2nd Support Group (Royal Navy)
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Escort Group was a British anti-submarine
formation of the Royal Navy
which saw action during the Second World War, principally in the Battle of the Atlantic.
2 EG was formed in April 1943, one of five such support groups formed at the crisis point of the campaign. It was to act as reinforcement to convoys under attack, with the capacity to actively hunt and destroy U-boat
s, rather than be restricted to escort duties. Comprising six sloops of the Black Swan-class
, the group was led by Captain F.J. "Johnnie" Walker
, Britain's most successful anti-submarine warfare
commander, in . The combination of an active hunting group and a charismatic, determined and innovative anti-submarine specialist such as Walker proved to be a potent force; 2 SG was the most successful anti-submarine unit of the war, being credited with the destruction of 23 U-boats during two years of active service.
, (more commonly referred as the 2 SG) was formed in April 1943, one of five such groups. Its purpose was to provide reinforcement to convoys at sea, being equipped to spend extended periods at sea moving from one convoy to another as needed. Its function primarily was to assist a convoys escort in its defence, though it also had the facility to spend time, which escorts did not have, to continue attacks on U-boats to successful conclusion rather than having to break off to maintain the guard on the convoy.
Walker however was determined that the group would be active in destroying U-boats and impressed this aim on his commanders from the outset.
The group comprised six sloops of the Black Swan class, making it a highly uniform group, and the sloop
design was well suited to the task, with good endurance, adequate speed and specialized anti-submarine armament. In addition Walker had developed a range of A/S tactics, which 2 SG became adept at, such as the "creeping attack
" and the "barrage attack
".
The group originally comprised: (Capt. F.J. Walker), (Cdr. R.M. Aubrey), (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin), (Lt.Cdr. F.B. Proudfoot), (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss), (Lt.Cdr. W.F. Segrave)
During April the group was engaged in working up and training; Starling, Wild Goose and Kite were new ships, and none had worked together before. Under Walkers training (previously the Experimental Commander at HMS Osprey, the RN Anti-submarine training school) the group became a highly effective and successful unit.
The group's first success came in June. Its first U-boat was detected on 1 June 1943: fortuitously on a fine day, and identified by a Lt. Earl Howe Pitt, the event was dubbed another "Glorious First of June
" by Walker. Over a 15-hour period the group found, tracked and destroyed , in the longest hunt of the Atlantic campaign up to that point, and a vindication of the support group ethos, leaving ships free of escort responsibilities to destroy U-boats.
. On 24 June 1943 the group was successful in destroying and , though Starling was damaged in the process of ramming U-119 and was forced to retire. Walker elected to stay with the group, exchanging commands with Wild Goose, and, after the group returned to port, with Kite. 2 SG was joined at this point by (Lt.Cdr C. Gwinner), as replacement for the damaged Starling.
On 30 July 1943 Walker's group saw further success when they encountered a group of three U-boats on the surface (two were vital submarine type XIV
replenishment boats known as "Milk Cows") while in the Bay of Biscay
. He signalled the "general chase
" to his group and fired at them, causing damage that prevented them from diving. Two of the submarines, , a Type XIV, and , a Type IX/C40, were then sunk by Walker's group, and the second Type XIV, , by Australian Short Sunderland
aircraft.
But whilst the remainder of the operation saw the destruction of 20 U-boats over a nine-week period, 2 SG's time was unproductive, and no further successes were recorded.
In October, in concert with B-7 Escort Group, the group worked in support of ON 207
. No successes were recorded, though the convoy battle saw three U-boats destroyed, with no ships lost.
However in November 1943, in operations around HX 264, 2 SG accounted for two more U-boats, and . Whilst the United States Navy had had much success using carrier groups in a hunter killer role on the mid-Atlantic route, the Royal Navy's experience was less positive. Winter gales made flying difficult and hazardous, while the need to provide protection to the carrier hampered A/S operations. 2 SG at least generally had more success operating without carrier assistance.
On December 2 SG was acting in support of SL 140/MKS 31 with 4 SG (Cdr. E.H. Chavasse). 2 SG put in a determined attack on a U-boat, (thought to be ), but was unsuccessful, though the battle for SL 140/MKS 31 saw the destruction of a U-boat, without loss of ships.
On 31 January 1944 Walker's group gained their first kill of the year when they sank . On 9 February his group sank , , and in one action, then sank on 11 February, and on 19 February. This patrol was ended on 20 February 1944, when one of Walker's group, , was torpedoed (possibly by or by ). After an 8-day struggle to get her home, Woodpecker sank in a gale off the Scillies; all of her crew were saved. Woodpecker was the only ship of 2 SG lost in action.
The group returned to its base at Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the Admiralty
. The First Lord of the Admiralty
was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker was promoted to Captain and awarded a second Bar to his DSO.
In May 1944, 2 SG responded to an attack on by . Though starting from 300 miles away Walker, in an inspired piece of work, divined where to search and after a three-day search gained contact. An 18-hour hunt brought U-473 to the surface, where she was sunk by gunfire.
In June 1944, 2 SG was joined by , , and , replacements for Kite and Magpie. That month the group was on search and destroy operations in the South-Western Approaches, as part of "Operation Neptune
" - the invasion of Normandy, and was instrumental in preventing any attacks on the invasion fleet. In all fifteen U-boats were destroyed in attempts to attack the invasion fleet. Eight ships were sunk.
On July 2 SG received its heaviest blow when Capt. Walker died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage
.
The group had one successful patrol during August operating in the Bay of Biscay.
Four U-boats, , , , and were accounted for while attempting to cross the bay to and from their bases.
The months following this were unfruitful, however, as the U-boat Arm changed its tactics to operate in the shallow inland waters around Britain, using the schnorkel
to remain submerged for entire patrols. This created a different set of tactical problems, requiring different tactics of the escorts.
As 2 SG grappled with the changed nature of the campaign the group saw its last successes. In February 1945 the group destroyed two more U-boats, and (some sources say this was ).
2 SG was also credited with , bringing its score to 23. Wemyss reports the attack, in March 1945, but after a report of another sinking in the same area six months earlier, concluded they were "flogging a dead horse".
However a post-war report of U-683 missing in the area led to 2 SG being credited with her destruction. More recent analysis has questioned this, and the assessment was changed in 1989. It is now thought that 2 SG's attack was on the wreck of , sunk in September 1944.
Despite this, 2nd Support Group was responsible for the confirmed destruction of 22 U-boats during World War II, making it the most successful anti-submarine unit of the entire conflict.
Anti-submarine weapon
An anti-submarine weapon is any one of a range of devices that are intended to act against a submarine, and its crew, to destroy the vessel or to destroy or reduce its capability as a weapon of war...
formation of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
which saw action during the Second World War, principally in the Battle of the Atlantic.
2 EG was formed in April 1943, one of five such support groups formed at the crisis point of the campaign. It was to act as reinforcement to convoys under attack, with the capacity to actively hunt and destroy U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s, rather than be restricted to escort duties. Comprising six sloops of the Black Swan-class
Black Swan class sloop
The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes of sloop of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy. Thirteen Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-four Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including...
, the group was led by Captain F.J. "Johnnie" Walker
Frederic John Walker
Captain Frederic John Walker, CB, DSO and three Bars, RN was a British Royal Navy officer noted for his exploits during World War II...
, Britain's most successful anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
commander, in . The combination of an active hunting group and a charismatic, determined and innovative anti-submarine specialist such as Walker proved to be a potent force; 2 SG was the most successful anti-submarine unit of the war, being credited with the destruction of 23 U-boats during two years of active service.
Formation
Officially called 2nd Escort GroupEscort Group (naval)
Escort Groups for convoy protection were a British development in the war at sea during World War II. They were a tactical innovation by the Royal Navy in anti-submarine warfare, to combat the threat of the German Navy's "wolfpack" tactics....
, (more commonly referred as the 2 SG) was formed in April 1943, one of five such groups. Its purpose was to provide reinforcement to convoys at sea, being equipped to spend extended periods at sea moving from one convoy to another as needed. Its function primarily was to assist a convoys escort in its defence, though it also had the facility to spend time, which escorts did not have, to continue attacks on U-boats to successful conclusion rather than having to break off to maintain the guard on the convoy.
Walker however was determined that the group would be active in destroying U-boats and impressed this aim on his commanders from the outset.
The group comprised six sloops of the Black Swan class, making it a highly uniform group, and the sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
design was well suited to the task, with good endurance, adequate speed and specialized anti-submarine armament. In addition Walker had developed a range of A/S tactics, which 2 SG became adept at, such as the "creeping attack
Creeping attack (naval tactic)
The creeping attack was developed during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II as an anti submarine measure.It was first used by 36 Escort Group of the Royal Navy after being developed by the groups commanding officer, Captain "Johnnie" Walker....
" and the "barrage attack
Barrage attack (naval tactic)
The barrage attack was developed during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II as an anti submarine measure.It was first used by 2 Support Group of the Royal Navy after being developed by the groups commanding officer, Captain "Johnnie" Walker....
".
The group originally comprised: (Capt. F.J. Walker), (Cdr. R.M. Aubrey), (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin), (Lt.Cdr. F.B. Proudfoot), (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss), (Lt.Cdr. W.F. Segrave)
During April the group was engaged in working up and training; Starling, Wild Goose and Kite were new ships, and none had worked together before. Under Walkers training (previously the Experimental Commander at HMS Osprey, the RN Anti-submarine training school) the group became a highly effective and successful unit.
First patrols
The group's first patrol in May 1943 was uneventful. There were several major convoy battles during the month, but none involving 2 SG. The group operated in support of HX 235 and ONS 8, sailing ahead in an attempt to encounter and breach any U-boat patrol lines drawn across the convoy routes.The group's first success came in June. Its first U-boat was detected on 1 June 1943: fortuitously on a fine day, and identified by a Lt. Earl Howe Pitt, the event was dubbed another "Glorious First of June
Glorious First of June
The Glorious First of June [Note A] of 1794 was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars...
" by Walker. Over a 15-hour period the group found, tracked and destroyed , in the longest hunt of the Atlantic campaign up to that point, and a vindication of the support group ethos, leaving ships free of escort responsibilities to destroy U-boats.
Bay offensive
After a refit at Liverpool, after which Cygnet departed to another group, 2SG was assigned to "Operation Musketry", an attempt in concert with Coastal Command to interdict the U-boat transit routes across the Bay of BiscayBay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
. On 24 June 1943 the group was successful in destroying and , though Starling was damaged in the process of ramming U-119 and was forced to retire. Walker elected to stay with the group, exchanging commands with Wild Goose, and, after the group returned to port, with Kite. 2 SG was joined at this point by (Lt.Cdr C. Gwinner), as replacement for the damaged Starling.
On 30 July 1943 Walker's group saw further success when they encountered a group of three U-boats on the surface (two were vital submarine type XIV
German Type XIV submarine
The Type XIV U-boat was a modification of the Type IXD, designed to resupply other U-boats. They were nicknamed "Milchkuh/Milchkühe " . They had no torpedo tubes or deck guns, only anti-aircraft guns. Due to its large size, the Type XIV could resupply other boats with 400 tons of fuel, four...
replenishment boats known as "Milk Cows") while in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
. He signalled the "general chase
General chase
General Chase is a signal in the Royal Navy’s lexicon of fleet orders; it has a number of connotations beyond its literal meaning and has acquired something of an iconic status....
" to his group and fired at them, causing damage that prevented them from diving. Two of the submarines, , a Type XIV, and , a Type IX/C40, were then sunk by Walker's group, and the second Type XIV, , by Australian Short Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
aircraft.
But whilst the remainder of the operation saw the destruction of 20 U-boats over a nine-week period, 2 SG's time was unproductive, and no further successes were recorded.
Atlantic operations
In September 1943, after a further refit, 2 SG went to the North Atlantic, in company of the escort carrier . The group was joined by (Lt.Cdr R.S. Abrams), while Woodpecker was in for repairs.In October, in concert with B-7 Escort Group, the group worked in support of ON 207
Convoy ON 207
ON 207 was a North Atlantic convoy of the ONS/ON series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.It was the subject of a major U-boat attack in October 1943, the fourth battle in the German Navy’s autumn offensive....
. No successes were recorded, though the convoy battle saw three U-boats destroyed, with no ships lost.
However in November 1943, in operations around HX 264, 2 SG accounted for two more U-boats, and . Whilst the United States Navy had had much success using carrier groups in a hunter killer role on the mid-Atlantic route, the Royal Navy's experience was less positive. Winter gales made flying difficult and hazardous, while the need to provide protection to the carrier hampered A/S operations. 2 SG at least generally had more success operating without carrier assistance.
On December 2 SG was acting in support of SL 140/MKS 31 with 4 SG (Cdr. E.H. Chavasse). 2 SG put in a determined attack on a U-boat, (thought to be ), but was unsuccessful, though the battle for SL 140/MKS 31 saw the destruction of a U-boat, without loss of ships.
Six in one trip
In January 1944 2 SG sailed on its most famous exploit, accounting for six U-boats in one patrol, three of them in one 15-hour period.On 31 January 1944 Walker's group gained their first kill of the year when they sank . On 9 February his group sank , , and in one action, then sank on 11 February, and on 19 February. This patrol was ended on 20 February 1944, when one of Walker's group, , was torpedoed (possibly by or by ). After an 8-day struggle to get her home, Woodpecker sank in a gale off the Scillies; all of her crew were saved. Woodpecker was the only ship of 2 SG lost in action.
The group returned to its base at Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
. The First Lord of the Admiralty
A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough
Albert Victor Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough KG, CH, PC was a British Labour Co-operative politician. He was three times First Lord of the Admiralty, including during the Second World War, and then Minister of Defence under Clement Attlee.-Background:Born in Weston-super-Mare and...
was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker was promoted to Captain and awarded a second Bar to his DSO.
Arctic convoy
In March 1944 the group returned to North Atlantic, destroying on weather patrol, before joining Arctic convoy JW 58. It was joined in this for a short period by . 2 SG met and destroyed in transit across the "Rosegarden", but had no other success, though three U-boats were destroyed in attacks on JW 58. The return convoy, RA 58, was also attacked but neither side saw any success.In May 1944, 2 SG responded to an attack on by . Though starting from 300 miles away Walker, in an inspired piece of work, divined where to search and after a three-day search gained contact. An 18-hour hunt brought U-473 to the surface, where she was sunk by gunfire.
In June 1944, 2 SG was joined by , , and , replacements for Kite and Magpie. That month the group was on search and destroy operations in the South-Western Approaches, as part of "Operation Neptune
Operation Neptune
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 , beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time...
" - the invasion of Normandy, and was instrumental in preventing any attacks on the invasion fleet. In all fifteen U-boats were destroyed in attempts to attack the invasion fleet. Eight ships were sunk.
On July 2 SG received its heaviest blow when Capt. Walker died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
Later operations
In July 1944, 2 SG was back in action, led initially by Dominica (Cdr. N.A. Duck) and later by Wild Goose (Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss).The group had one successful patrol during August operating in the Bay of Biscay.
Four U-boats, , , , and were accounted for while attempting to cross the bay to and from their bases.
The months following this were unfruitful, however, as the U-boat Arm changed its tactics to operate in the shallow inland waters around Britain, using the schnorkel
Submarine snorkel
A submarine snorkel is a device which allows a submarine to operate submerged while still taking in air from above the surface. Navy personnel often refer to it as the snort.-History:...
to remain submerged for entire patrols. This created a different set of tactical problems, requiring different tactics of the escorts.
Last successes
In 1945 Loch Fada and Loch Killin were transferred, to be replaced by , , and .As 2 SG grappled with the changed nature of the campaign the group saw its last successes. In February 1945 the group destroyed two more U-boats, and (some sources say this was ).
2 SG was also credited with , bringing its score to 23. Wemyss reports the attack, in March 1945, but after a report of another sinking in the same area six months earlier, concluded they were "flogging a dead horse".
However a post-war report of U-683 missing in the area led to 2 SG being credited with her destruction. More recent analysis has questioned this, and the assessment was changed in 1989. It is now thought that 2 SG's attack was on the wreck of , sunk in September 1944.
Despite this, 2nd Support Group was responsible for the confirmed destruction of 22 U-boats during World War II, making it the most successful anti-submarine unit of the entire conflict.