I will speak for my Father that made the Murmansk Run in January 1944 but is no longer with us. He is standing eternal watch at Arlington National Cemetary
Dad made the Murmansk Run in Convoy JW56A. Dad never talked of the horrors or diffculties during his Armed Guard service. He only spoke to us kids of the humorous stories. What I am telling you I have found out by research after we lost Dad.
On Dads 4 th trip across the Atlantic they were anchored off Loch Ewe for Christmas 1943 and New Year 1944. So it was January 1944 they were sent through the North Atlantic to Murmansk on a convoy of 21 ships. Due to extreme rough seas the convoy had to hunker down off Iceland and 5 ships were damaged at sea enough to be removed from the convoy to Murmansk. I guess only you veterans that have done it can describe weather/seas that can damage ships enough to take out 25% of a convoy without coming in contact with the enemy.
On the way from Iceland to Murmansk 3 more ships were torpedoed and sunk. Two of these I believe were called the Commodore ship of the convoy. I do remember Dad mentioning his ship was very heavy loaded and they had Railraod Locomotives tied down on the outside deck. It sat very low in the water and moved very slow.
Now one of Dad's humorous stories. As I mentioned they spent Christmas and New Years anchored off Loch Ewe. They found out that the ship compass floated in pure alcohol. To celebrate New Years Eve 1944 they drained the alcohol and mixed it with juice on the ship. I can only imagine the headaches starting New Years Day 1944. However it was just after the celebration stopped that they learned they were going to Murmansk. It did not take too much time on the Murmansk Run that the compass froze solid and bust apart. That was when they realized why the Navy used pure alcohol in the compass and it was not for New Years Eve celebrations. I understand the Captain was not happy.
They ran the gauntlet on the way out and made it back to Brooklyn. I am fortunate to have some items that Dad brought back from Murmansk such as Russian money (paper and coins),pistol,camera.
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