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Notable events involving LST 197 include:

9 May 1944

Convoy MKS 49.

This convoy departed Port Said on 9 May 1944.

On departure from Port Said the convoy was made up of the transports / tankers; Benrinnes (British, 5410 GRT, built 1921), Boskoop (Dutch, 5620 GRT, built 1927), City of Norwich (British, 6726 GRT, built 1913), Elise (Norwegian (tanker), 7910 GRT, built 1931), Empire Ballad (British, 6700 GRT, built 1942), Fort Turtle (British, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Hart Crane (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944) and Modasa (British, 9070 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Port Said the convoy was escorted by the corvettes HMS Delphinium (Cdr. V.F. Smith, DSO, RD, RNR) and HMS Hyderabad (Lt. G.H. Taylor, RNR).

At 2230C/9, the Elise and HMS Hyderabad collided between Port Said and Alexandria. HMS Hyderabad put into Alexandria but was later able to rejoin the convoy.

On 10 May 1944 the following transports departed Alexandria to join the convoy; Bialystok (Polish, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Fort Grant (British, 7133 GRT, built 1943), Gorjistan (British, 5888 GRT, built 1929), J.C. Osgood (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944), John A. Brown (British (tanker), 10455 GRT, built 1938), Nordnes (Norwegian, 4147 GRT, built 1932) and Ocean Stranger (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942).

The boom carrier HMS Kirriemoor (4970 GRT, built 1935, Cdr.(Retd.) H.M. Montague, OBE, RN) was also in company with the convoy.

Also the escort destroyer RHS Kriti, frigate HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RD, RNR), A/S whalers HMSAS Protea (Lt. A. Thomas, DSC, SANF) and HMSAS Southern Sea (Lt.Cdr. M.R.J. Terry-Lloyd, SANF) and A/S trawler HMS Bream (A/Skr.Lt. S.C. Larner, RNR) joined coming from Alexandria.

On 11 May 1944, the Empire Ballad arrived at Alexandria after having been detached due to engine trouble.

On 15 May 1944, the Elise was detached to Malta as was HMS Bream. The transports Samaffric (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944) and Thelma (British, 1593 GRT, built 1935) joined the convoy coming from Malta as did the submarine HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN). They were escorted to the rendezvous by the A/S whaler HMS Falk ( T/Lt. W. Metcalfe, RNVR).

Also on 15 May 1944, the following transports / tankers were detached to Augusta; Bialystok, Boskoop, Fort Grant, Fort Turtle, Hart Crane, J.C. Osgood, John A. Brown, Nordnes and while the following transports joined the convoy coming from Augusta; Domby (British, 5582 GRT, built 1932), Edward Livingston (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Empire Beatrice (British, 7046 GRT, built 1943), Empire Conrad (British, 7009 GRT, built 1942), Empire Noble (British, 7125 GRT, built 1944), Empire Wyclif (British, 6966 GRT, built 1941), Esso Nashville (American (tanker), 7943 GRT, built 1940), Fort de Douaumont (French, 5266 GRT, built 1918), Fort Gaspereau (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), James Gordon Bennett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John B. Hood (American, 7196 GRT, built 1942), John Sullivan (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Joseph Le Conte (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Ocean Gallant (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Traveller (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942), Richard Bassett (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Samave (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samboston (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samnethy (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Samoa (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Sampan (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Sampford (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samphire (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samwash (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samwye (British, 7219 GRT, built 1944), Stancleeve (British, 5970 GRT, built 1942), Stanwell (British, 5767 GRT, built 1914), William Few (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942) and William W. Campbell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).

On 16 May 1944, the transports Edward Livingston and Sampan were detached to Bizerta while the transports Capitaine Paul Lemerle (French, 4945 GRT, built 1925), Empire Derwent (British, 4026 GRT, built 1930), Fort la Baye (British, 7162 GRT, built 1943), Fort Lennox (British, 7149 GRT, built 1943), Harlesden (British, 7273 GRT, built 1943), Josiah Bartlett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Lornaston (British, 4934 GRT, built 1925), Luther Martin (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942) and Roger Williams (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942) joined coming from Bizerta. Also the AA cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. R.F. Nichols, RN) and salvage vessel USS Restorer (Lt. C.M. Boyd, USNR) joined the convoy.

On 17 May 1944, the transports Capitaine Paul Lemerle, Fort Lennox, Harlesden, Ocean Traveller and Sampford were detached to Bone while the rescue tug HMS Hengist joined the convoy.

On 18 May 1944, the transports and tanker Empire Beatrice, Empire Noble, Empire Wyclif, Esso Nashville, Fort de Douaumont, Fort Gaspereau, James Gordon Bennett, John Sullivan, Joseph le Conte, Lornaston, Ocean Gallant, Richard Bassett, Samaye, Samboston, Samoa, Samphire, Samwash, Stancleeve, Thelma, William Few and William W. Campbell as well as USS Restorer arrived at Algiers while the transports / tanker Empire Cavalier (British (tanker), 9891 GRT, built 1942), Grodno (British, 2458 GRT, built 1919), Jared Ingersoll (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), John Sergeant (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Marrakech (French, 6179 GRT, built 1914), Silverelm (British, 4351 GRT, built 1924) and Tabitha Brown (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) joined the convoy.

On 19 May 1944, the transports Empire Conrad, Jared Ingersoll, John Sergeant, Josiah Bertlett, Luther Martin, Roger Williams, Samaffric, Samnethy, Silverelm and Tabitha Brown arrived at Oran having been detached from the Convoy. The transports / tanker Belgian Sailor (Belgian, 7028 GRT, built 1942), Benjamin Tay (British, 1814 GRT, built 1943), Blackheath (British, 4637 GRT, built 1936), Capitaine Saint Martin (French, 3441 GRT, built 1938), Caudebec (French, 1471 GRT, built 1910), Dartmouth (American, 9879 GRT, built 1943), Empire Grebe (British, 5736 GRT, built 1918), Fort Brandon (British, 7131 GRT, built 1943), Fort la Traite (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942) and Lookout Mountain (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy coming from Oran. With them were also the LST's USS LST-197 (Lt. J.E. Neal, USNR), USS LST-326 (Lt.(jg) G.R. Ambler, USCGR) and USS LST-381 (Lt. J.P. Houlihan, Jr, USCGR).

The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 20 May 1944.

11 May 1944

Convoy SL 158.

This convoy departed Freetown on 11 May 1944.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Antilochus (British, 9082 GRT, built 1906), Atlantic (British, 5414 GRT, built 1939), Baron Elphinstone (British, 4635 GRT, built 1937), Bornholm (British, 3177 GRT, built 1930), Empire Governor (British, 8657 GRT, built 1925), Empire Strength (British, 7355 GRT, built 1942), Fort Douglas (British, 7129 GRT, built 1942), Fresno Star (British, 7998 GRT, built 1919), Generton (British, 4797 GRT, built 1936), Glaucus (British, 7596 GRT, built 1921), Glenpark (British, 5136 GRT, built 1939), Hoggar (French, 5146 GRT, built 1923), Isaac Coles (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Jonathan Holt (British, 4963 GRT, built 1943), Lyras (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1918), Penrith Castle (British, 6369 GRT, built 1929), Peterston (British, 4680 GRT, built 1925), Queen Adelaide (British, 4933 GRT, built 1936), Sheaf Crown (British, 4868 GRT, built 1929), Slesvig (British, 3098 GRT, built 1938), Stamos (Greek, 3802 GRT, built 1914), Thomas Holt (British, 3585 GRT, built 1929), Tilsington Court (British, 6910 GRT, built 1928) and Topsdalfjord (Norwegian, 4271 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Enchantress (Lt.Cdr. E.D.J. Abbot, DSC, RN), frigate HMS Ness (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.H. Marchington, MBE, RNVR) and the corvette HMS Pimpernel (Lt. H.D. Hayes, RNR).

Around 1130Z/12, in position 09°14'N, 16°31'W, the minesweeping sloops Annamite and Chevreul joined the convoy. They were then ordered to sweep 30 miles ahead of the convoy as a Support Group which they did until daylight on the 17th.

Around 0800Z/13, in poosition 11°02'N, 18°02'W, the Isaac Coles was detached to proceed independently to Trinidad.

Around 1115Z/14, in position 14°16'N, 17°58'W, the Dakar section of the convoy joined. It was made up of the merchant vessels Gabriel Guist'Hau (French, 2325 GRT, built 1918) and Rutenfjell (Norwegian, 1334 GRT, built 1935) as well as the submarine Atalante. Two of the convoy's merchant vessel parted company and proceeded to Dakar, these were Antilochus and Topsdalfjord.

Around 0700Z/14, the following merchant vessels joined the convoy coming from Casablanca; Empire Peacock (British, 6098 GRT, built 1919), Empire Tristram (British, 7167 GRT, built 1942) and Porjus (Swedish, 2965 GRT, built 1906). They were escorted to the rendezvous by the patrol vessels USS PC-474 (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Hummer, USNR) and USS PC-475 (Lt. W.W. Devine, Jr., USNR) which then returned to Casablanca taking the merchant vessels Gabriel Guist'Hau and Hoggar with them as well as the submarine Atalante.

At 1155Z/17, in position 22°49'N, 18°25'W, the Sheaf Crown straggled from the convoy. She proceeded independently to Gibraltar where she arrived on the 25th.

Around 1400Z/22, the convoy merged with convoy MKS 49(G) coming from the Mediterranean.

On this convoy joining HMS Ness parted company with the convoy to escort the Generton to Lisbon while HMS Enchantress and HMS Pimpernel parted company to escort the Empire Strength to Gibraltar.

Convoy MKS 49(G) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Belgian Sailor (Belgian, 7028 GRT, built 1942), Benrinnes (British, 5410 GRT, built 1921), Bestik (Norwegian, 2684 GRT, built 1920), Blackheath (British, 4637 GRT, built 1936), Caithness (British, 4970 GRT, built 1935), Capitaine Saint Martin (French, 3441 GRT, built 1938), Celtic Monarch (British, 5824 GRT, built 1929), City of Leicester (British, 3351 GRT, built 1926), City of Norwich (British, 6726 GRT, built 1913), Cydonia (British, 3517 GRT, built 1927), Empire Cavalier (British (tanker), 9891 GRT, built 1942), Empire Grebe (British, 5736 GRT, built 1918), Empire Melody (British, 2283 GRT, built 1942), Empire Spey (British, 4292 GRT, built 1929), Fort Brandon (British, 7131 GRT, built 1943), Fort la Baye (British, 7162 GRT, built 1943), Fort la Traite (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), Gorjistan (British, 5888 GRT, built 1929), Helmwood (British, 2156 GRT, built 1923), Modasa (British, 9070 GRT, built 1921), Ocean Stranger (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942) and Tordene (British, 4271 GRT, built 1936).

The following warships were also part of the convoy; submarines HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN), HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN), boom carriers HMS Devon City (4928 GRT, built 1933, Cdr.(Retd.) A. McD. Harvey, RN), HMS Kirriemoor (4970 GRT, built 1935, Cdr.(Retd.) H.M. Montague, OBE, RN) and the landing ships USS LST-197 (Lt. J.E. Neal, USNR), USS LST-326 (Lt.(jg) G.R. Ambler, USCGR) and USS LST-381 (Lt. J.P. Houlihan, Jr, USCGR).

Also parted of the convoy were the rescue ship Dewsbury (British, 1631 GRT, built 1910) and the escort oiler Scottish American (British (tanker), 6999 GRT, built 1920)).

On its departure from Gibraltar convoy MKS 49(G) was escorted by the destroyer HMS Highlander (Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, VRD, RNVR), frigates HMS Foley (A/Lt.Cdr. C.A.H. Bird, RNVR), HMS Helmsdale (Cdr. C.W. McMullen, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Kenilworth Castle (Lt. J.J.Allon, RNR) and HMS Portchester Castle (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR).

During the afternoon of 24 May, HMS Highlander fuelled from the Scottish American.

Around 1215Z/25, the escort carrier HMS Nairana (Capt. R.M.T. Taylor, RN) and the frigates HMS Louis (Cdr.(Retd.) L.B.A. Majendie, RN) and HMS Inglis (Lt. R.S. Beveridge, RN) joined the convoy.

At 0106Z/26, the frigate HMS Bayntun (Lt.Cdr. L.P. Bourke, RNZNR) joined the convoy coming from Gibraltar. She had been unable to sail with convoy MKS 49(G) and had departed later to overtake and join the convoy at sea.

On the 27th, the frigate HMS Lawson (Lt. J.P. Somerville, RN) joined the convoy coming from the Azores.

Around 1630Z/28, the escort carrier HMS Activity (Capt. C. Wauchope, DSC, RN), frigate HMS Ascension (Lt.Cdr. A. Wilkinson, RNR) and the corvette HMS Carisbrooke Castle (T/Lt. W.H. Forster, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 0730Z/29, the escort carrier HMS Emperor (A/Capt. T.J.N. Hilken, DSO, RN) and the frigates HMCS Meon (T/Lt.Cdr. S. Balfour, RCNVR), HMCS Stormont (T/Skr.Lt. G.A. Myra, RCNR) and HMCS Swansea (A/Cdr. C.A. King, DSO, DSC, RCNR) joined.

On these ships joining, HMCS Meon and HMCS Stormont fuelled from HMS Emperor and HMCS Swansea fuelled from the Scottish American.

Around 1030Z/29, HMS Louis, HMS Lawson and HMS Inglis were detached.

Around 1500Z/29, HMS Activity, HMS Ascension, HMS Carisbrooke Castle and HMS Hadleigh Castle were detached.

Around 1530Z/29, HMCS Swansea, HMCS Stormont and HMCS Meon were detached.

On 31 May 1944, HMS Highlander and HMS Kenilworth Castle were detached to escort the three USN LST's to Port Talbot.

During the night of 31 May / 1 June, the Empire Governor straggled from the convoy. She did not rejoin.

Around 1330Z/1, HMS Emperor was detached to proceed independently to Moville.

Around 1800Z/2, the Loch Ewe section of the convoy was detached escorted by HMS Bayntun. Also HMS Nairana left the convoy to proceed to her destination ahead of the convoy.

The remainder of the convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 3 June 1944. (1)