Convoy JW 56A

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Convoy JW 56A was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in January 1944, reaching the Soviet northern ports at the end of the month. Twelve ships arrived safely. During the voyage JW 56A was attacked by a German U-boat force; three ships were sunk and one of the escorts damaged in the operation.

Contents

Ships

The convoy consisted of 20 merchant ships which departed from Loch Ewe on 12 January 1944. Close escort was provided by a force led by Inconstant and two corvettes, with two more destroyers joining later. There was also an Ocean escort, comprising the destroyer Hardy (Capt. WGA Robson commanding) and five other destroyers. The convoy was also accompanied initially by a local escort group from Britain, and was also joined later by a local escort group from Murmansk. A cruiser cover force comprising Kent (R.Adm AFE Palliser), Berwick and Bermuda also followed the convoy, to guard against attack by surface units.

JW 56A was opposed by a U-boat force of 10 boats in a patrol line, code-named Isengrim, in the Norwegian Sea.

Ships In The Convoy

Name [1] FlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Aert Van Der Neer (1942)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7,170Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan 44
Andrew G Curtin (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,200Sunk by U-716 [2] at Akureyri 18 to 21 Jan 44
HMS Bermuda (52) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 23 Jan - 26 Jan. Crown Colony-class light cruiser
HMS Berwick (65) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 23 Jan - 23 Jan. County-class heavy cruiser
HMS Borage (K120) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 18 Jan. Corvette
Charles Bulfinch (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
Charles Scribner (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176
HMS Cygnet (U38) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 15 Jan. Sloop
HMS Dianella (K07) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 27 Jan
Edwin L Drake (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
Empire Ploughman (1943)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,049Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
Fort Bellingham (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,153Damaged by U-360 & finally sunk by U-957. [3] Akureyri 18-21 Jan
Fort Slave (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,134Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
Gremyaschiy Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy Escort 27 Jan - 28 Jan
GrozniNaval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy Escort 27 Jan - 28 Jan
HMS Hardy (R08) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Inconstant (H49) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
Jefferson Davis (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
John A Quitman (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
Joseph N Nicollet (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Returned
HMS Kent (54) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 23 Jan - 26 Jan. County-class heavy cruiser
Nathaniel Alexander (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,177Returned
Noreg (1931)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7,605Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
HMS Obdurate (G39) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 25 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Offa (G29) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Orestes (J277) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 22 Jan. Minesweeper
Penelope Barker (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,177Sunk by U-278 [4]
HMS Poppy (K213) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 27 Jan
RazumnyNaval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy Escort 27 Jan - 28 Jan
HMS Ready (J223) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 22 Jan. Minesweeper
Richard H Alvey (1942)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,191Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
San Adolfo (1935)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,365Escort Oiler Via Akureyri 18-21 Jan
San Cirilo (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,012
San Cirilo (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,012
HMS Savage (G20) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 16 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HNoMS Stord (G26) Flag of Norway, state.svg  Royal Norwegian Navy Escort 16 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
Thorstein Veblen (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176
HMS Venus (R50) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Vigilant (R93) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Virago (R75) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jan - 27 Jan. Destroyer
HMS Wallflower (K44) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 12 Jan - 18 Jan. Corvette
William Tyler Page (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176
Woodbridge N Ferris (1943)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,200

Action

JW 56A departed Loch Ewe on 12 January 1944, accompanied by its local escort, of two minesweepers and two corvettes, and a close escort of three destroyers and two corvettes. Three days out from Loch Ewe, on 15 January, JW 56A ran into a storm, forcing the convoy to shelter at Akureyri in Iceland, which it reached on 18 January. After another three days the storm abated and on 21 January JW 56A was able to depart, though five ships were forced to drop out with storm damage. The convoy was joined on 21 January by Hardy and her group, but the following day the local escort departed, leaving an escort force of ten warships to see the convoy through.

Despite search patrols by German aircraft the convoy was not found in the prevailing gloom of the polar night, but on 25 January JW 56A passed the northernmost U-boat of the patrol line, U-739, which broadcast an alert and commenced shadowing.

Later on 25 January the attack started, continuing throughout the day and following night. The seven boats in contact made a total of seventeen attacks over a twelve-hour period. The first success was a hit by U-360 on the destroyer Obdurate, which was forced to retire with damage. Later U-278 hit Penelope Barker, which sank. Just after midnight U-360 hit Fort Bellingham, which was crippled, and U-716 hit Andrew G Curtin, which sank. Later, at around 5am, U-957 under the command of Gerhard Schaar also hit Fort Bellingham, which was sunk.

All other attacks were beaten off, and during 26 January the convoy was able to shake off further pursuit.

On 27 January JW 56A was met by the local escort, three Soviet destroyers from Murmansk, and the ocean escort detached, to head back through the Isengrim patrol area to meet and re-inforce the following convoy JW 56B. Meanwhile, JW 56A arrived at Kola without further losses on 28 January 1944.

Conclusion

Despite the loss of three ships, and the return of five others, twelve ships had arrived safely, making JW 56A a qualified success. Convoy JW 56A was followed into Murmansk five days later by JW 56B.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Convoy JW.56A". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Andrew G Curtin – American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Fort Bellingham – British steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Penelope Barker – American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

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References

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