Convoy HX.231 | |||||
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Part of World War II | |||||
North Atlantic Ocean map | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Germany | Canada United Kingdom | ||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Karl Dönitz | Charles Ramsay (Commodore) | ||||
Strength | |||||
11 U-boats | 67 merchant ships 19 escorts | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
2 U-boats sunk | 6 ships sunk |
Convoy HX 231 was the 231st of the numbered series of Second World War HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 25 March 1943 and were met on 31 March by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. The convoy was found on 4 April and attacked by eleven U-boats of the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th U-boat flotillas, operating out of Brest, La Rochelle, St Nazaire and Lorient, respectively. These U-boats formed the wolfpack Löwenherz (Lionheart). The U-boats sank six ships before losing contact on 7 April. Two U-boats, U-632 and U-635, were sunk. Surviving ships from the convoy reached Liverpool on 10 April.
Name [1] | Flag | (GRT) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
HMS Alisma | Royal Navy | Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette | |
Amastra (1935) | United Kingdom | 8,031 | |
Ancylus (1935) | United Kingdom | 8,017 | |
Aruba (1929) | Netherlands | 3,979 | Arrived with rudder damage |
Asbjorn (1935) | United Kingdom | 4,387 | |
Athelregent (1930) | United Kingdom | 8,881 | |
Athos (1937) | Norway | 8,267 | |
Atlantida (1924) | Honduras | 4,191 | |
Beaverhill (1928) | United Kingdom | 10,041 | |
Blitar (1923) | Netherlands | 7,065 | Romped and sunk by U-632 on 6 April after attack the previous day by U-229, 26 dead [2] |
British Ardour (1928) | United Kingdom | 7,124 | Escort Oiler. Sunk by U-706 on 5 April, no casualties [3] |
British Confidence (1936) | United Kingdom | 8,494 | |
HMS Buxton (H96) | Royal Navy | Escort 27–31 March, Destroyer | |
HMCS Chicoutimi | Royal Canadian Navy | Escort 27–31 March, Corvette | |
City of Lyons (1926) | United Kingdom | 7,063 | |
Clan Cameron (1937) | United Kingdom | 7,243 | |
HMS Eclipse | Royal Navy | Escort 6–8 April Destroyer | |
Eli Whitney (1942) | United States | 7,181 | |
Empire Chief (1897) | United Kingdom | 8,040 | Tanker carrying fuel oil |
Empire Coleridge (1942) | United Kingdom | 9,798 | Tanker carrying petrol. Fitted with AND |
Empire Dickens (1942) | United Kingdom | 9,819 | Tanker carrying petrol |
Empire Marvell (1941) | United Kingdom | 9,812 | Tanker carrying petrol & paraffin |
Erin (1932) | United Kingdom | 5,841 | |
Esso Dover (1921) | United States | 8,880 | |
F J Wolfe (1932) | United Kingdom | 12,190 | Escort Oiler. Returned |
Fort Finlay (1942) | United Kingdom | 7,134 | |
Fort Jemseg (1943) | United Kingdom | 7,134 | |
Fort Thompson (1942) | United Kingdom | 7,134 | |
HMS Fury | Royal Navy | Escort 6–8 April, Destroyer | |
Geo W McKnight (1933) | United Kingdom | 12,502 | |
Georgian (1920) | United States | 5,825 | |
HMS Icarus | Royal Navy | Escort 6–8 April Destroyer | |
HMS Inglefield | Royal Navy | Escort 6–8 April Destroyer | |
Jamaica Planter (1936) | United Kingdom | 4,098 | Vice-Commodore |
Joel R Poinsett (1943) | United States | 7,176 | |
Katy (1931) | Norway | 6,825 | |
HMCS Kenora | Royal Canadian Navy | Escort 25–28 March Minesweeper | |
Kent (1918) | United Kingdom | 8,697 | |
Lady Rodney (1929) | United Kingdom | 8,194 | Halifax to St John's, Newfoundland |
Laurelwood (1929) | United Kingdom | 7,347 | |
Lochmonar (1924) | United Kingdom | 9,412 | Returned |
HMS Loosestrife | Royal Navy | Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette; landed 72 Survivors from Waroonga at Londonderry Port on 9 April 1943 | |
Manchester Port (1935) | United Kingdom | 7,071 | |
HMCS Milltown | Royal Canadian Navy | Escort 27–31 March, Minesweeper | |
Mobilgas (1937) | United States | 9,925 | |
Mosdale (1939) | Norway | 3,022 | |
Narvik | Escort 9–10 April | ||
Nassa (1942) | United Kingdom | 8,134 | Fitted with AND |
Noah Webster (1943) | United States | 7,176 | Returned |
Norheim (1941) | Norway | 9,816 | |
Norvinn (1930) | Panama | 6,322 | |
Ocean Volunteer (1942) | United Kingdom | 7,174 | |
Ornefjell (1937) | Norway | 1,334 | Bound for Halifax |
Pandorian (1941) | United Kingdom | 4,159 | |
Pierre Soule (1943) | United States | 7,191 | |
HMS Pink | Royal Navy | Escort 29 March – 9 April, Corvette | |
Pleiades (1939) | United States | 3,600 | |
Port Sydney (1914) | United Kingdom | 9,129 | |
HMCS Quesnel | Royal Canadian Navy | Escort 25–31 March, Corvette | |
Raphael Semmes (1942) | United States | 6,165 | |
Reinholt (1939) | Norway | 4,799 | |
Salland (1920) | Netherlands | 6,447 | |
Saluta (1906) | United Kingdom | 6,261 | Returned |
San Adolfo (1935) | United Kingdom | 7,365 | |
San Ambrosio (1935) | United Kingdom | 7,410 | |
Santa Maria (1942) | United States | 6,507 | |
HMCS Saskatoon | Royal Canadian Navy | Escort 25–28 March, Corvette | |
Scebeli (1937) | Norway | 3,025 | Detached and independent 1 April |
Shillong (1939) | United Kingdom | 5,529 | Sunk by U-630 on 5 April, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack, 71 dead [4] |
Slemmestad (1928) | Norway | 4,258 | |
HMS Snowflake | Royal Navy | Escort 31 March – 9 April, corvette, landed 54 Survivors from British Ardour at Londonderry Port | |
Sovac (1938) | United Kingdom | 6,724 | |
Stephen C Foster (1943) | United States | 7,106 | |
Sunoil (1927) | United States | 9,005 | Straggler zig-zagging on 4 April due to engine trouble. Sunk by U-530 on 5 April, after being damaged by U-563 in an earlier attack; lost with all 69 hands [5] |
HMS Tay | Royal Navy | Escort 31 March – 9 April, Frigate | |
Thomas Sumter (1942) | United States | 7,177 | Romped |
Tjibadak (1929) | Netherlands | 7,083 | |
Torr Head (1937) | United Kingdom | 5,021 | |
Tulsa (1919) | United States | 5,083 | |
Tyndareus (1916) | United Kingdom | 11,361 | Admiral Sir Charles Ramsey (Commodore) |
USS Merak | United States Navy | 6,982 | Stores and passenger ship. 138 passengers |
Vaalaren (1936) | Sweden | 3,406 | Romped 4 April, sunk by U-229 on 5 April, lost with all 38 hands [6] |
HMS Vidette | Royal Navy | Escort 31 March – 9 April, Destroyer | |
Waroonga (1914) | United Kingdom | 9,365 | Sunk by U-630 on 5 April, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack. 19 dead [7] |
William Mulholland (1942) | United States | 7,176 | |
William Whipple (1942) | United States | 7,181 | |
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. The use of convoys was a standard tactic throughout the Battle of the Atlantic as a defence against U-boats and German commerce raiders.
OB 293 was a North Atlantic convoy which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was notable for seeing the loss to the Kriegsmarine (KM) of U-47, with her commander KL Günther Prien, the person responsible for the sinking of HMS Royal Oak two years previously.
Convoy SL 125 was the 125th of the numbered series of World War II SL convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound to the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean travelled independently to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage. Thirty-seven merchant ships departed Freetown on 16 October 1942 and were joined at sea by five more.
Convoy TAG 18 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 18th of the numbered TAG Convoys from Trinidad and Aruba to Guantánamo. The convoy was shadowed from 1 to 4 November by U-160 skippered by Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen and joined on 5 November by U-129 – skippered by Hans-Ludwig Witt. The two U-boats sank six ships from the convoy.
Convoy TAG 5 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 5th of the numbered TAG Convoys from Trinidad and Aruba to Guantánamo. The convoy was found on 13 September 1942 by U-558. Kapitänleutnant Günther Krech destroyed three ships from the convoy in two approaches aboard U-558.
Convoy ON 113 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 113th of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The ships departed Liverpool on 17 July 1942 and were joined on 18 July by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group C-2. They were found on 24 July by the eleven U-boats of Wolf pack Wolf. Five ships were sunk before the convoy reached Halifax, Nova Scotia on 31 July.
Convoy SC 19 was the 19th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. The trade convoy left Halifax, Nova Scotia on 12 January 1941 and was found by U-boats of the 7th U-boat Flotilla on 29 January. Seven ships were sunk before the convoy reached Liverpool on 2 February.
Convoy SC 20 was the 20th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. The trade convoy left Halifax on 22 January 1941 and was found by U-boats of the 2nd and 9th Flotillas, operating from Lorient and Brest, respectively. Five ships were sunk before the convoy reached Liverpool on 8 February.
Convoy SL 78 was the 78th of the numbered series of World War II SL convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound to the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean traveled independently to Freetown to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage. Twenty-five merchant ships departed Freetown on 18 June 1941. U-boats sank eight ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 12 July.
Convoy HX 133 was the 133rd of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed Halifax on 16 June 1941, and were found on 23 June by U-boats of the 1st U-boat Flotilla, operating out of Brest, France. U-boats sank six ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 3 July. There was strong criticism of the RCN corvette's signalling capabilities as borne out by the number of collisions that occurred.
Convoy HX 126 was the 126th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool.
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Convoy HX 65 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was the 65th of the numbered series of merchant convoys run by the Allies from Halifax to Liverpool. The convoy was attacked by German U-boats and aircraft, losing eight of its 51 ships sunk and a further three damaged. One U-boat was damaged.
Convoy OG 71 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 71st of the numbered OG convoys Outbound from the British Isles to Gibraltar. The convoy departed Liverpool on 13 August 1941 and was found on 17 August by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor of Kampfgeschwader 40. Starting on August 19, it became the first convoy of the war to be attacked by a German submarine wolfpack, when reached by eight U-boats from 1st U-boat Flotilla, operating out of Brest. Ten ships comprising a total tonnage of 15,185 tons were sunk before the U-boats lost contact on 23 August.
Convoy OG 69 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 69th of the numbered OG convoys Outbound from the British Isles to Gibraltar. The convoy departed Liverpool on 20 July 1941 and was found on 25 July by Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors of Kampfgeschwader 40. Nine ships were sunk by submarine attacks continuing through 30 July.
Convoy SC 100 was a North Atlantic convoy, one of the SC series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was the 100th of the numbered series of slow convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. It came under attack, one of several convoy battles that occurred during the autumn and winter of 1942, losing five ships.
Convoy ON 115 was a trade convoy of 43 merchant ships with 12 escort ships during the Second World War. The convoy departed Liverpool on 24 July 1942 and arrived at Boston on 8 August. Three ships were lost to U-boats during the crossing and two were damaged.
Convoy ON-153 was the 153rd of the numbered series of ON convoys of merchant ships Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The World War II convoy departed Liverpool on 11 December 1942 and was met on 12 December by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. Two merchant ships and the escort group leader were sunk in a North Atlantic battle with U-boat Wolf pack Raufbold before reaching the Western Ocean Meeting Point (WOMP) where the Western Local Escort Force assumed responsibility for the convoy on 23 December. Surviving ships reached New York City on 31 December.
Convoy HX 47 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was the 47th of the numbered series of merchant convoys run by the Allies from Halifax to Liverpool. The convoy was attacked by German U-boats and lost three of its 58 ships.
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