| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Rescue Tug |
| Class | Assurance |
| Pennant | W 109 |
| Built by | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 14 Aug 1941 |
| Launched | 21 Nov 1941 |
| Commissioned | 10 Jun 1942 |
| End service | |
| History | HMRT Charon was renamed Alligator when she became a Dockyard Tug in 1947. Scrapped at Tipnor in January 1959. |
We don't have any commands listed for HMS Charon (W 109)
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Notable events involving Charon include:
8 Jun 1944
Convoy MKS 52.
This convoy departed Port Said on 8 June 1944.
On departure from Port Said the convoy was made up of the transports / tankers; Baron Belhaven (British, 6591 GRT, built 1925), Cerion (British, 2588 GRT, built 1938), Clydefield (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1928), Empire Almond (British, 6860 GRT, built 1941), Empire Wordsworth (British (tanker), 9891 GRT, built 1942), Eurybates (British, 6276 GRT, built 1928), Fort Walsh (British, 7126 GRT, built 1943), Mactra (British (tanker), 6193 GRT, built 1936), Murena (Dutch (tanker), 8252 GRT, built 1931), Pierre L'Enfant (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Samariz (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943) and Samblade (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from Port Said the convoy was escorted by sloop HMS Fleetwood (Cdr. W.B. Piggott, DSC and Bar, OBE, RD, RNR) and the corvette HMS Anemone (Lt. J.B. Sparkes, RNR).
On 9 June 1944, the following transports / tankers departed Alexandria to join the convoy; Crista (British, 2590 GRT, built 1938), Empire Cobbett (British (tanker), 9811 GRT, built 1942), Empire Nugget (British (tanker), 9807 GRT, built 1942), Empire Spartan (British, 7009 GRT, built 1942), Eridan (French, 9928 GRT, built 1928), Fort Clatsop (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943), Hermelin (Norwegian, 1683 GRT, built 1940) and Noesaniwi (Dutch, 6737 GRT, built 1936).
The minesweepers RHS Karteria, RHS Salaminia, RHS Afroussa and RHS Leros also departed Alexandria and joined the convoy for passage westwards.
They were escorted by the minesweeper HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Smith, RN) and the corvettes HMS Bergamot (A/Lt.Cdr. W. McInnes, RNR) and HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR).
On 13 June 1944, the following ships departed Augusta to join the convoy; A.P. Hill (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Andrew Briscoe (American, 7244 GRT, built 1944), Chiswick (British, 6006 GRT, built 1943), Djebel Aures (French, 2835 GRT, built 1929), Empire Gale (British, 7089 GRT, built 1941), Facto (Norwegian, 1522 GRT, 1921), Fort de Douaumont (French, 5266 GRT, built 1918), Fort Gaspereau (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Fort Maisonneuve (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942), Fort Pembina (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), George Davis (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Gylfe (Norwegian (tanker), 6129 GRT, built 1930), Hoegh Hood (Norwegian (tanker), 9351 GRT, built 1936), Iceland (British, 1236 GRT, built 1914), James Moore (American, 7177 GRT, built 1943), John Trumbull (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Kepong (British, 1874 GRT, built 1916), King Stephen (British, 5274 GRT, built 1928), Kiungchow (British, 2653 GRT, built 1921), Laurent Meeus (Belgian (tanker), 6429 GRT, built 1930), Lincoln Steffens (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Lochee (British, 964 GRT, built 1937), Ocean Gipsy (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Rider (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942)), Robert T. Hill (American, 7244 GRT, built 1943), Samhope (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Svanholm (Norwegian, 696 GRT, built 1917), Tabitha Brown (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Tore Jarl (Norwegian, 1514 GRT, built 1920) and Woodbridge N. Ferris (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943).
On 14 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Augusta after having parted company with the convoy; Baron Belhaven, Cerion, Crista, Empire Corbett, Empire Nugget, Empire Spartan, Empire Wordsworth, Fort Clatsop, Hermelin, Macrtra, Pierre L'Enfant and Samblade.
On 14 June 1944, the following transports arrived at Malta after having been detached from the convoy; Empire Almond and Eridan while the tug Empire Titania (British, 258 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy from Malta.
On 14 June 1944, the Djebel Aures arrived at Tunis after having been detached from the convoy.
On 15 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Bizerta after having been detached from the convoy; Facto, Murena, Tore Jarl and the four Greek (YMS-class) minesweepers while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Bizerta; Badjestan (British, 5573 GRT, built 1928) and Empire Summer (British, 6949 GRT, built 1941). The rescue tug HMRT Charon also joined the convoy as did the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.T. Jellicoe, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN).
On 16 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Bone after having been detached from the convoy; Empire Titania, Fort Gaspereau, Fort Maissoneuve, Kopong, Kiungchow and Ocean Gypsy while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Bone; Empire Ballad (British, 6700 GRT, built 1942) and Hardingham (British, 7269 GRT, built 1942).
On 16 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Philippeville after having been detached from the convoy as they were straggling; Fort de Douaumont and Svanholm.
On 17 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy; Badjestan, Chiswick, Empire Summer, Fort Pembina, Gylfe, Hardingham, Hoegh Hood, Iceland, Laurent Meeus, Ocean Rider, Samhope and HMS Colombo while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Algiers; Alex (British, 3932 GRT, built 1914), Belgian Trader (British, 2890 GRT, built 1942), Cape Howe (British, 6999 GRT, built 1943), Clausina (British (tanker), 8083 GRT, built 1938), Empire Gareth (British, 2847 GRT, built 1942), Fort Anne (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Gouverneur General Lepine (French, 3509 GRT, built 1923) and Ville de Majunga (British (former French), 6174 GRT, built 1931).
On 18 June 1944, the following ships arrived at Oran after having been detached from the convoy; A.P. Hill , Andrew Briscoe, Cape Howe, Clydefield, Fort Anne, George Davis, James Moore, John Trumbull, Lincoln Steffens, Robert T. Hill and Tabitha Brown while the transport Sinnington Court (British, 6910 GRT, built 1928) joined the convoy coming from Oran.
The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 20 June 1944.
14 Jul 1944
Convoy UGS 48.
This convoy departed Hampton Roads on 14 July 1944.
It was made up of the following transports / tankers; Alexander Martin (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Andrew Furuseth (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Athelvictor (British (tanker), 8320 GRT, built 1941), Augustin Stahl (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944), British Harmony (British (tanker), 8453 GRT, built 1941), British Pride (British (tanker), 7106 GRT, built 1931), British Respect (British (tanker), 8479 GRT, built 1943), Calvin Coolidge (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Cape Hawke (British, 5081 GRT, built 1941), Carole Lombard (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944), Charles W. Wooster (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Colin P. Kelly Jr. (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Cornelius Harnett (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), D.L. Harper (British (tanker), 12223 GRT, built 1933), David Lubin (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Donacilla (British (tanker), 8113 GRT, built 1939), Edward Livingston (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Egda (Norwegian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1939), Empire Emerald (British (tanker), 8032 GRT, built 1941), Empire Nerissa (British, 7096 GRT, built 1942), Empire Rangoon (British, 6988 GRT, built 1944), Empire Stalwart (British, 7045 GRT, built 1943), Esek Hopkins (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Esso Concord (American (tanker), 7698 GRT, built 1940), Finley Peter Dunne (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), George H. Dern (American, 7181 GRT, built 1943), George Read (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), George Uhler (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Henry George (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), James McCosh (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), James Turner (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), John Banvard (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), John Barton Payne (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John Dickinson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Morton (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), John P. Holland (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Stevens (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Jose Bonifacio (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Joseph N. Teal (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Joshua A. Leach (American, 7244 GRT, built 1943), Leland Stanford (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Leopold Damrosch (American, 7207 GRT, built 1943), Levi Woodbury (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Linn Boyd (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), M. Michael Edelstein (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Maria Mitchell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Nueva Granada (Norwegian (tanker), 9968 GRT, built 1937), Oliver Loving (American, 7247 GRT, built 1944), Oscar S. Straus (American (tanker), 7218 GRT, built 1944), Park Holland (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Rachel Jackson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Rivercrest (British, 7008 GRT, built 1944), Samgallion (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Samsylarna (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Sidney Sherman (American, 7244 GRT, built 1943), Thomas B. Reed (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Thomas Cresap (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943), Thomas Heyward (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Thomas W. Owen (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Tweedsmuir Park (Canadian, 7143 GRT, built 1943), Vacport (British (tanker), 6774 GRT, built 1930), Walt Whitman (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), William R. Day (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943) and Zachary Taylor (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942).
On departure from Hampton Roads the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Moffett (T/Cdr. G.H. Richards, Jr., USN, with COMTASKFOR 62, T/Capt. C.M.E. Hoffman, USN on board) and the escort destroyers USS Amick (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Barsumian, USNR, with COMCORTDIV 15, T/Cdr. F.C.B. McCune, USN, on board), USS Atherton (T/Lt.Cdr. M. Kelly, Jr., USN), USS Booth (Lt. F.O. Moorman, USNR), USS Carroll (T/Lt.Cdr. F.W. Kuhn, USN), USS Cooner Lt.Cdr. T.L. Bergen, USNR), USS Eldridge (Lt. W.K. Vanallen, USNR), USS William T. Powell (Lt. J.L. Davenport, USNR, with COMCORTDIV 66, Cdr. G.F. Adams, USNR, on board), USS Buckley (Lt.Cdr. B.M. Abel, USNR), USS Reuben James (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Isaacs, USNR), USS Spangenberg (T.H.P. Whitney, USNR), USS Alexander J. Luke (T/Lt.Cdr. J.V. Cameron, USN), USS Robert I. Paine (Lt.Cdr. D. Cochran, USNR).
The naval stores ships USS Yukon (Lt.Cdr. V.J. Barnhart, USNR) and USS Merak (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Cawthon, USN) were also part of the convoy as were the naval tankers USS Maumee (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Ballard, USNR), USS Winooski (Lt.Cdr. T.B. Christenson, USNR), USS Chiwawa (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Goza, USNR) and USS Cowanesque (Cdr. L.S. McKenzie, USNR).
On 18 July 1944, the six destroyer escorts of CortDiv 66 fuelled from USS Maumee.
On 21 July 1944, USS Moffett fuelled from USS Maumee.
On 22 July 1944, the six destroyer escorts of CortDiv 66 fuelled from USS Maumee.
On 23 July 1944, the six destroyer escorts of CortDiv 15 fuelled from USS Maumee.
On 27 July 1944, USS Moffett and the six destroyer escorts of CortDiv 66 fuelled from USS Maumee.
On 28 July 1944, the following ships parted company with the convoy to proceed to Casablanca; Calvin Coolidge, John Barton Payne and Samgallion while the French naval tanker Var joined the convoy coming from Casablanca. She had been escorted to the rendezvous by the patrol vessels L'Emporté and L'Enjoue which then returned to Casablanca with the three ships that had parted company with the convoy.
Around noon on 29 July 1944, the merchant vessel Pacheco (British, 1405 GRT, built 1927), submarines HMS Truant (Lt. E.C. Croswell, DSC, RN) and HMS Visigoth (Lt. J.R.H. Haddow, DSC, RN) as well as the rescue tug HMRT Vagrant joined the convoy coming from Gibraltar.
Around 1945A/29, the AA cruiser HMS Delhi (Capt. G.R. Waymouth, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 1845B/30, the following ships were detached to Oran; Andrew Furuseth, John Banvard, John Stevens, Oscar S. Strauss, USS Yukon, USS Merak, USS Winooski, USS Chiwawa and USS Cowanesque while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Oran; Andrew Hamilton (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Christopher Gale (American, 7177 GRT, built 1943), Henry W. Longfellow (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Jonathan Elmer (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Joseph Warren (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Robert Treat Paine (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942) and Will R. Wood (American, 7244 GRT, built 1943).
Around 1700B/31, the following ships were detached to Algiers; Andrew Hamilton, British Pride, Empire Nerissa, Jonathan Elmer, Joseph Warren, Thomas B. Reed, Thomas Heyward and Will R. Wood while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Algiers; Alexandre Andre (Belgian (tanker), 5261 GRT, built 1928), Empire Highway (British, 7166 GRT, built 1942), Fort Carlton (British, 7131 GRT, built 1942), Fort Columbia (British, 7155 GRT, built 1942), Hardingham (British, 7269 GRT, built 1942), Narva (British, 1575 GRT, built 1937), Samlamu (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), Samuel V. Shreve (British, 1813 GRT, built 1943), Stanhill (British, 5969 GRT, built 1942) and Van Honthorst (Dutch, 6140 GRT, built 1943) as did the landing ship HMS LST 322 (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Howard, RNR).
During the night of 31 July / 1 August 1944, the convoy was attacked by enemy aircraft but no damage was sustained.
Around 2000B/1, the Esso Concord and HMRT Vagrant were detached to Bone while the Vito (Norwegian, 5181 GRT, built 1937) and the rescue tug HMRT Charon joined coming from Bone.
Around 0645B/2, the following ships were detached to Benghazi; British Harmony, British Respect, Colin P. Kelly Jr., Donacilla, George H. Dern, James McCosh, John Morton, Levi Woodbury, Narva, Samuel V. Shreve, Thomas Cresap, Walt Whitman, William R. Day and Zachary Taylor as well as LST 322 while the merchant vessel Mirabeau B. Lamar (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) joined the convoy coming from Bizerta.
Also, HMS Delhi and all American escort vessels as well as the naval tanker USS Maumee arrived at Bizerta after having been relieved by a group of British escort vessels, these were the following; sloops HMS Deptford (Lt.Cdr. H.R. White, RN), HMS Amethyst (?), corvette HMS Campion (Lt. T.F. Alderman, RNR) and the A/S whaler HMSAS Southern Maid (?).
On 3 August the following ships were detached to Malta; Empire Highway and Pacheco. Also detached to Malta were HMS Truant and HMS Visigoth. They were escorted there by HMS Campion which afterwards rejoined the convoy.
On 4 August the following ships were detached to Augusta; Alexandre Andre, Athelvictor, Christopher Gale, Cornelius Harnett, D.L. Harper, David Lubin, Egda, Empire Emerald, Empire Stalwart, Esek Hopkins, Finley Peter Dunne, Fort Carlton, Fort Columbia, Hardingham, Henry George, Henry W. Longfellow, James Turner, John Dickinson, John P. Holland, Joseph N. Teal, Leland Stanford, Maria Mitchell, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Nueva Granada, Robert Treat Paine, Stanhill, Van Honthorst and Var while the following ships joined the convoy coming from Augusta; Empire Splendour (British, 7335 GRT, built 1942) and Trevanion (British, 7371 GRT, built 1944).
On 4 August 1944, the convoy was attacked by one or two enemy torpedo bombers which hit and heavily damaged the Samsylarna in position 33°05'N, 20°16'E. HMSAS Southern Maid remained behind to assist and she also took off the crew. The derelict ship was later towed to Benghazi.
On 7 August 1944, the following ships were detached to Alexandria; Cape Hawke, Carola Lombard, Empire Splendour and Rachel Jackson. They took HMS Deptford with them.
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Port Said on 8 August 1944 escorted by HMS Amethyst and HMS Campion.