Convoy MKS 23 - warsailors.com
Transcribed from documents (Advance Sailing Telegram) received from Tony Cooper - His source: Public Records Office, Kew.
The station numbers were obtained from a list of ships in MKS 23 received from Don Kindell, based on A. Hague's own research.
This first table shows the Gibraltar-U.K. convoy.
Ship
Nationality
Cargo
Destination
Station
Remarks
City of Calcutta
British
none given
Liverpool
63
–
City of Khios
"
none given
Hull
42
–
Cydonia
"
pyrites
Ardrossan
–
–
Derwenthall
"
none given
Barry Roads f. o.
–
–
Empire Carpenter
"
iron ore
Middlesbrough
11
–
Empire Celia
"
phosphates
London
61
–
Empire Moorhen
"
general
Hull
21
–
Empire Southey
"
phosphates
Glasgow
12
–
Finland
"
general
Glasgow
22
Fylingdale
"
iron ore
Ardrossan
33
–
Indian Prince
"
none given
Liverpool
–
Kaituna
"
general
Liverpool
41
–
Kana
"
potash - general - wolfram
Newport
32
–
Ocean Viscount
"
iron ore
Middlesbrough
31
–
PLM 21
French
phosphates
Avonmouth
–
–
Pencarrow
British
pyrites
Garston
53
–
Perseus
"
general - mails - passengers
Liverpool
51
–
Porjus
Swedish
iron ore
Middlesbrough
–
–
Trevorian
British
none given
Glasgow
–
Zamalek
"
Rescue Vessel
Clyde
34
Ref. Notes below
Blairdevon
"
pyrites
Aberdeen
13
"Proceeding Queenstown - engine defect"
Grodno
"
general
Preston
52
–
Fort Anne
"
none given
Middlesbrough
62
–
Note: I've compared the above with a list of ships in Convoy MKS 23 received from Don Kindell, based on A. Hague's own research, and find that A. Hague has also mentioned MMS 80 (station 43) and MMS 81 (station 24), with a note for both saying they were detached Sept. 13.
The Rescue Vessel Zamalek was on her 21st voyage as such, having started this voyage from Clyde on Aug. 17-1943 with Convoy KMS 24 - to Gibraltar Aug. 30, then returned to Clyde with Convoy KMS 23, Sept. 4-Sept. 16. ("Convoy Rescue Ships 1940-1945", Arnold Hague).
Escorts (received from Don Kindell, whose own work, covering "Royal & other Navies Day-by-Day in World War 2" can be viewed at this website):
Sept. 4-Sept. 17: Borage, Dahlia, Hurricane, Monkshood.
Sept. 4-Sept. 13: Wallflower, Wanderer.
Sept. 17: Leeds United.
A. Hague's list also shows the following (Bizerta, Aug. 30-1943)
As mentioned, A. Hague says in his "The Allied Convoy System" that MKS 23 left Alexandria on Aug. 25, w/arrival Gibraltar on Sept. 3.
Transcribed from the document received from Don Kindell - Source: A. Hague's own research.
Ship
Nationality
Voyage
Alexander White
American
–
Alexandre André
Belgian
Malta to Tripoli
Atlantic City
British
Algiers to Gibraltar for W. Africa
Belnor
Norwegian
Returned to Malta
Charles R. McCormick
American
Algiers to Oran
Chertsey
British
Bizerta to Philippeville
City of Calcutta
"
Alexandria to Gibraltar
City of Newcastle
"
Alexandria to Malta, thence Syracuse
Custodian
"
Alexandria to Augusta
Defender
"
Alexandria to Augusta
Derwentdale
"
Alexandria to Gibraltar
Eleazar Wheelock
American
Bizerta to Oran
Empire Charmian
British
Malta to Bizerta
Empire Farmer
"
Bizerta to Philippeville
Empire Garrick
"
Alexandria to Bizerta
Empire Moorhen
"
Malta to Gibraltar for U.K.
Empire Trooper
"
Malta to Oran
Fernplant
Norwegian
Alexandria to Gibraltar
Fort Aklavik
British
Bone to Gibraltar for W. Africa
Fort Buffalo
"
Bone to Gibraltar for W. Africa
Fort Chambly
"
Alexandria to Augusta
Fort Gaspereau
"
Alexandria to Malta
(later to Gibraltar with MKS 24)
Fort Grahame
"
Alexandria to Malta
Fort McMurray
"
Alexandria to Tripoli
Fort Slave
"
Philippeville for Oran to U.S.A.
Forthbank
"
Alexandria to Malta
George Vancouver
American
Bizerta to Oran
Harpalycus
British
Malta to Benisaf
Henry Middleton
American
Bizerta to Oran
Henry St. G. Tucker
"
Alexandria to Gibraltar for U.S.A.
HMS Salveda
British
Malta to Bizerta
HMS Salvestor
"
Malta to Algiers
Indian Prince
"
Alexandria to Malta
(see also MKS 23)
James Fenimore Cooper
American
Alexandria to Gibraltar for U.K.
James J. Maguire
British
Alexandria to Bizerta
Joseph G. Cannon
American
Malta to Oran
Kaituna
British
Alexandria to Gibraltar
Karoa
"
Malta to Oran
Kheti
"
Malta to Bizerta
Kofresi
American
Bone to Oran for U.S.A.
Kosciuszko
Polish
Algiers to Oran
(14 days repair at Oran)
Lucretia Mott
American
Malta to Oran
Macoma
Dutch
Alexandria to unknown port
Marigot
French
Malta to Algiers
Miranda
Greek
Alexandria to Tripoli
Nirvana
British
Malta to La Goulette
Ocean Viking
"
Alexandria to Malta
Ocean Volga
"
Bone to Gibraltar
Octane
"
Malta to Tripoli
Orna
"
Malta to Tripoli
Peter J. McGuire
American
Alexandria to unknown port
President de Vogue
Norwegian
Alexandria to Malta
Prince de Liege
Belgian
Alexandria to Augusta
Robert J. Collier
American
Alexandria to Gibraltar for U.S.A.
Robt M. Lafollette
"
Bizerta to Oran
Sofala
British
Alexandria to Tripoli
South America
Norwegian
Malta to Bizerta
Tautra
"
–
USS Aroostook
American
Malta to unknown port
William H. Gray
"
Alexandria to Gibraltar for U.S.A.
Yenangyaung
British
Alexandria to Malta - Malta to Tripoli
Escorts:
Aug. 25-Sept. 4: Atherstone, Coltsfoot, Holcombe, Honeysuckle, Hyderabad, Liddesdale, Oxlip, Rhododendron.
Sept. 1-Sept. 4: Colombo.