Royal Navy Convoy Codes

These abbreviations were used to identify Royal Navy convoys. Taken from:
Naval Operations, volume V,
Henry Newbolt,
Battery Press 1996 (reprint of 1931 edition).

Homeward (ie to to UK), Sailing From...

HB - Bay of Biscay
HC - Halifax (later Quebec, troop convoys)
HD - Dakar
HE - Mediterranean through convoys
HG - Gibralter
HH - Hampton Roads
HJ - Rio de Janeiro
HJD - Rio de Janeiro (joined HD convoys)
HJL - Rio de Janeiro (joined HL convoys)
HL - Sierre Leone
HS - Sydney (Nova Scotia)
HX - Halifax (or New York)
Outbound (ie from UK), Sailing From...

OB - Buncrana
OC - Southend
OD - Devonport
OE - Liverpool, for eastern Mediterranean
OF - Falmouth
OL - Liverpool
OLB - Liverpool (slow)
OLX - Liverpool (for Halifax)
OM - Milford
OR - Brest (returning US troop convoys)
OP - Quiberon ( " " " " )
OV - Verdon ( " " " " )

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Last Updated: 6 April, 1997.