An account of Convoy PQ.18 from official U.S. Navy records:

This article begins with the text of a 23 November, 1942 memo from the U.S. Naval Attaché at the American Embassy in Moscow, USSR to the Chief of Naval Operations; and the subject is:

A SHIP LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES IS HIT

Report of observations and activities during travel with North Russian convoy from New York to Molotovak, USSR.

“The writer is considered a very reliable and mature observer. His letter is believed to be of more than usual interest and value.”

The memo is stamped ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ & signed J. H. Dungan

Here is that memo, dated 17 October 1942 to Chief of Naval Operations from Ensign John H. Hanshaw:

1. In accordance with orders issued by the Chief of Bureau of Personnel dated 10 May, 1942, I departed from Washington DC on 31 May, 1942, for New York. Upon arrival there I reported to the U.S. Dispatch Agent for assignment to a vessel on which to take passage for myself and about 100 tons of supplies for the American Embassy, Moscow. Accordingly, I was advised to report onboard the S.S. VIRGINIA DARE at Hoboken, N.J. prior to 4 June, 1942. On 3 June, 1942, I reported onboard that vessel for passage and to the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Armed Guard for such duties as he may wish to assign me while so traveling.

2. The VIRGINIA DARE sailed on the following schedule in company with a convoy of other cargo vessels and escorted by British naval vessels:

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date
Hoboken, N.J.	6/11/42	Army Ammunition depot, Bayonne, N.J.	6/11/42
Bayonne, N.J.	6/15/42	Halifax, N.S.	6/19/42
Halifax, N.S.	6/22/42	Sydney, N.S.	6/24/42
Sidney, N.S.	6/25/42	Hvalfjordur, Iceland	7/9/42
Hvalfjordur	8/3/42	Gourock, Scotland	8/9/42
Gourock	8/21/42	Loch Ewe, Scotland	8/25/42
Loch Ewe	9/8/42	Molotovak, USSR	9/21/42

3. While at Gourock, with permission of the U.S. Naval Observer at that port, I visited Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. Enroute from Loch Ewe to Molotovak, we dropped some vessels of the convoy and picked up a few vessels from that port. Our escort from Scotland to Iceland was somewhat heavier than previously. We passed Hvalfjordur, Iceland on 7 September, 1942 without stopping. On 9 September, 1942 when to the N.E. of Iceland, our escort was increased considerably. One aircraft carrier, small size, 1 - converted anti-aircraft converted cruiser, 1 sloop, 2 submarines, 4 small rescue ships, 1 heavy cruiser, a few corvettes, destroyers and trawlers comprised the British escort from 9 September, until 2200 on 16 September, when the major part of the escorting vessels withdrew to return west. At the same time, three or four Russian destroyers joined our escort. It was felt that the major vessels of the escort should have accompanied the convoy into port as the strongest enemy attack was made after they left.

4. The S.S. VIRGINIA DARE is one of the new Liberty Ships, built at Wilmington, N.C., a welded hull. Was on her maiden voyage. While enroute from Philadelphia to Hoboken she ran aground. Was refloated and most of cargo discharged there. She was then drydocked and repairs to her bottom made. Was reloaded and after about ready to sail the Russian agents came aboard and stated they had orders to discharge the present cargo which consisted mostly of food and miscellaneous cargo. They stated that the Soviet Government wanted nothing but war materiel, that although they were short of food, they did not wish cargo space used for anything but necessary war materials. The ship was unloaded and then a cargo of tanks, trucks, crated aircraft, machinery small arms ammunition, smokeless powder and about 1,200 tons of T.N.T. taken aboard. The ship was under the command of Captain A.L. Johnson and its agents the Moore-McCormack S.S. Company.

5. An Armed Guard crew consisting of the Officer in Charge, Lieutenant John L. Laird, USNR., and twenty-five enlisted men manned the 4” rifle, 3” anti-aircraft gun and 8 20mm anti-aircraft guns. While in Scotland the ship was equipped with a barrage balloon and two P.A.C. wire rockets as well as about 6 smoke floats. Lieutenant Laird exhibited excellent control over his crew and showed remarkable ability in organizing his gun stations and in preparing his station bills. Regardless of the long tiresome trip with long stops at Iceland and Loch Ewe where no liberty or recreation was available, the morale of his crew remained excellent and when under heavy attacks by the enemy they all performed their assigned duties in a most excellent and commendable manner. During the eight day period of emergency they were required to stand two hour watches on and two off continuously, and at times when under attack and they were required to be on duty for as long as five to six hours at a time, during which time the weather was extremely cold and wet.

At all times there was excellent relations and cooperation between the merchant marine crew and armed guard crew. It was necessary to use some of the merchant marine crew to assist at the gun stations. This they did most willingly and enthusiastically. As was the case with many of the ships, the Captain was not so very enthusiastic about traveling in convoy due to the danger of collision in fogs and at night when all ships were running without lights. Upon leaving Cape Cod we encountered extremely heavy fog. The ships of the convoy became separated and went on to Halifax on their own. We arrived there ahead of most of the vessels which came in singly all during the day. The Captain stated that due to not having enough rudder for the size of the ship it was difficult to properly handle the ship in close formation.

However it was noted that when under heavy attack, the Commodore of the Convoy had hardly any difficulty in keeping the vessels in their proper positions. In fact it was noted that the officers of the merchant vessels exhibited a great deal more respect for the Naval personnel and eagerly looked forward to them for maximum protection after the first attack on the convoy. It is my belief however, that should the prohibition of liquor aboard the vessels be rigidly enforced, that much better conditions would follow. Under the trying conditions in the attack zones a couple of the officers tried to allay their tenseness and fear by a little over indulgence in liquor.

More Convoy PQ-18

Convoy PQ-18 Part 1
Convoy PQ-18 Part 2
Convoy PQ-18 Part 3
Convoy PQ-18 Part 4