Convoy HX 237

Last updated
Convoy HX 237
Part of World War II
Date9–13 May 1943
Location
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Germany Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Canada
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz Comm: R Gill
C-2 Group: EH Chavasse
Strength
19 U-boats 47 ships
5 escorts
Casualties and losses
3 U-boats destroyed
144 dead
3 ships sunk
(21,389 GRT)
58 dead

HX 237 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was one of several convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of May 1943.

Contents

Background

HX 237 was an east bound convoy of 47 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New York on 1 May 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials. Convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill RNR in Pacific Enterprise. Mid-Ocean Escort Force group C2 joined the convoy from St. John's on 7 May. Escort group C2 was led by Cdr EH Chavasse in destroyer Broadway; other ships of this group were frigate Lagan and three corvettes. These were joined on the same day by a Support Group, SG 5, comprising escort carrier Biter and four destroyers.

Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were the patrol lines Rhein, Elbe and Drossel, though although in the event only Rhein and Drossel, comprising 19 U-boats, engaged HX 237. [1]

Action

First contact was made on 9 May by U-359, which called up other boats from Rhein and commenced shadowing. U-359 was attacked by an escort, and lost contact, but the following day, 10 May, contact was regained by U-454. She also was driven off, by aircraft from Biter, but by evening a number of U-boats from both groups were in contact and began their attack. These were unable to penetrate the escort screen, though three ships that had become separated were sunk; the Liberty ship Fort Concord, sunk by U-403 and U-456 in the early hours of 11 May; the Norwegian tanker Sandanger, sunk by U-221 on 12 May, and Norwegian freighter Brand, sunk by U-603 on the night of 12/13 May. [2]

On 12 May U-89 was sighted by a Swordfish from Biter and destroyed by Broadway and Lagan. [3] [4] Later the same day HX 237 came within range of Coastal Command aircraft, and Biter and her group detached to go to the aid of SC 129, which was coming under attack 200 miles to the south-west. That night U-456 was attacked by a Liberator flying at long range. The aircraft used FIDO, a new and secret homing torpedo, on the rapidly diving U-boat; she was damaged, but was able to surface and drive off the aircraft with anti-aircraft fire. The Liberator was able to summon help, however, and the next morning the destroyer Opportune found U-456 and attacked. The U-boat crash-dived, but was not seen again; it was later presumed she had been fatally damaged by the aircraft attack, the first instance of a U-boat being sunk by FIDO. [3] [5]

On 13 May U-753 was found and attacked by a Sunderland, but the U-boat chose not to dive to escape, driving off the aircraft with flak. The Sunderland commenced circling and summoned help, which came in the form of Lagan and Drumheller. As U-753 dived away the Sunderland attacked with depth charges, followed by depth charges from the two ships. Nothing more was heard from U-753 and post-war analysis credited the aircraft and two ships with her destruction. [3] [6]

With these losses, and little success in breaching the convoy's defences, BdU called off the attack.

HX 237 continued without further interference and arrived at Liverpool on 17 May 1943.

Ships in the convoy

Name [7] FlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Aedanus Burke (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
Alcoa Trader (1920)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 4,986
Avristan (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,266
Belgian Gulf (1929)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 8,237
HMS Biter Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 7 May - 13 May
Escort carrier
Braga (1938)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,671Uk For Iceland
Brand (1927)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,819Straggled and sunk by U-603 on 12 May
British Valour (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,952Escort Oiler
HMS Broadway Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
HMCS Chambly Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
Corvette
City Of Dundee (1921)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,273
City Of Eastbourne (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,563
Clan Macarthur (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,528
Consuelo (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,847Vice-Commodore
Delhi (1925)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4,571
Dorcasia (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,053
Dromore (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,096
HMCS Drumheller Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
Corvette
Empire Emerald (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,032
Ernebank (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,388
Fort Aklavik (1943)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,132
Fort Concord (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,138Straggled 7 May, Sunk 11 May by U-403 and U-456
Frontenac (1928)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,350
G C Brovig (1930)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,718
Gdynia (1934)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,636
Gulfwing (1928)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 10,217Escort Oiler
Henry Villard (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176
Herbrand (1935)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,108
James Turner (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,177
John F Appleby (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,181
Joseph Warren (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Fitted With Anti-torpedo Net Device (AND)
HMS Kirkella Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 16 May - 17 May
ASW trawler
Kong Sverre (1941)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,238
Lady Rodney (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,194Halifax to St. John's, Newfoundland
HMS Lagan Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
Frigate
Laurent Meeus (1930)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 6,429
Leerdam (1921)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 8,815
Magdala (1931)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 8,248
HMCS Morden Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
Corvette
Mormacmar (1920)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 5,453
Moses Cleaveland (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176
HMCS Noranda Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 1 May - 4 May
Norefjord (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,082
Norholm (1941)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,813
Northern Sun (1931)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 8,865
HMS Obdurate Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 9 May - 13 May
Destroyer
Opalia (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,195
HMS Opportune Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 9 May - 13 May
Destroyer
Pacific Enterprise (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,736Capt R Gill CBE Rd RNR (Commodore)
HMS Pathfinder Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 9 May - 13 May
Destroyer
HMS Primrose Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 7 May - 16 May
Corvette
Richard Hovey (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Fitted With Anti-torpedo Net Device (AND)
Saint Bertrand (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,522
Sandanger (1938)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,432Straggled 8 May and sunk by U-221
Spinanger (1927)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,429Escort Oiler
HNoMS St. Albans Flag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy Escort 4 May - 7 May
Destroyer
Stanmore (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,970
Stephen A Douglas (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
Strinda (1937)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 10,973Escort Oiler
HMCS Timmins Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 1 May - 6 May
Corvette
HMCS Trail Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 1 May - 7 May
Corvette
Trondheim (1939)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 8,258
USS Yukon Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy 5,970Store ship
Warfield (1917)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,070
Wendell Phillips (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Joined Convoy ON 180 & returned St. John's, Newfoundland
Winona (1919)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,197Returned to St. John's, Newfoundland

Aftermath

HX 237 was seen as a success by the Allies. Three ships had been lost, but 38 ships arrived safely; another four had been forced to return and two had detached to other destinations. [8] In return, three U-boats had been destroyed, though two of these were unconfirmed at the time. Several others had been damaged and forced to return to base. The convoy was another in a series of set-backs suffered by the U-boat Arm, collectively known as Black May.

Notes

  1. Blair p327
  2. Blair p328
  3. 1 2 3 Kemp p116
  4. Neistle p44
  5. Neistle p67
  6. Neistle p87
  7. "Convoy HX.237". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  8. Hague p

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References