 Westphal, newly promoted to commander with backdate to 8 July, commissioned "Anaconda".The "Anaconda" was refitted at Halifax, and Westphal received a crew of 60 men, most of whom were the dregs of the fleet, offered by their captains when Admiral John Borlase Warren asked for drafts.Her first task was to escort a convoy of twelve merchant vessels from there to the West Indies.