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Notable events involving Commandant Riviere include:

4 Dec 1939

Convoy HX 11.

This convoy departed Halifax on 2 December 1939.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Arizona (French, 5457 GRT, built 1925), Armanistan (British, 6805 GRT, built 1937), Athelfoam (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1931), Athelviscount (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), British Fusilier (British (tanker), 6943 GRT, built 1923), British Union (British (tanker), 6987 GRT, built 1927), Broompark (British, 5136 GRT, built 1939), Carslogie (British, 3786 GRT, built 1924), Caspia (British (tanker), 6018 GRT, built 1928), Clearpool (British, 5404 GRT, built 1935), Clunepark (British, 3491 GRT, built 1928), Comanchee (British (tanker), 6837 GRT, built 1936), Dorelian (British, 6431 GRT, built 1923), El Grillo (British (tanker), 7264 GRT, built 1922), Embassage (British, 4954 GRT, built 1935), Everleigh (British, 5222 GRT, built 1930), Glenpark (British, 5136 GRT, built 1939), Gogovale (British, 4586 GRT, built 1927), Hannington Court (British, 5449 GRT, built 1939), Harlingen (British, 5415 GRT, built 1933), Hartlepool (British, 5500 GRT, built 1932), Haxby (British, 5207 GRT, built 1929), Lady Glanely (British, 5497 GRT, built 1938), Llanishen (British, 5053 GRT, built 1929), Loch Dee (British, 5252 GRT, built 1937), Manchester Exporter (British, 5277 GRT, built 1918), Manchester Spinner (British, 4767 GRT, built 1918), Nailsea Manor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937), Parracombe (British, 4702 GRT, built 1928), Parthenia (British, 4872 GRT, built 1917), Prince Rupert City (British, 4749 GRT, built 1929), Saganaga (British, 5454 GRT, built 1935), Scottish Maiden (British (tanker), 6993 GRT, built 1921), Scottish Monarch (British, 4719 GRT, built 1938), Shekatika (British, 5458 GRT, built 1936), Shirvan (British (tanker), 6017 GRT, built 1925), Sire (British, 5664 GRT, built 1938), Tilsington Court (British, 6910 GRT, built 1928), Tower Field (British, 4241 GRT, built 1935), Tregarthen (British, 5201 GRT, built 1936), Urla (British, 5198 GRT, built 1924), Varand (British (tanker), 6023 GRT, built 1927), Wanstead (British, 5486 GRT, built 1928) and Wendover (British, 5487 GRT, built 1928). The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tanker Aldersdale (British (tanker), 8402 GRT, built 1937) was also part of the convoy.

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN), destroyers HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicholson, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.G. de Wolf, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tisdall, RCN) and the submarines Casabianca (Capitaine de corvette (Lt.Cdr.) R.L.B. Sacaze) and Sfax (Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lt.) M.J.M. Groix).

HMCS St.Laurent and HMCS Skeena parted company with the convoy at 1610Q/5 and returned to Halifax.

HMS Hyperion parted company with the convoy on the 6th and also returned to Halifax.

During a gale on the 9th, the Carslogie straggled from the convoy. She never rejoined and proceeded independenly to the Clyde arriving on 21 December. Also the Sfax lost touch with the convoy. She rejoined around dawn on the 14th.

On the 10th, around 1400P/10, was seen to heave to. HMS Revenge investigated and reported that water was entering the submarine aft and that repairs were being made. The submarine was able to rejoin the convoy around dawn on the 15th.

Around 1500OP(+2.5)/13, HMS Ramillies parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.

In the moring of the 16th, around 0800Z/16, the convoy was joined in position 50°35'N, 13°30'W, by the destroyers HMS Walpole (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN) and HMS Wanderer (Cdr. R.F. Morice, RN). In the afternoon, around 1600Z/16, the destroyers HMS Wolverine (Cdr. R.H. Craske, RN) and HMS Ardent (Lt.Cdr. J.F. Barker, RN) also joined.

Around 1630Z/16, the convoy split into two sections, the Irish Sea / West Coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Arizona (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Athelfoam (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 December), Caspia (arrived at Liverpool on 19 / 20 December), Clearpool (arrived at Cardiff on 19 December), Clunepark (arrived in the Clyde on 21 December), Comanchee (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 December), Dorelian (arrived at Avonmouth on 18 / 19 December), Embassage (arrived at Avonmouth on 20 (?) December), Gogovale (arrived at Cardiff on 19 December), Hartlepool (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Haxby (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Lady Glanely (arrived in the Clyde on 25 (?) December), Llanishen (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 December), Manchester Exporter (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Manchester Spinner (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Nailsea Manor (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December), Parracombe (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 December), Parthenia (arrived in the Clyde on 20 (?) December), Prince Rupert City (arrived at Manchester on 20 December), Saganaga (arrived in the Clyde on 21 December), Scottish Monarch (arrived in the Clyde on 20 (?) December), Shekatika (arrived in the Clyde on 21 December), Tilsington Court (arrived at Avonmouth on 19 December), Tower Field (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December and at Manchester on 22 December), Tregarthen (arrived at Manchester on 20 December), Varand (arrived at Liverpool on 19 December) and Wanstead (arrived at Barry on 18 December). They took HMS Walpole and HMS Wanderer with them. These destroyers arrived at Liverpool on 19 December.

The remaining ships made up the Channel / East coast section.

Around 1800Z/17, Casabianca, Sfax and the merchant vessel Scottish Maiden (arrived at Donges, France on 19 December) parted company with the Channel / East coast section of the convoy to proceed to Brest. The minesweeping sloop Commandant Riviere (Lt.Cdr. J.F.U.M. De Gantes) had joined to escort them.

Around 0910Z/18, the RFA tanker Aldersdale and merchant vessels Athelviscount and Shirvan parted company to proceed to Plymouth where they arrived later that day.

Later the British Fusilier was detached to Portsmouth and the El Grillo to Le Havre.

HMS Ardent and HMS Wolverine arrived at Dover around 1600Z/19.

The remainder of the convoy arrived in the Downs on 20 December and from there the ships went to their respective destinations. (1)