Convoy OG 69

Last updated

Convoy OG.69
Part of World War II
Date19 July – 1 August 1941
Location
Belligerents
War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945.svg Germany Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz
Strength
8 U-boats
2 Italian submarines
28 merchant ships
17 escorts
Casualties and losses
9 ships sunk

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 [1] 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. [2]

Contents

Submarines

The convoy was initially located by German Naval signals intelligence (B-Dienst), then visual confirmation was provided by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 aircraft. A total of 10 boats were directed to intercept the convoy eight U-boats from Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine and two submarines from Fascist Italy's Regia Marina .

NameTypeFirst contactShips sunkShips damagedNotes
U-68 IXC 26 July 1940none 
U-79 VIIC 26/27 July 1940Kelwin 
U-126 IXC26/27 July 1940Erato, Inga I, 
U-203 VIIC26/27 July 1940Hawkinge, Lapland, Norita 
U-331 VIICnonenone 
U-561 VIIC27 July 1940Wrotham 
U-562 VIICnonenone 
U-564 VIICnonenone 
Barbarigo Marcello-class submarine ?22 July 1940none [2]
Pietro Calvi Calvi-class submarine nonenone [2]

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

A total of 28 merchant vessels joined the convoy in Liverpool, with some being sunk after detaching from the convoy to head to other destinations. [3]

NameFlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Adjutant (1922)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,931Bound for Gibraltar
Afghanistan (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,992Bound for Cape Town
Arabistan (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,874Bound for Cape Town
Charlbury (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,836Bound for Rio de Janeiro
City of Lyons (1926)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,063Bound for Cape Town
Como (1910)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,295Bound for Lisbon
Dayrose (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,113In ballast
Empire Dawn (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,241Bound for Cape Town
Empire Voice (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,828Bound for Cape Town
Erato (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,335Sunk by U-126 [4] on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors, including the ship's Master, were picked up by HMS Begonia (K66) and landed in Gibraltar
Capt C M Ford Rd RNR (Commodore)
Hawkinge (1924)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,475Sunk by U-203 [5] on 27 Jul. There were 15 dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Sunflower (K41) and HMS Vanoc (H33)
Inga I (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,304Torpedoed, broke in two, and sunk by U-126 [6] on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors were picked up by one of the escorts and landed in Gibraltar
Kellwyn (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,459Sunk by U-79 [7] on 27 Jul. There were 14 dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMT St.Nectan
Lapland (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,330Sunk by U-203 [8] on 28 Jul. There were no dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Rhododendron (K78).
Larchbank (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,151Bound for Cape Town
Norita (1924)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,516Sunk by U-203 [9] on 28 Jul. There were 2 dead
Pelayo (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,345Bound for Gibraltar
Rhineland (1922)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,381Bound for Lisbon
Romney (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,840Bound for Alexandria
Ruth I (1900)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,531Bound for Cadiz
Shahristan (1945)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,30968 Passengers. Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by U-371 [10] on 30 Jul SE of the Azores, after detaching from the convoy
Sheaf Crown (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,868Bound for Huelva
Shuna (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,575Returned
Sitoebondo (1916)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7,049Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by U-371 [11] on 30 Jul after detaching from the convoy. There were 19 dead.
Thistlegorm (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,898Bound for Cape Town
Tintern Abbey (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,471
Wrotham (1927)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,884Torpedoed, and sank in 30 seconds, by U-561 [12] on 27 Jul. There were no dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMS Fleur de Lys (K122) and HMS Rhododendron (K78) and landed in Gibraltar
Yorkwood (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,401Bound for Cape Town

Convoy escorts

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

NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft
HMS Alisma (K185) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
HMS Begonia (K66) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 194128 Jul 1941
HMS Black Swan (L57) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Black Swan-class sloop 19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Dianella (K07)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
HMT Drangey (FY195)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) trawler 20 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 27 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS GoodwinNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Armed boarding vessel 19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Jasmine (K23)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS Kingcup (K33)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
HMT Lady Hogarth (FY489) [13] Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW trawler 27 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMT Lady Shirley (FY464) [14] Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW trawler 27 Jul 194131 Jul 1941
HMS Larkspur (K82)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMT Paynter (FY242)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW trawler 19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Pimpernel (K71)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS Rhododendron (K78) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 194130 Jul 1941
HMT St NectanNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy ASW trawler 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS Sunflower (K41)Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 194127 Jul 1941

See also

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References

  1. Hague, pp.175&176
  2. 1 2 3 Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.74
  3. 1 2 "Convoy OG.69". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. "Erato – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. "Hawkinge – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. "Inga I – Norwegian steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. "Kellwyn – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. "Lapland – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  9. "Norita – Swedish steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. "Shahristan – British Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  11. "Sitoebondo – Dutch steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  12. "Wrotham – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  13. "Lady Hogarth". Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  14. "Lady Shirley". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2017.

Bibliography