Allied convoy codes  1939-1945

Last updated 17/06/99

Code Route Start End Type Remarks
           
AB   /39     Two early "one of" convoys.
AB Aden-Bombay 11/42   Indian Ocean Replaced all previous southward East African coastal convoys.
ABF Aden-Bombay     Military Fast Troopships.  Successor to AB series.
AC Alexandria-Cyrenaica (Tobruk) /41 /41 Military  
AG Alexandria-Greece /41 /41    
AH Aruba-Halifax /42 /42   Brief tanker series.
AH Augusta-South Italy 9/43      
AJ Aden-Colombo        
AK Aden-Kilindini /42      
AKD Aden-Kilindini-Durban 9/43   East African Coastal  
AM Chittagong-Madras        
AN Alexandria-Piraeus /40 /41    
AN Admiralty Is-New Guinea     Pacific series  
AP UK-Egypt /40   Military Early troop convoy.
ARG Boston-Argentia       USN convoys
ARM Mediterranean       local code – little used.
AS Piraeus-Alexandria /40 /41    
AS USA-Suez via Freetown 3/42   Military Large Liners
AT Alexandria-Tobruk   /41    
AT USA-UK 1/42 /45 Military Troopship
ATM Antwerp-Thames /44 /45    
AW Aruba-Curacao     Local Caribbean Tankers
BA Bombay-Red Sea Ports 5/41   Military  
BAF Bombay-Aden     Military Fast Troopships
BB Belfast-Bristol Channel /40 /43    
BB Clyde-Bristol Channel /45 /45    
BC Beira-Durban(Cape) 7/43 9/43   Replaced by AKD series.
BC Bristol Channel-Biscay       Return convoys carried same number.
BD White Sea-Dikson 9/43     Renumbered anually
BEC Bristol Channel-France   /44   Renumbered EBC series
BF Bahia (Brazil)-Freetown   /43   US convoy series
BG Milne Bay-New Guinea     Pacific series  
BG Brisbane-Gladstone     Pacific series  
BHX Bermuda-UK       To rendezvous with same numbered HX convoy.
BK Bombay-Karachi /43 /43   Series little used.
BK White Sea-Kola Inlet 9/43      
BLUE Port Said-Gibraltar /39 /39    
BM Bombay-Singapore   1/42    
BM Bombay-Colombo 1/42      
BN Bombay-Suez /40      
BN Aden-Suez   /41    
BN New Britain-New Guinea       Pacific series
BP Bombay-Persian Gulf        
BRN Bahia-Recife /42   Local Brazilian  
BS Suez-Aden /40 /41    
BS Corner Brook-Sydney CB       Brief series, little used
BS Brest-Casablanca 9/39 6/40   French series
BT Bahia-Trinidad 11/42 7/43   Replaced by JT series.
BT Sydney NSW-USA /43 /44? Military Troop convoys
BT Brisbane-Townsville     Local Australian  
BTC Bristol Channel-Thames 6/44 /45    
BV Brisbane-Townsville     Pacific series  
BW Sydney CB-St. Johns /42   Local Canadian  
BX Boston-Halifax /42      
BZ Bombay-Kilindini-Aden       Series never used.
B2F Plymouth-Omaha     Military D day assault convoy
C Colombo-dispersal position /42 /42    
CA Capetown-dispersal position        
CB Durban-Beira     East African Coastal  
CB Colombo-Bombay /43      
CD Cape Town- Durban 1/42 9/43 East African Coastal  
CE St Helens(Isle of Wight)- Southend 9/40   UK Coastal  
CF Cape Town-West Africa-UK 5/41   Ocean Homeward Little used series
CF Colombo-Freemantle       Occasional use
CG Casablanca-Gibraltar 1/43   N.W. African Coastal Originally FT
CH Chittagong-Calcutta        
CJ Calcutta-Colombo        
CK Havana-Key West        
CK Charleston-UK /44 /44   Rarely used
CL St. Johns-Sydney CB       Local Canadian
CM The Cape, Durban or Kilindini -Red Sea Ports 6/40   Military  
CN Capetown-dispersal point        
CNF Special     Military Special series for invasion of Sicily.
CO Newcastle-Melbourne-Adelaide /42 /42 Australian coastal  
COC Plymouth-Brittany /44 /45    
CP Curacao-Panama /42 /42    
CRD Casablanca-Dakar     West African Coastal  
CT UK-North America 8/41 /41 Military Troopships
CT Corsica-Sardinia-Bizerta /44 /44    
CU Curacao-UK 2/43   Ocean Homeward Tankers. New York – UK after CU 9.
CV Cyrenaica-Valetta /44 /44   Rarely used.
CW Cristobal-Key West        
CW Southend-St Helens (Isle of Wight) 9/40   UK Coastal  
CX Colombo-Maldives and Chagos 4/43   Indian Ocean Same numbers used on outward and return.
CZ Curacao-Cristobal (Canal zone)        
D Dakar-Casablanca        
DB Dikson-White Sea /42      
DBF Dakar-Bathurst-Freetown /43      
DC Durban-Cape Town 12/42 9/43 East African Coastal  
DF Clyde-Faeroes     Military  
DG Thursday Is.-Merauke        
DK Durban-Kilindini        
DKA Durban-Kilindini-Aden 9/43   East African Coastal Replaced all previous Northward East African coastal convoys.
DLM Durban-Lourenco Marques        
DM Durban-Malaya /41 /42   Only 3 convoys in series.
DN Durban-dispersal point        
DR Dakar-Gibraltar /44 /44    
DRC Dakar-Casablanca        
DS Clyde-Reykjavik     Military  
DSF Dakar-Freetown        
DSL Dakar-Freetown-Lagos        
DSP Dakar-Freetown-Pointe Noire        
DST Dakar-Freetown-Takoradi        
DT Darwin-Thursday Is.        
DWI Dutch West Indies-UK       Never used.
E Trinidad-dispersal point        
EBC Bristol Channel-France 6/44 10/44   Feeder convoys for operation Neptune, Invasion convoy series.
EBM Bristol Channel-France 6/44     Invasion convoys
EBP Bristol Channel-Omaha/Utah beach       Invasion convoys
EC Southend-Oban via Firth of Forth /41      
ECM UK-France 6/44 7/44   Invasion convoys
ECP Portland & Solent-Seine Bay 6/44 10/44   Invasion convoys
EMM Belfast-France 6/44 7/44   Invasion convoys
EMP Belfast-France 7/44 7/44   Only 2 convoys in series.
EN Methnil-Oban-Loch Ewe 8/40   UK Coastal Series repeated twice.
EPM Portland-Solent-France 7/44 9/44    
EPP Portland-Solent-France 7/44 9/44    
ET North Africa-Gibraltar 11/42 /43 North African Coastal  
ETC Thames/Solent-France 6/44 10/44   Invasion convoys
ETP Thames-Juno beach       D-day assault convoys
ETM Thames-Sword/Juno beach 6/44 10/44   D-day assault convoys
EWC Spithead-Normandy beaches 6/44     D-day assault convoys
EWL Isle of Wight-France 6/44     Landing craft & ships
EWM Isle of Wight-France 9/44 10/44    
EWP Isle of Wight-France 6/44 10/44   Invasion convoys.
EXP UK-France       Invasion convoys.
FB Freetown-Bahia        
FBC Seine Bay-Bristol Channel 6/44 10/44    
FD Faeroes-Clyde     Military  
FC France-west UK 6/44 7/44    
FCP France=west UK 6/44 7/44    
FFT Freetown-Trinidad /42 /43    
FG Freemantle-Adelaide /42      
FH St. John NB-Halifax /42      
FJ Florianopolis-Rio de Janeiro        
FM Milne Bay-Port Moresby        
FN Southend-Methil 9/39   UK Coastal  
FP UK-Norway 4/40 5/40 Military Troop convoys
FPM France-Portland       Invasion convoys
FPP France-Portland 7/44 8/44   Invasion convoys
FS Methil-Southend 9/39 /45 UK Coastal  
FSD Freetown-Dakar /44   Small craft  
FT Freetown-Trinidad 7/43   Central Atlantic  
FTC France-Thames /44 /44    
FTM France-Thames /44 /44    
FWC France-Isle of Wight 6/44 6/44    
FWL France-Isle of Wight /44 /44   Landing craft
FWM France-Isle of Wight 6/44 7/44    
FWP France-Isle of Wight 7/44 9/44    
FXP France-UK 6/44 10/44   Invasion convoys
G Solent-Gold beach       D-day assault convoys
G Guantanamo-San Juan        
GAT Guantanamo-Aruba-Tinidad 8/42   Caribbean Originally WAT 7/42
GB New Guinea-Milne Bay        
GBR Canaries-Gibraltar        
GC Gibraltar-Casablanca1 1/42   NW African Coastal Originally TF
GD Merauke-Thursday Is.        
GF Adelaide-Fremantle        
GI New Guinea-Philippines        
GJ Guantanamo-Kingston        
GK Guantanamo-Key West 9/42   Caribbean  
GM Gibraltar-Malta 7/41   Military  
GN Guantanamo-New York 8/42   USA Coastal US - controlled, but escorted by RCN ships 9/42 to 3/43
GP Guantanamo-Panama        
GP Sydney-Townsville-Brisbane     Australian coastal  
GREEN Gibraltar-Port Said /39 /39    
GREYBACK Dieppe-Newhaven     Ferry service  
GS Greenland-Sydney/St. Johns NF        
GS Grimsby-Southend /40 /40    
GT Gladstone-Townsville     Australian coastal  
GTX Gibraltar-Tripoli-Alexandria 5/43 /43 Mediterranean  
GU North Africa-USA 11/42   Primarily Military  
GUF Oran/Naples-USA       Fast
GUS Port Said-USA       Slow
GZ Guantanamo-Canal Zone /42      
HA Tripoli-Augusta        
HA Halifax-Curacao /42 /42    
HA Heel of Italy-Augusta /43      
HB Australia-India /45 /45 Military Troopship
HB Bay of Biscay - UK        
HC Halifax-UK     Military Troopships.  Later convoys departed from Quebec.
HC Calcutta-Chittagong        
HD Dakar-UK        
HE Mediterranean-UK        
HF Halifax-St. John NB        
HG Gibraltar-UK 9/39 9/42 Ocean Homeward Later replaced by MKS and MKF series.
HGF Gibraltar-UK     Fast, Ocean Homeward  
HH Hampton Roads-UK        
HHX Halifax-convoy       Ships joining HX convoys from New York.
HJ Halifax-St. Johns NF        
HJ Rio de Janeiro-UK        
HJD Rio de Janeiro-UK       Joined HD convoys
HJL Rio de Janeiro-UK       Joined HL convoys.
HK Galveston-Key West        
HL Freetown-UK        
HM Holyhead-Milford Haven        
HN Bergen-Methil /39 /40    
HON Halifax NS-convoy       Ships joining a New York bound ON convoy.
HP Heel of Italy-Piraeus        
HS Halifax-Sydney CB        
HT Halifax-Trinidad       Preceded by HA series.
HX Halifax-UK 9/39 /45 Ocean Homeward Started from New York from 9/42
HXA English Channel /39 /45 Ocean homeward section of HX convoys. 39-40 and 44-45 only
HXF Halifax-UK /39 /40   Fast
IG Philippines-New Guinea        
IXF Taranto & Naples-Alexandria & Port Said        
J Solent-Juno beach       D-day assault convoys
JA Colombo-Aden        
JC Colombo-Calcutta        
JF Rio de Janeiro-Florianopolis        
JG Kingston-Guantanamo        
JH St. Johns NF-Halifax        
JM India-Mombasa-Madagascar /43 /43    
JMG Malaya 9/45     Assault convoy for Malaya
JN St. Johns NF-Labrador        
JR Rio de Janeiro-Recife        
JS Colombo-Singapore 11/41 2/42    
JT Rio de Janeiro-Trinidad 7/43 /45 South American Coast Originally BT 11/42
JW Loch Ewe-Kola Inlet 1/42   Arctic Originally PQ series. 21 convoys in series.
K Casablanca-Brest       French series. Sometimes coded F or S
KA Kilindini-Aden        
KB Kola Inlet-White Sea        
KM Karachi-Bombay        
KD Kilindini-Durban        
KG Key West-Guantanamo 9/42   Caribbean  
KH Key West-Galveston        
KJ Kingston-UK /40 /40    
KJF Kingston-UK /40 /40    
KM Kilindini-Madagascar        
KMF UK-North Africa 10/42   Fast Military 'Torch' Eventually extended to Egypt
KMS UK-North Africa 10/42   Slow Military From 4/43 left in company of OS, and from July OG convoys and sailed with them to Gibraltar.
KN Key West-New York 5/42   USA Coastal  
KP Key West-Pilottown,Mississipi        
KP Karaci-Persian Gulf        
KP Kola Inlet-Petsamo /44 /45    
KR Calcutta & Arkalan-Rangoon /45 /45    
KRS UK-North Africa        
KS New York-Key West        
KS         Variarion of French K Series
KSC Casablanca-Brest or St. Nazaire        
KW Key West-Havana        
KX UK-North Africa 10/42     Special 'Torch'
L Thames/Solent-Sword beach       D-day assault convoys
LC Sydney CB-St. Johns NF        
LE Port Said or Alexandria- Famagusta-Haifa or Beirut 7/41   Local Mediterranean  
LGE Lagos eastbound     Local West Africa  
LGW Lagos westbound     Local West Africa  
LM Lagos-Metadi        
LMD Lourenco Marques-Durban        
LN St. Lawrence-Labrador        
LQ Great Barrier Reef-Brisbane        
LS Lagos-Freetown        
LSD Lagos-Freetown-Dakar        
LTS Lagos-Takoradi-Freetown        
LU Haifa-Port Said        
MA Mombasa-Aden        
MA Madras-Chittagong /43 /43    
MB Colombo-Bombay        
MB Port Moresby-Fall River        
MC Aden-Mombasa-Durban-Capetown        
MD Madagascar-Durban       One convoy only
ME Malta-Alexandria & Port Said 7/40     From Malta-east bound. Interrupted by the siege of Malta. Resumed 11/42
MF Port Moresby-Milne Bay-Fall River        
MG Malta-Gibraltar 2/40   Military  
MG Mississipe-Galveston        
MH Milford Haven-Holyhead        
MK Madagascar-Kilindini        
MKF North Africa-UK 11/42   Fast Military excluding 'Torch' Sailed from Gibraltar in company with SL convoys from 4/43
MKS North Africa-UK 11/42   Slow Ocean Homeward  
MN Maritius-Seychelles        
MO Marseilles-North Africa        
MR Madras-Rangoon        
MS Melbourne-Singapore 11/41 2/42    
MS Marseilles-Naples /44 /45    
MT Methil-Tyne /40 /41    
MT Port Moresby-Townsville /42 /42    
MTC Seine Bay-Southend       Replaced FTC series
MTM Seine Bay-Southend       Replaced FTM series
MV Milne Bay-Townsville        
MW Alexandria-Malta 7/40   Malta-Westbound Interrupted by siege of Malta; Resumed 11/42
NA North America-UK 1/42   Military Troopships
NA New Guinea-Admiralty Is.        
NAP Dover-France 12/44 12/44    
NB New Guinea-New Britain        
NC Walvis Bay-Capetown /43 /43    
NCF   /43 /43 Military Fast Sicily invasion convoys
NCS   /43 /43 Military Slow Sicily invasion convoys
NE New Zealand-Panamama     Pacific Ocean  
NG New York-Guantanamo 8/42   USA Coastal (US - controlled, but escorted by RCN ships 9/42 to 3/43)
NK New York-Key West 8/42   USA Coastal  
NL Labrador-St. Lawrence        
NLY Lingayen-Hollandia-Leyte        
NP UK-Norway 4/40 5/40 Military Troop convoys
NP Turkey-Port Said        
NR Norway-Methil /45 /45    
NS New Caledonia-Sydney NSW        
NSF North Africa-Naples     Military Troop convoys
NT New Guinea-Townsville        
NV Naples-Augusta        
NYC New York-Bermuda-UK        
O1 Portland-Omaha beach       D-day assault convoy
OA Thames-Liverpool /39 7/40    
OA Methil-Liverpool-dispersal 7/40     to dispersal point in N.Atlantic – to join OB
OB UK West coast ports  outward /39 /41   Frequently joined by OA convoys of same number

Became ONF / ONS series post July 1941

OC Melbourne-Newcastle NSW        
OD Devonport outwards        
OE Liverpool outwards        
OF Falmouth outwards        
OG UK-Gibraltar 10/39 10/43 Ocean Outward Temporary stop 8/42. Resumed 5/43. Sailed in company with KSM from 7/43.
OGF UK-Gibraltar /40 /40 Ocean Outward Fast version of OG series.
OL Liverpool outwards        
OLB Liverpool outwards       Slow
OLX Liverpool-Halifax        
OM Oran-Marseilles /44 /44    
OM Milford Haven outwards