Convoy SC-143
Encyclopedia
SC 143 was a North Atlantic convoy
of the SC
series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
.
It was the second battle in the German Navy’s (’’Kriegsmarine’’
)(KM)’s autumn offensive in the North Atlantic.
, U-boat Control (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote)(BdU) was convinced of success and eager to continue the offensive.
Accordingly they re-organized the boats then in the North Atlantic into a new patrol line, the 12 remaining Leuthen boats being joined by 9 new-comers, from bases in France
and Germany
. Code-named Rossbach
, the group was stationed at the western edge of the Greenland Air Gap
to intercept the expected east-bound convoys, carrying materiel
for the invasion of Europe
.
For their part, the Allies
were also encouraged by the outcome of the battle for ONS 18/ON 202, and were keen to seek battle with group Rossbach.
While forming, Rossbach came under attack by air patrols; 4 boats were destroyed, and another 4 were damaged and forced to return to base. 3 others were damaged, but were able to continue operations, while a further 2 boats arrived from base as re-inforcement.
on 28 September 1943 bound for Liverpool
It was composed of 39 ships and was escorted by C-2 escort group comprising the destroyer Icarus
, frigate Duckworth and 5 corvettes. Also accompanying the convoy was the MAC
carrier Rapana
.
By 6 October Rossbach, comprising 14 U-boats at this point, was deployed to intercept the expected west-bound convoys, HX 259 and SC 143.
Western Approaches Command
became aware of Rossbach’s position via intelligence, principally Enigma
decrypts, but decided to engage the wolfpack and force a battle.
Diverting HX 259 to the south, SC 143 was reinforced with 10th Support Group, of 4 destroyers, Musketeer, Oribi, Orkan and Orwell, and allowed to continue towards Rossbach as bait
.
7 boats had gathered by evening, and at nightfall mounted their attack.
During the night of 8/9 October the 7 Rossbach boats were able to attack;
U-645 torpedoed and sank Yorkmar,
and U-378 hit Orkan
which sank with the loss of 157 men. This was the worst naval loss suffered by the Polish navy during the war.
During the day the convoys air cover was able to mount several successful attacks;
3 U-boats were attacked by aircraft during the day.
U-419 was attacked and sunk by a Liberator
from RAF 86 squadron;
U-643 was damaged by 2 other Liberators, from RAF 86 sqdn and RAF 120 sqdn; it was later caught on the surface by another Liberator of RAF 86sqdn and sunk.
U-610 was attacked by a Sunderland
from RCAF 423 sqdn and sunk.
2 other boats were damaged in air attacks and forced to return to base;
U-539 by an unidentified aircraft, and
U-762 by a Liberator of RAF 120 sqdn.
Following this the attack was discontinued by BdU and Rossbach, now reduced to 6 boats, was disbanded.
SC 143 continued its voyage, and arrived without further loss at Liverpool
on 12 October 1943.
Allied warships sunk
Axis submarines destroyed
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
of the SC
SC convoys
The SC convoys were a series of North Atlantic convoys that ran during the battle of the Atlantic during World War II.They were east-bound slow convoys originating in Sydney, Cape Breton ; from there they sailed to ports in the UK, mainly Liverpool.For a time after the entry of the...
series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in 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...
.
It was the second battle in the German Navy’s (’’Kriegsmarine’’
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
)(KM)’s autumn offensive in the North Atlantic.
Background
Following the attack on convoys ONS 18 and ON 202 by the wolfpack LeuthenWolf pack Leuthen
Leuthen was a wolf pack of German U-boats that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.-Service history:Leuthen was formed in September 1943 and was established to renew the attack on the North Atlantic route....
, U-boat Control (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote)(BdU) was convinced of success and eager to continue the offensive.
Accordingly they re-organized the boats then in the North Atlantic into a new patrol line, the 12 remaining Leuthen boats being joined by 9 new-comers, from bases in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Code-named Rossbach
Wolf pack Rossbach
Rossbach was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.-Service history:Rossbach was formed in October 1943 to operate against the North Atlantic convoy routes and comprised 21 boats....
, the group was stationed at the western edge of the Greenland Air Gap
GIUK gap
The GIUK gap is an area in the northern Atlantic Ocean that forms a naval warfare chokepoint. Its name is an acronym for Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, the gap being the open ocean between these three landmasses...
to intercept the expected east-bound convoys, carrying materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
for the invasion of Europe
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
.
For their part, the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
were also encouraged by the outcome of the battle for ONS 18/ON 202, and were keen to seek battle with group Rossbach.
While forming, Rossbach came under attack by air patrols; 4 boats were destroyed, and another 4 were damaged and forced to return to base. 3 others were damaged, but were able to continue operations, while a further 2 boats arrived from base as re-inforcement.
Protagonists
SC 143 left HalifaxHalifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
on 28 September 1943 bound for Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
It was composed of 39 ships and was escorted by C-2 escort group comprising the destroyer 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 ...
, frigate Duckworth and 5 corvettes. Also accompanying the convoy was the MAC
Merchant aircraft carrier
Merchant aircraft carriers were bulk cargo ships with minimal aircraft handling facilities, used during World War II by Britain and the Netherlands as an interim measure to supplement British and United States-built escort carriers in providing an anti-submarine function for convoys...
carrier Rapana
MV Rapana
MV Rapana was one of nine Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell oil tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier . The group is collectively known as the Rapana class....
.
By 6 October Rossbach, comprising 14 U-boats at this point, was deployed to intercept the expected west-bound convoys, HX 259 and SC 143.
Western Approaches Command
Western Approaches Command
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsible for the safety of British shipping in the Western...
became aware of Rossbach’s position via intelligence, principally Enigma
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
decrypts, but decided to engage the wolfpack and force a battle.
Diverting HX 259 to the south, SC 143 was reinforced with 10th Support Group, of 4 destroyers, Musketeer, Oribi, Orkan and Orwell, and allowed to continue towards Rossbach as bait
Bait (luring substance)
Bait is any substance used to attract prey, e.g. in a mousetrap.-In Australia:Baiting in Australia refers to specific campaigns to control foxes, wild dogs and dingos by poisoning in areas where they are a problem...
.
Action
SC 143 was sighted on 8 October by U-731, which was returning to base following an air attack; she sent a sighting report, and throughout the day the Rossbach boats converged on the position.7 boats had gathered by evening, and at nightfall mounted their attack.
During the night of 8/9 October the 7 Rossbach boats were able to attack;
U-645 torpedoed and sank Yorkmar,
and U-378 hit Orkan
ORP Orkan
ORP Orkan formerly HMS Myrmidon was an M-class destroyer of the Polish Navy during World War II. The name translates as "windstorm". She was sunk by U-378 on October 8, 1943 in the Barents Sea...
which sank with the loss of 157 men. This was the worst naval loss suffered by the Polish navy during the war.
During the day the convoys air cover was able to mount several successful attacks;
3 U-boats were attacked by aircraft during the day.
U-419 was attacked and sunk by a Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
from RAF 86 squadron;
U-643 was damaged by 2 other Liberators, from RAF 86 sqdn and RAF 120 sqdn; it was later caught on the surface by another Liberator of RAF 86sqdn and sunk.
U-610 was attacked by a 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....
from RCAF 423 sqdn and sunk.
2 other boats were damaged in air attacks and forced to return to base;
U-539 by an unidentified aircraft, and
U-762 by a Liberator of RAF 120 sqdn.
Following this the attack was discontinued by BdU and Rossbach, now reduced to 6 boats, was disbanded.
SC 143 continued its voyage, and arrived without further loss at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 12 October 1943.
Conclusion
Un-deterred by the poor result of this attack, and the losses suffered by Rossbach, BdU wished to press on with the offensive; the remaining Rossbach boats were re-inforced to form a new group code-named Schlieffen.Tables
Allied ships sunk| Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Tonnage | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 1943 | Yorkmar | US | 13 | 5612 GRT Tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume... |
U-645 |
Allied warships sunk
| Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Type | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1943 | Orkan ORP Orkan ORP Orkan formerly HMS Myrmidon was an M-class destroyer of the Polish Navy during World War II. The name translates as "windstorm". She was sunk by U-378 on October 8, 1943 in the Barents Sea... |
Pol | 157 | destroyer | U-378 |
Axis submarines destroyed
| Date | Number | Type | Captain | Casualties | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1943 | U-419 | VIIC | O/L Glenburg | 48 | Lib R 86 Sqdn |
| 8 Oct | U-643 | VIIC | K/L Speidel | 30 | Lib R 86 Sqdn Lib Z 86 Sqdn Lib T 120 Sqdn |
| 8 Oct | U-610 | VIIC | K/L Freyburg -Eisenburg -Allmendingen |
51 | Sund J 423 Sqdn RCAF |