Convoy HX 126


Convoy HX 126 was the 126th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed Halifax on 10 May 1941 and were escorted across the North Atlantic by the armed merchant cruiser Aurania intended to provide protection against merchant raiders. Aurania was poorly equipped to defend the convoy from attacks beginning on 19 May by U-boats of the 1st, 2nd and 7th Flotillas, operating out of Brest, Lorient and St Nazaire, respectively. U-boats sank nine ships prior to arrival of the 12th Escort Group on 21 May. Surviving ships reached Liverpool on 28 May.

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

A total of 33 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Halifax or later in the voyage.
NameFlagTonnage Notes
Athelprincess 8,882
Barnby 4,813Straggled and sunk by
Baron Carnegie 3,178
Baron Elgin 3,942
Bente Maersk 5,722
British Freedom 6,985Straggled 20 May
British Security 8,470Sunk by
British Splendour 7,138
5,995Sunk By
Darlington Court 4,974Sunk By
Dorelian 6,431
Eemland Netherlands4,188Straggled 20 May
Elusa Netherlands6,235Sunk By
Empire Kudu 6,622
Gretavale 4,586
Hada County Norway4,853
Harpagus 5,173Sunk By. Rescue Ship
Havsten Norway6,161
Hindustan 5,245Rear-Admiral F B Watson DSO
John P Pedersen Norway6,128Sunk By
Karabagh 6,427
Morgenen Norway7,093
Nicoya 5,364
Norman Monarch 4,718Sunk By
Regent Panther 9,556
Ribera 5,559Straggled 20 May
Rosewood 5,989Iceland
Rothermere 5,356Sunk By
Salando Netherlands5,272Returned
Tongariro 8,720
Toward 1,571Rescue Ship
Westport 5,665Joined Ex Convoy SC 31
Winona County 6,159Returned

Convoy escorts

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey. Only one escort was present during the German attacks.
NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft
21 May 194123 May 1941
Armed merchant cruiser10 May 194121 May 1941
21 May 194122 May 1941
21 May 194126 May 1941
n/an/a
HMS Dianella 23 May 194123 May 1941
23 May 194126 May 1941
21 May 194123 May 1941
Shakespeare-class destroyer leader23 May 194126 May 1941
HMS Kingcup 23 May 194128 May 1941
HMT Lady ElsaASW trawler23 May 194123 May 1941
Scott-class destroyer leader20 May 194122 May 1941
21 May 194123 May 1941
HMT Northern GemASW trawlern/an/a
HMT Northern WaveASW trawlern/an/a
n/an/a
Admiralty S-class destroyer23 May 194127 May 1941
HMS Scimitar Admiralty S-class destroyer22 May 194124 May 1941
HMS SpringbankSeaplane tender/prototype fighter catapult ship23 May 194123 May 1941
T-class submarine10 May 194110 May 1941
Modified W-class destroyer26 May 194128 May 1941
21 May 194123 May 1941