Convoy HX 106

Last updated
Convoy HX.106
Part of World War II
Date30 January 1941-18 February 1941
Location
Belligerents
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Canada
Commanders and leaders
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg  Germany Admiral Karl Dönitz
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg  Germany Admiral Günther Lütjens
Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Captain W. H. Poole Rd RNR
Strength
41 merchant ships
11 escorts (1 when attacked)
Casualties and losses
2 merchants sunk

Convoy HX 106 was the 106th of the numbered series of Allied HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England. Forty-one ships departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 30 January 1941, eastbound to Liverpool, England. [1] The use of convoys was a standard tactic throughout the Battle of the Atlantic as a defence against U-boats and German commerce raiders.

Contents

On 8 February 1941 the two German battleships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, found the convoy. [2] The German squadron was under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. The captain of Scharnhorst offered to draw off the escorting Royal Navy battleship HMS Ramillies, so that Gneisenau could sink the merchant ships. This strategy, if successful, would have entailed little risk to Scharnhorst as she was 11 knots (20 km/h) faster than Ramillies, and her newer 280 mm (11 in) guns outranged the 1915 era 15-inch (381 mm) guns of the British ship. However, Lutjens strictly followed Hitler's directive not to engage enemy capital ships, and withdrew. [2]

Later, two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by the submarine U-96, including Arthur F. Corwin loaded with 14,500 tons of aviation fuel. She went down on 13 February, taking all 59 crew with her.

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

A total of 41 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Halifax or later in the voyage. [3]

NameFlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Abercos (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,076Straggled
Arthur F Corwin (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,516Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41
Sunk by U-96 [4]
Athelbeach (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,568Joined ex-BHX 106
Botavon (1912)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,848Straggled 10 Feb 41
Vice-Commodore
British Fortune (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,696Joined ex-BHX 106
Capsa (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,229Joined ex-BHX 106
Cardium (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,236Joined ex-BHX 106
Chama (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,077Joined ex-BHX 106
Charlton Hall (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,200Straggled 10 Feb 41
Clea (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,028Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41
Sunk by U-96 [5]
Cliona (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,375
Contractor (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,004Joined ex-BHX 106
Dover Hill (1918)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,815Joined ex-BHX 106
Edward F Johnson (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,452Joined ex-BHX 106
Esturia (1914)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,968Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41
Evanger (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,869
Ganges (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,246Joined ex-BHX 106
Garonne (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,113Joined ex-BHX 106
Geo W McKnight (1933)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12,502Joined ex-BHX 106
Harpagus (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,173
Hopemount (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,434Straggled 3 Feb 41
Horda (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,301Straggled 10 Feb 41
Kheti (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,734Joined ex-BHX 106
Laguna (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,466Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41
Leiesten (1930)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,118Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb
Lodestone (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,877Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41
Mactra (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,193Joined ex-BHX 106
Malmanger (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,078Joined ex-BHX 106
Miralda (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,013Joined ex-BHX 106
Mirza (1929)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7,991Joined ex-BHX 106
Nurtureton (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,272
Oilfield (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,516Joined ex-BHX 106
Opalia (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,195Joined ex-BHX 106
R J Cullen (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,993
San Eliseo (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,042Joined ex-BHX 106
San Fabian (1922)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 13,031
Silveray (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,535Joined ex-BHX 106
Temple Arch (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,138Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb
Topdalsfjord (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,271Capt W H Poole Rd RNR (Commodore)
Torborg (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,042Joined ex-BHX 106
Trelissick (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,265Joined ex-BHX 106

Convoy escorts

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey. [3]

NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft
HMS Burnham Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Town-class destroyer 12 Feb 194115 Feb 1941
HMCS Collingwood Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette 30 Jan 194131 Jan 1941
HMS Kingcup Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 15 Feb 194117 Feb 1941
HMS La Malouine Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 12 Feb 194117 Feb 1941
HMS Malcolm Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Admiralty-type destroyer leader 12 Feb 194115 Feb 1941
HMS/HMT Northern PrideNaval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW (anti-submarine warfare) trawler 15 Feb 194118 Feb 1941
HMS Ramillies Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Revenge-class battleship 30 Jan 194110 Feb 1941
HMS Saladin Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Admiralty S-class destroyer 12 Feb 194114 Feb 1941
HMS Sardonyx Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Admiralty S-class destroyer 12 Feb 194117 Feb 1941
HMS Skate Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy R-class destroyer 12 Feb 194118 Feb 1941
HMT Vizalma Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW trawler 15 Feb 194118 Feb 1941

References

  1. Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. p. 127. ISBN   1-55750-019-3.
  2. 1 2 Miller, Nathan (1996). War at sea : a naval history of World War II. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 147. ISBN   0-19-511038-2.
  3. 1 2 "Convoy HX.106". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  4. "Arthur F. Corwin – British motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  5. "Clea – British motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.