Force H rejoined the convoy at 07:10 27 September. Sixteen destroyers formed a bent line screen ahead of two columns of merchant ships. The port column was led by the cruiser "Kenya", followed by "Ajax", "Clan MacDonald", "Imperial Star", "Rowallan Castle" and "City of Calcutta". The starboard column was led by the cruiser "Edinburgh" followed by "Clan Ferguson", , HMS "Breconshire" and "City of Lincoln". "Rodney" took position behind the port wing of the screen followed by "Prince of Wales". "Nelson" took position behind the starboard wing of the screen followed by "Ark Royal" in formation with the anti-aircraft cruisers "Euryalus" and "Hermione". The cruiser "Sheffield" took position astern of the merchant ships, while the destroyers "Piorun" and "Legion" assumed plane guard positions astern of "Ark Royal".