)
32
7,176
1942
GENERAL, EXPL, MT
 
NELSON DINGLEY (US)
105
7,176
1943
EXPL, GENERAL EX HALIFAX
fitted with AND
ORCHIS 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
PETER DONAHUE (US)
111
7,194
1943
GENERAL, SUGAR, MT
 
PORT DARWIN (Br)
42
8,063
1918
FRIG, GENERAL, ZINC
 
RABY CASTLE (Br)
61
4,996
1925
GENERAL
 
RENONCULE 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
RIVERVIEW PARK (Br)
85
7,130
1943
GENERAL, AMMO EX HALIFAX
fitted with AND
ROBERT EDEN (US)
34
7,176
1943
GENERAL, EXPL
 
ROBERT FULTON (US)
 
7,176
1941
GENERAL EX ST JOHNS NF
 
RUAHINE (Br)
71
10,832
1909
DAIRY, GENERAL
 
SCOTTISH HEATHER (Br)
52
7,087
1928
FFO
ESCORT OILER
SHAWNIGAN 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 22/08 - 23/08
SINCLAIR OPALINE (US)
33
7,874
1941
PETROL, A/C
 
ST ALBANS 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 20/08 - 25/08
SUNETTA (Du)
94
7,987
1935
PARAFFIN
 
TOWY 
 
 
 
 
ESCORT 25/08 - 03/09
TWEEDSMUIR PARK (Br)
125
7,143
1943
GENERAL
fitted with AND
UMGENI (Br)
74
8,149
1938
FRIG
 
UMTALI (Br)
102
8,135
1936
FRIG, LEAD
 
VELMA (Nor)
72
9,720
1930
FFO
ESCORT OILER
WILLIAM N PENDLETON (US)
121
7,244
1943
GRAIN, LOCOS
fitted with AND

Additional notes by Arnold Hague and co-workers for convoy HX.253:

    WLE(S & N) W5 SOE LINCOLN, HX LOCAL W3 SOE LETHBRIDGE, OCEAN B3 SOE KEPPEL, UK LOCAL AQUAMARINE
    HESPERIA DETACHED TO ESCORT BYMS TO HALIFAX, ARRIVING 30.8. NARCISSUS & ORCHIS TOOK ON FAST SECTION
    HESPERIA DETACHED TO ESCORT BYMS TO HALIFAX, ARRIVING 30.8. NARCISSUS & ORCHIS TOOK ON FAST SECTION. MATAPEDIA RET NYC, DEFECTS
    COMMODORE: R-Adm SIR C N REYNE KBE IN RUAHINE
    VICE COMMODORE: SHIP'S MASTER IN PORT DARWIN
Data supplied by Don Kindell, extracted from the late Arnold Hague's papers with the kind permission of Mrs. Gill Hague.