Convoy HX 65

Last updated

Convoy HX.65
Part of World War II
Date24–27 August 1940
Location
Belligerents
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg  Kriegsmarine Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz V-Adm. B G Washington (Comm.)
Strength
5 U-boats 51 merchant ships
7 escorts
Casualties and losses
1 U-boat damaged 8 ships sunk
3 damaged

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.

Contents

Background

HX 65 formed of three sections sailing from the Americas, and was to divide into two sections for the landfall in the United Kingdom. The main body, of 13 ships, departed Halifax on 12 August 1940; [1] with ships gathered from the US eastern seaboard; it was led by convoy commodore Vice Admiral BG Washington in the steamship Harpalyce. It was accompanied by its ocean escort, the armed merchant cruiser Voltaire, and a local escort of two Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warships. It was joined on 14 August by 16 ships from Sydney, on Cape Breton Island, also with a local escort. These had gathered from ports on the St Lawrence and the Great Lakes. [2] On 16 August the convoy was joined by BHX 65, 22 ships from the Caribbean and South America, that had gathered at Bermuda, departing there on 11 August escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Montclare. [3]

Ranged against HX 65 were U-boats of the German Navy's 1st, 2nd and 7th U-boat Flotillas, operating from Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.

Action

On 22 August HX 65's Western Approaches escort began to arrive; the destroyer Skeena and the corvette Godetia left the outbound OA 201, arriving later that day. On 24 August the destroyer Westcott and the corvette Gladiolus arrived from OB 201. [4]

On the morning of 24 August, the tanker La Brea (one of two ships that had dropped out of HX 65 five days earlier) was sighted by U-48 in the North West Approaches west northwest of Rockall. She was attacked and sunk, leaving two boats of survivors in bad weather and rough seas. They made landfall in the Hebrides over the next two days. [5] [6]

On the evening of 24 August the convoy divided, one section (referred to in some sources as HX 65A) of 20 ships bound for Methil on Scotland's east coast via Cape Wrath and the north of Scotland, and a second section (HX 65 B) of 22 ships bound for Liverpool.

The Methil section, led by Harpalyce and escorted by Skeena and Godetia was found by U-48, which attacked during the night of 24/25 August, sinking two ships, Empire Merlin and Athelcrest. She was counterattacked by Godetia but escaped without damage. Later, on the morning of 25 August the convoy was sighted twice more, by U-28 and U-32, but the convoy had been joined by a Sunderland from Coastal Command, and both submerged on sighting the aircraft. U-32 made a perfunctory attack, which failed. That evening the convoy was found again, by U-124, and attacked just before midnight. U-124 fired four torpedoes and claimed four ships sunk; the actual success was two ships sunk (Harpalyce and Fircrest) and another (Stakesby) damaged. Harpalyce and Fircrest went down quickly with heavy loss of life. Stakesby was abandoned, but was later salvaged by the tug Thames and repaired. U-124 was counterattacked by Godetia and damaged when she ran onto a rock. After the corvette had left, U-124 was unable to continue convoy operations relegated to weather reporting. [7] Later that day the convoy was reinforced by Jaguar and Javelin, two destroyers from Scapa Flow. [8] On the evening of 26 August the convoy came under air attack near Kinnaird Head by Luftwaffe aircraft from occupied Norway; eight Ju 88s of KG 30 based at Aalborg. four ships were hit; one was sunk and three damaged. Nellie and City of Hankow made port safely, but Cape York sank under tow on the following day. Later on the night of 26/27 August a second air attack by four He 115 torpedo bombers of KuFlGr 506, based in Stavanger, hit Remuera, which sank. The remaining 16 ships arrived at safely at Methil on 27th. [9]

Meanwhile, on 25 August the Liverpool section, led by V.Adm. Leir in Manchester Merchant and escorted by Westcott, was found by U-57 which gave chase. Several tankers had fallen out of the convoy, to be chivvied by the escort, and one of these, Pecten, was torpedoed by U-57. The escort counter-attacked, but U-57 escaped. This section was also reinforced on 26 August, by the sloop Lowestoft. No further attacks developed and the 21 ships arrived without further incident at Liverpool on 27 August. [10] [11]

Conclusion

Of the 51 ships that set out, two turned back and eight were sunk. 41 ships made a safe and timely arrival. HX 65 was one of three HX convoys attacked during August: HX 60 lost 3 ships in one attack, while HX 66 lost 4 ships over three days. During the month as a whole the UBW sank 55 ships in the Atlantic; about half of these were unescorted vessels sailing independently (including ships hit after dispersal, or straggling). [12] August 1940 was the third month seeing a marked increase in successes by the U-boat Arm, referred to by them as "The Happy Time". [12]

Forces involved

Allied forces

Merchant ships

Convoy information is from Arnold Hague's Convoyweb [13]

Merchant ships
NameFlagTonnage (GRT) SectionNotes
Agapenor (1914)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,391HX
Alfred Olsen (1934)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 8,817BHX 65
Anna Mazaraki (1913)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 5,411SHX
Aspasia Nomikos (1938)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,855SHXen route to Dublin
Athelcrest (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,825BHX 65Sunk 25 August by U-48 [14] 30 dead, 6 survivors
Atlantic (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,414HX
Axel Johnson (1925)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4,915SHX
Blairatholl (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,319SHX
British Lord (1922)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,098BHX 65
Canford Chine (1917)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,364SHXReturned to Sydney, Nova Scotia
Cape York (1926)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,027BHX 65Bombed 26 August by Luftwaffe aircraft 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Kinnaird Head near Peterhead [15] sank under tow 27th.
Cetus (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,614HX
Chama (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,077BHX 65
City of Hankow (1915)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,360SHXBombed 26 August, but made port
Conus (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,132BHX 65
Cymbula (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,082BHX 65
Eclipse (1931)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,767BHX 65
Empire Merlin (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,763BHX 65Straggled: [16] sunk 25 August by U-48 [17] 35 dead, 1 survivor
F J Wolfe (1932)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12,190BHX 65
Fernbank (1924)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,333HX
Fircrest (1907)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,394HXCargo of iron ore. Torpedoed amidships by U-124 [18] and sank very rapidly. All 40 crew died
Gard (1938)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 8,259HX
Gitano (1921)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,956HX
Harpalyce (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,169HXSunk 25 August by U-124. [19]

42 of 47 crew dead. Vice-Admiral B G Washington CMG DSO (Commodore)

Housatonic (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,559HX
Inverlee (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,158BHX 65
Juno (1908)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,763SHX
La Brea (1916)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,665BHX 65Straggled 19 August, sunk 24th by U-48. [20] 2 dead, 31 survivors
Lodestone (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,877BHX 65
Manchester Merchant (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,264SHXRear-Admiral E W Leir DSO (Vice-Commodore)
Maplewood (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,566HX
Nellie (1913)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,826SHXBombed 26 August but made port
Nerissa (1926)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,583HXArmed passenger/cargo steamer carrying 190 Canadian troops from Newfoundland.
Nikoklis (1921)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 3,576HX
Nordlys (1916)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,726SHX
Pecten (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,468BHX 65Straggled and sunk 25 August by U-57. [21] 48 dead with 8 survivors.
Prins Maurits (1936)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,287SHX
Rangitane (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 16,712BHX 65
Reedpool (1924)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,848HX
Regent Panther (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,556BHX 65
Remuera (1911)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 11,445BHX 65Sunk 26 August by Luftwaffe aircraft off Rattray Head. All 93 crew and one gunner were saved, some by Fraserburgh lifeboat. [22]
Sitala (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,218BHX 65
Solarium (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,239BHX 65
Stakesby (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,900HXTorpedoed 25 Aug by U-124 [23] Salvaged
Statesman (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,939BHX 65
Taria (1939)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 10,354BHX 65
Torr Head (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,021SHX
Torvanger (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,568HX
Uskbridge (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,715SHXReturned to Sydney, Nova Scotia
Welsh Prince (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,148HX
Winkleigh (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,468BHX 65

Escort

Escort information is from Arnold Hague's Convoyweb [24]

Escort ships
NameFlagShip TypeNotes
HMCS Assiniboine Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy C-class destroyer Halifax local escort, 12 Aug – 13 Aug
HMCS FrenchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy AuxiliaryHalifax local escort, 12 Aug – 13 Aug
HMS Gladiolus Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette Western Approaches escort, 24 Aug – 27 Aug
HMS Godetia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette Western Approaches escort, 22 Aug – 27 Aug
HMS Jaguar Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy J-class destroyer Reinforcement, 26 Aug – 27 Aug
HMS Javelin Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy J-class destroyer Reinforcement, 26 Aug – 27 Aug
HMCS LaurierNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy AuxiliarySydney local escort, 12 Aug – 14 Aug
HMS Lowestoft Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Grimsby-class sloop Reinforcement, 26 Aug – 27 Aug
HMS Montclare Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Armed merchant cruiser Ocean escort, 11 Aug – 16 Aug
HMCS Saguenay Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy River-class destroyerSydney local escort, 12 Aug – 14 Aug
HMCS Skeena Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy River-class destroyerWestern Approaches escort, 22 Aug – 27 Aug
HMS Voltaire Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Armed merchant cruiser Ocean escort, 12 Aug – 23 Aug
HMS Westcott Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy V and W-class destroyer Western Approaches escort, 24 Aug – 27 Aug

Axis forces

NumberTypeNavyContact dateNotes
U-28 VIIA Kriegsmarine 25 August 1940 
U-32 VIIA Kriegsmarine 25 August 1940 
U-48 VIIB Kriegsmarine 24 August 1940 
U-57 IIC Kriegsmarine 25 August 1940 
U-124 IXB Kriegsmarine 25 August 1940 

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References

  1. Hague, p. 126
  2. Hague, Arnold; HX 65 at convoyweb.org.uk
  3. Hague, Arnold; BHX 65 at convoyweb.org.uk
  4. Hague lists Gladiolus as escort for OB 201 with Westcott, but not joining HX 65. Uboat.net has Gladiolus joining HX 65 with Westcott on 24th, but from OA 201.
  5. Blair p. 181
  6. HX 65 at uboat.net; retrieved 19 April 2020
  7. Blair p181-182
  8. HX 65A at uboat.net; retrieved 19 April 2020
  9. Hague, Arnold; HX 65 at convoyweb.org.uk
  10. Blair p184
  11. HX 65B at uboat.net; retrieved 19 April 2020
  12. 1 2 Tarrant p.89
  13. "Convoy HX.65". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  14. "Athelcrest – British steam tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  15. "mv Cape York". Clydebuilt database. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. Hague lists Empire Merlin as a straggler; Uboat.net states she was in convoy when hit
  17. "Empire Merlin – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  18. "Fircrest – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  19. "Harpalyce – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  20. "La Brea – British steam tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  21. "Pecten – British motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  22. "RMS Remuera [+1940]". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  23. "Stakesby – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  24. "Convoy HX.65". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 4 November 2013.

Bibliography