Convoy PQ-13
Encyclopedia
PQ-13 was a British Arctic convoy
which delivered war supplies from the Western Allies to the USSR during World War II
. The convoy was subject to attack by German air, U-boat and surface forces and suffered the loss of five ships, plus one escort vessel. Fifteen ships arrived safely.
, four American
, one Polish
, four of Panama
nian and one of Honduran
registry. It was commanded by Commodore D.A. Casey in River Afton.
The convoy was escorted for the first stage of its voyage, from Scotland to Iceland, by a Local Escort Group, of two destroyers and an ASW Trawler.
For the second stage, from Iceland to the Soviet Union, the Ocean escort was two destroyers, and two trawlers, augmented by three whalers being transferred to the Soviet Navy
. The Ocean escort was commanded by Capt. LS Saunders, in the cruiser Trinidad
.
In support of the convoy escort, and guarding against a sortie by the German battleship Tirpitz
, was a Heavy Cover Force, comprising the battleships Duke of York
(V. Adm. ATB Curteis commanding), King George V
, the battlecruiser Renown
, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious
, two cruisers, Kent
and Edinburgh, and sixteen destroyers. (Ashanti
, Bedouin
, Echo
, Escapade
, Eskimo
, Faulknor
, Foresight
, Icarus
, Inglefield
, Ledbury
, Marne
, Middleton
, Onslow
, Punjabi
, Tartar
and Wheatland) This force was intended to accompany PQ 13 at a distance until it was past Bear Island.
in Scotland
on 10 March 1942 and arrived in Reykjavík
on the 16th March, 1942. After dropping out a contingent of three ships, bound from Loch Ewe to Reykjavík only, and the first stage escort, and collecting a further three bound from Reykjavík to Murmansk and the close escort for the voyage, PQ 13 left Reykjavík on the 20th March, 1942.
The voyage was uneventful until 24 March, when the convoy was struck by a violent four day storm, which left the convoy scattered and in disarray. The ships were dispersed over a distance of 150 miles. Over the next few days the ships coalesced into two groups, of eight and four, with four others proceeding independently.
On 28 March the ships were sighted by German aircraft, and attacked. Two ships were sunk, Raceland and Empire Ranger.
Also on the 28th a German force of three Narvik class destroyer
s, Z24
, Z25
and Z26
, under the command of KzS G Ponitz, sortied from Kirkenes
. They intercepted Bateau, which was sunk, in the evening of 28/29 March, before falling in with Trinidad and Fury in the early hours of 29 March.
Z26 was badly damaged by HMS Trinidad
, sinking later, but in the course of the action Trinidad was hit by her own torpedo (the torpedo's gyroscope
froze). The remaining German ships broke of the action, and Trinidad, escorted by Fury and Eclipse, limped into Kola
, arriving midday on 30 March.
In the meanwhile the ships of PQ 13 came under U-boat attack. Two ships were found and sunk by U-boats, Induna by U-376, and Effingham by U-435. Fury attacked an asdic contact and was credited with the destruction of U-585; however post-war analysis found that U-585 was lost elsewhere.
By 30 March most ships had arrived at Murmansk; the last stragglers came in on 1 April.
6 ships were lost in this convoy. The Germans sank five freighters. One whaler
, , was lost, probably due to heavy icing, and the cruiser, Trinidad, was damaged.
Against this one German destroyer had been sunk. Fourteen ships had arrived safely, more than two-thirds of the convoy.
, and sailed with the convoy from Loch Ewe
to Iceland
, but didn't sail to the Soviet Union
.
In Russia, HMS Silja was renamed T-107 and the HMS Sumba was renamed T-106.
to Reykjavík
, PQ 13 had a local escort of two destroyers and an ASW Trawler
.
From Iceland to Murmansk the close escort consisted of the cruiser HMS Trinidad
and the destroyers HMS Fury
and HMS Eclipse
, two armed trawlers
and three minesweepers
.
For the final leg the convoy was supported by the local escort based at Kola
; two Soviet destroyers and four RN
minesweepers.
Loch Ewe - Reykjavík
: 10–16 March.
Leaving Loch Ewe in the afternoon of the 10th, the convoy was escorted by:
On the 11th, another escort joined the convoy:
Reykjavík - Murmansk: 18–31 March.
Leaving Reykjavík in the morning of the 18th, the convoy was escorted by:
On the 23rd, other escorts joined the convoy:
The Barents Sea - Murmansk: 27 March - 3 April;
On the 27th, the convoy was joined by two Soviet destroyers:
On 28 March the convoy was assisted by the involvement of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla operating here.
, , and of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla, under command of commander E.P. Hinton, sailed on the 28 April for a patrol in the Arctic waters. On the 29th Harrier went for a search for survivors of the Empire Ranger. On the 29th Speedwell attempted to intercept Harpalion, but failed to find her. found abandoned boats of Empire Ranger on the 29th which indicated they were picked up by other boats. ( A German wireless claimed prisoners from a merchant ship, it was obvious they were from the Empire Ranger)
On the 30th March, Gossamer found the Scottish American, Effingham and Dunboyne. But Gossamer received orders to proceed to the position of the torpedoed Indua, but failed to find her.
Hussar made contact with a group of 9 ships of PQ 13 and a whaler
. Escorted by two Russian destroyers and a trawler. Oribi sighted the whaler Silja who had run out of fuel. Oribi was ordered to go to the aid of River Afton which was reported to have been hit by a U-boat
. Harrier took Silja in tow and Speedwell escorted them.
On the 1st of April, (also of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla) sailed to search for Sulla, but returned on the 3rd of April, having failed to find her.
port on the 3rd of April.
New Westminster City was lost, Empire Starlight was salvaged post war and renamed Murmansk.
Harpalion and Empire Cowper were lost on the return convoy, Convoy QP 10.
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
which delivered war supplies from the Western Allies to the USSR during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The convoy was subject to attack by German air, U-boat and surface forces and suffered the loss of five ships, plus one escort vessel. Fifteen ships arrived safely.
Ships
PQ 13 comprised 19 merchant ships; seven BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, four American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, one Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, four of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian and one of Honduran
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
registry. It was commanded by Commodore D.A. Casey in River Afton.
The convoy was escorted for the first stage of its voyage, from Scotland to Iceland, by a Local Escort Group, of two destroyers and an ASW Trawler.
For the second stage, from Iceland to the Soviet Union, the Ocean escort was two destroyers, and two trawlers, augmented by three whalers being transferred to the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
. The Ocean escort was commanded by Capt. LS Saunders, in the cruiser Trinidad
HMS Trinidad (C46)
HMS Trinidad was a Royal Navy Crown Colony-class cruiser . She was lost while serving in the Arctic on convoy duty after being damaged escorting PQ-13 in 1942.-Early career:...
.
In support of the convoy escort, and guarding against a sortie by the German battleship Tirpitz
German battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April...
, was a Heavy Cover Force, comprising the battleships Duke of York
HMS Duke of York (17)
HMS Duke of York was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy. Laid down in May 1937, the ship was constructed by John Brown and Company at Clydebank, Scotland, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 4 November 1941, subsequently seeing service during the Second World War.In...
(V. Adm. ATB Curteis commanding), King George V
HMS King George V (41)
HMS King George V was the lead ship of the five British King George V-class battleships of the Royal Navy. Laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1940, King George V operated during the Second World War as part of the British Home and Pacific Fleets...
, the battlecruiser Renown
HMS Renown (1916)
HMS Renown was the lead ship of her class of battlecruisers of the Royal Navy built during the First World War. She was originally laid down as an improved version of the s. Her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war on the grounds she would not be ready in a timely manner...
, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious
HMS Victorious (R38)
HMS Victorious was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. She was laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later in 1939...
, two cruisers, Kent
HMS Kent (54)
HMS Kent was a heavy cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the late 1920s. She was the lead ship of the Kent subclass. After completion the ship was sent to the China Station where she remained until the beginning of the Second World War, aside from a major refit in 1937–38...
and Edinburgh, and sixteen destroyers. (Ashanti
HMS Ashanti (F51)
HMS Ashanti was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Following the style of her sister ships she was named for an ethnic group, in this case the Ashanti people of the Gold Coast in West Africa. She served in the Second World War and was broken up in 1949...
, Bedouin
HMS Bedouin (F67)
HMS Bedouin was a Tribal-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service in World War II. She was launched on 21 December 1937 by William Denny and Brothers....
, Echo
HMS Echo (H23)
HMS Echo was an E class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service in the Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean theatres during World War II, before being transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy in 1944, and renamed Navarinon, until scrapped in 1956.-Service history:Echo had a small role in...
, Escapade
HMS Escapade (H17)
HMS Escapade was an E class destroyer of the British Royal Navy in commission from 1934 until 1946, that saw service before and during World War II, seeing service on Russian, Malta and Atlantic convoys.-Construction:...
, Eskimo
HMS Eskimo (F75)
HMS Eskimo was a Tribal-class destroyer, laid down by the High Walker Yard of Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 5 August 1936...
, Faulknor
HMS Faulknor (H62)
HMS Faulknor was a F class destroyer flotilla leader of the British Royal Navy in commission from 1934. The ship had a particularly active operational role during World War II, being awarded 11 battle honours, and was known as "The hardest worked destroyer in the Fleet"...
, Foresight
HMS Foresight (H68)
HMS Foresight was a Royal Navy F class destroyer. She operated as a fast minesweeper during World War II and was scuttled after being damaged in an aerial attack during Operation Pedestal, an attempt to bring supplies to Malta....
, Icarus
HMS Icarus (D03)
HMS Icarus was an I-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy in World War II.On 29 November 1939, Icarus sighted the German U-boat U-35 between the Shetland Islands and Bergen , but was unable to launch an effective attack because her ASDIC was out of commission. Fellow destroyers and ...
, Inglefield
HMS Inglefield (D02)
HMS Inglefield was an I-class destroyer leader built for the Royal Navy that served during World War II. She was the navy's last purpose-built flotilla leader. She was named after the 19th century Admiral Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield , and is so far the only warship to carry the name of that...
, Ledbury
HMS Ledbury (L90)
HMS Ledbury was an escort destroyer of the Hunt Type II class. The Royal Navy ordered Ledbury's construction two days after the outbreak of the Second World War and J. I. Thornycroft Ltd laid down her keel at their Southampton yard on 24 January 1940. Air raid damage to the yard delayed her...
, Marne
HMS Marne (G35)
HMS Marne was an M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy commissioned on 2 December 1941. She was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at High Walker Yard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and saw service in the Atlantic theatre of World War II....
, Middleton
HMS Middleton (L74)
HMS Middleton was a Type 2 Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy and served in the Second World War. Her rôle was providing support for minelaying operations in the Atlantic and anti-aircraft protection for the North Russian convoys...
, Onslow
HMS Onslow (G17)
HMS Onslow was an O-class destroyer flotilla leader of the Royal Navy She was ordered from John Brown & Company at Clydebank, Glasgow on 3 September 1939. The ship was laid down on 1 July 1940 and launched on 31 March 1941. She was completed on 8 October 1941 at a cost of £416,942.Attached to the...
, Punjabi
HMS Punjabi (F21)
HMS Punjabi was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service in the Second World War, being sunk in a collision with the battleship . She has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name "Punjabi" which — in common with the other ships of the Tribal-class — was named after...
, Tartar
HMS Tartar (F43)
HMS Tartar was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service in most of the naval theatres of World War II. She had an eventful career, eventually receiving the nickname 'Lucky Tartar' due to her numerous escapes from dangerous situations...
and Wheatland) This force was intended to accompany PQ 13 at a distance until it was past Bear Island.
Action
The convoy sailed from Loch EweLoch Ewe
Loch Ewe is a sea loch in the region of in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The shores are inhabited by a traditionally Gàidhlig speaking people living in or sustained by crofting villages, the most notable of which, situated on the north-eastern shore, is the Aultbea settlement...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on 10 March 1942 and arrived in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
on the 16th March, 1942. After dropping out a contingent of three ships, bound from Loch Ewe to Reykjavík only, and the first stage escort, and collecting a further three bound from Reykjavík to Murmansk and the close escort for the voyage, PQ 13 left Reykjavík on the 20th March, 1942.
The voyage was uneventful until 24 March, when the convoy was struck by a violent four day storm, which left the convoy scattered and in disarray. The ships were dispersed over a distance of 150 miles. Over the next few days the ships coalesced into two groups, of eight and four, with four others proceeding independently.
On 28 March the ships were sighted by German aircraft, and attacked. Two ships were sunk, Raceland and Empire Ranger.
Also on the 28th a German force of three Narvik class destroyer
Narvik class destroyer
The Zerstörer 1936A-class destroyers, or Narvik-class destroyers as they were known to the Allies, were a class of German destroyers of the Second World War...
s, Z24
German destroyer Z24
Z24 was a built for the Kriegsmarine in the late 1930s.-External links:*...
, Z25
German destroyer Z25
Z25 was a built for the Kriegsmarine during World War II.-External links:*...
and Z26
German destroyer Z26
Z26 was a built for the Kriegsmarine during World War II.-External links:*...
, under the command of KzS G Ponitz, sortied from Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
. They intercepted Bateau, which was sunk, in the evening of 28/29 March, before falling in with Trinidad and Fury in the early hours of 29 March.
Z26 was badly damaged by HMS Trinidad
HMS Trinidad (C46)
HMS Trinidad was a Royal Navy Crown Colony-class cruiser . She was lost while serving in the Arctic on convoy duty after being damaged escorting PQ-13 in 1942.-Early career:...
, sinking later, but in the course of the action Trinidad was hit by her own torpedo (the torpedo's gyroscope
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...
froze). The remaining German ships broke of the action, and Trinidad, escorted by Fury and Eclipse, limped into Kola
Kola
Kola can refer to:*Kola nut, a genus of about 125 species of trees**Inca Kola, a cola soft drink made in Peru**Kola Real, a Peruvian soft drink**Kola Inglesa , a Peruvian soft drink...
, arriving midday on 30 March.
In the meanwhile the ships of PQ 13 came under U-boat attack. Two ships were found and sunk by U-boats, Induna by U-376, and Effingham by U-435. Fury attacked an asdic contact and was credited with the destruction of U-585; however post-war analysis found that U-585 was lost elsewhere.
By 30 March most ships had arrived at Murmansk; the last stragglers came in on 1 April.
6 ships were lost in this convoy. The Germans sank five freighters. One whaler
Whaler
A whaler is a specialized ship, designed for whaling, the catching and/or processing of whales. The former included the whale catcher, a steam or diesel-driven vessel with a harpoon gun mounted at its bows. The latter included such vessels as the sail or steam-driven whaleship of the 16th to early...
, , was lost, probably due to heavy icing, and the cruiser, Trinidad, was damaged.
Against this one German destroyer had been sunk. Fourteen ships had arrived safely, more than two-thirds of the convoy.
Ship list
The convoy to Russia consisted of 19 freighters, a Fleet Oiler, and 3 whalers,| Ship | Captain | Tonnage | Flag | Total Crew | Armed Guard or DEMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest Prahter | 3,515 |  |
46 | 11 | |
| Charles H. Hewlett | 6,421 | |
43 | 8 | |
| Ivo Beatovic | 4,219 |  |
39 | none | |
| Ole M. Nilsen | 6,900 | |
50 | 13 | |
| J.H. Wigham | 7,164 |  |
57 | 11 | |
| Maurice E. Sadler | 7,008 | |
50 | 7 | |
| William H. Stein | 6,850 | |
67 | 14 | |
| Eric Lundh | 5,473 | |
39 | none | |
| H.W. Williams | 5,486 | |
52 | 8 | |
| William N. Collins | 5,086 | |
60 | 10 | |
| 3,283 |  |
||||
| Llewelyn Roberts | 5,453 | |
|||
| William J. Harris | 4,747 | |
52 | 6 | |
| Sverre Brekke | 4,815 | |
45 | None | |
| Harold W. Charlton | 5,479 | |
62 | 7 | |
| Bronislaw Harko | 7,048 | 48 | At least 1 |
| Ship | Captain | Tonnage | Flag | Total Crew | Armed Guard or DEMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Bejer | 6,131 | |
42 | none | |
| Johan A. Haltlid | 4,687 | |
48 | none | |
| P. Sun | 6,999 | |
44 | 6 | |
| Ship | Captain | Tonnage | Flag | Total Crew | Armed Guard or DEMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b | 1,220 | d | e | f | |
| b | 1,807 | |
e | f | |
| b | 1,418 | |
e | f | |
| Ship | Captain | Tonnage | Flag | Total Crew | Armed Guard or DEMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFA Oligarch | A.V. Barton | 6,897 |  |
e | f |
| Ship | Captain | Tonnage | Flag | Total Crew | Armed Guard or DEMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | |
||||
| 251 | |
||||
| John Edward Thundercliffe | 251 | |
|||
, and sailed with the convoy from Loch Ewe
Loch Ewe
Loch Ewe is a sea loch in the region of in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The shores are inhabited by a traditionally Gàidhlig speaking people living in or sustained by crofting villages, the most notable of which, situated on the north-eastern shore, is the Aultbea settlement...
to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, but didn't sail to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
- Ballot, Bateau and Scottish American joined the convoy in IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. - All other ships departed from Loch EweLoch EweLoch Ewe is a sea loch in the region of in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The shores are inhabited by a traditionally Gàidhlig speaking people living in or sustained by crofting villages, the most notable of which, situated on the north-eastern shore, is the Aultbea settlement...
, for MurmanskMurmanskMurmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
.
- Three whalers: HMS Silja, HMS Sulla and HMS Sumba were under transfer to the Soviet Navy and would become magnetic mine minesweeperMinesweeper (ship)A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s.
In Russia, HMS Silja was renamed T-107 and the HMS Sumba was renamed T-106.
Convoy Escorts
For the first stage, from Loch EweLoch Ewe
Loch Ewe is a sea loch in the region of in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The shores are inhabited by a traditionally Gàidhlig speaking people living in or sustained by crofting villages, the most notable of which, situated on the north-eastern shore, is the Aultbea settlement...
to Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, PQ 13 had a local escort of two destroyers and an ASW Trawler
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
.
From Iceland to Murmansk the close escort consisted of the cruiser HMS Trinidad
HMS Trinidad (C46)
HMS Trinidad was a Royal Navy Crown Colony-class cruiser . She was lost while serving in the Arctic on convoy duty after being damaged escorting PQ-13 in 1942.-Early career:...
and the destroyers HMS Fury
HMS Fury (H76)
HMS Fury was an F class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was ordered from the yards of J. Samuel White, of Cowes, Isle of Wight on 17 March 1933 and was laid down on the 19 May of that year. She was launched on 10 September 1934 and commissioned on 18 May 1935...
and HMS Eclipse
HMS Eclipse (H08)
HMS Eclipse was an E class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Mediterranean theatres during World War II, until sunk by a mine in the Aegean Sea on 24 October 1943.-Service history:...
, two armed trawlers
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
and three minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
.
For the final leg the convoy was supported by the local escort based at Kola
Kola
Kola can refer to:*Kola nut, a genus of about 125 species of trees**Inca Kola, a cola soft drink made in Peru**Kola Real, a Peruvian soft drink**Kola Inglesa , a Peruvian soft drink...
; two Soviet destroyers and four RN
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...
minesweepers.
Loch Ewe - Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
: 10–16 March.
Leaving Loch Ewe in the afternoon of the 10th, the convoy was escorted by:
- Destroyer ORP Błyskawica (H34) (left the convoy on the 13th)
- Destroyer
- ASW Trawler
On the 11th, another escort joined the convoy:
- Destroyer
Reykjavík - Murmansk: 18–31 March.
Leaving Reykjavík in the morning of the 18th, the convoy was escorted by:
- Trawler , and . (left the convoy on the 23rd)
On the 23rd, other escorts joined the convoy:
- Destroyers and (left the convoy on the 25th)
- Light Cruiser (left the convoy on the 25th)
The Barents Sea - Murmansk: 27 March - 3 April;
On the 27th, the convoy was joined by two Soviet destroyers:
- DestroyersGnevny class destroyerThe Gnevny class were a group of destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1930s - early 1940s. They are sometimes known as the Gremyashchiy class destroyer and the Official Soviet Designation was Project 7...
Gremyashchi and Sokrushitelney
On 28 March the convoy was assisted by the involvement of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla operating here.
, , and of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla, under command of commander E.P. Hinton, sailed on the 28 April for a patrol in the Arctic waters. On the 29th Harrier went for a search for survivors of the Empire Ranger. On the 29th Speedwell attempted to intercept Harpalion, but failed to find her. found abandoned boats of Empire Ranger on the 29th which indicated they were picked up by other boats. ( A German wireless claimed prisoners from a merchant ship, it was obvious they were from the Empire Ranger)
On the 30th March, Gossamer found the Scottish American, Effingham and Dunboyne. But Gossamer received orders to proceed to the position of the torpedoed Indua, but failed to find her.
Hussar made contact with a group of 9 ships of PQ 13 and a whaler
Whaler
A whaler is a specialized ship, designed for whaling, the catching and/or processing of whales. The former included the whale catcher, a steam or diesel-driven vessel with a harpoon gun mounted at its bows. The latter included such vessels as the sail or steam-driven whaleship of the 16th to early...
. Escorted by two Russian destroyers and a trawler. Oribi sighted the whaler Silja who had run out of fuel. Oribi was ordered to go to the aid of River Afton which was reported to have been hit by a 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...
. Harrier took Silja in tow and Speedwell escorted them.
On the 1st of April, (also of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla) sailed to search for Sulla, but returned on the 3rd of April, having failed to find her.
Total convoy losses
After an attack on the 28 March 1942, 16 crewmembers of the Ballot left the ship in a lifeboat. These men were picked up by Silja and put on board Induna.| Date | Ship | Tonnage | Flag | Sunk by | Position | Crew | POW | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 March | Raceland | 4,815 | |
Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... |
72° 40'N - 20° 20'E | 45 | 13 | 32 |
| 28 March | Empire Ranger | 7,008 | |
Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... |
72° 10'N - 30° 00'E | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 29 March | Bateau | 4,687 | |
Z-26 | 72° 30'N - 27° 00'E | 47 | 6 | 41 |
| 30 March | Induna | 5,086 | |
70° 55'N - 37° 18'E | 66 | 0 | 42* | |
| 30 March | Effingham | 6,421 | |
70° 28'N - 35° 44'E | 42 | 0 | 12 |
- 12 of them were former crewmembers of the SS Ballot
| Date | Ship | Tonnage | Flag | Sunk by | Position | Crew | POW | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 March | HMS Sulla | 251 | |
Icing | 21 | 0 | 21 |
Aftermath
New Westminster City and Empire Starlight were bombed in MurmanskMurmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
port on the 3rd of April.
New Westminster City was lost, Empire Starlight was salvaged post war and renamed Murmansk.
Harpalion and Empire Cowper were lost on the return convoy, Convoy QP 10.
| Date | Ship | Tonnage | Flag | Sunk by | Crew | POW | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 April | New Westminster City | 4,747 | |
Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... |
52 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 April | Empire Starlight | 6,850 | |
Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... |
68 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 April | 7,164 | |
Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... |
68 | 0 | 19* | |
| 13 April | Harpalion | 5,486 | |
52 | 0 | 0 |
- A former crewmember of the New Westminster City died on this ship