Convoy ON 115

Last updated

Convoy ON.115
Part of World War II
Date24 July – 8 August 1942
Location
North Atlantic
Result

German tactical victory

Allied Strategic Victory
Belligerents
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Germany Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Canada
Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz Admiral Sir A J Davies (Commodore)
Strength
13 U-boats 43 merchant ships
12 escorts
Casualties and losses
1 U-boat sunk 3 ships sunk
2 damaged
67 killed

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.

Contents

Name

It was the 115th of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America.

Action

The ships departed Liverpool on 24 July 1942 and were joined on 25 July [1] by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group C-3. They were found on 29 July by the seven U-boats of Wolfpack Wolf. On 31 July U-588 was sunk by the combined efforts of HMCS Skeena and HMCS Wetaskiwin. [2] Six U-boats formed Wolfpack Pirat on 1 August and reached the convoy on 2 August. Three ships were sunk before contact was lost in misty weather on 3 August. [3] Surviving ships reached Boston on 8 August. [1]

Ships in the convoy

Name [1] FlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
HMCS Agassiz Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 31 Jul – 3 Aug Corvette
Agwidale (1918)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 4,763Collision then straggled
Arletta (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,870Straggled and sunk by U-458 [4] on 5 Aug SSW of Cape Race. 36 of the 41 crew died. Survivors were picked up by USS Menemsha (AG-39)
Asbjorn (1935)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,387Bound for Sydney
Athelchief (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,000Bound for Curaçao
Belgian Soldier (1941)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 7,167Torpedoed and damaged by U-553 then straggled and was sunk by U-607 [5] on 4 Aug 21 dead.
Brimanger (1929)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,883Bound for New York City
Cistula (1939)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 8,097Bound for Halifax
Collingsworth (1920)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 5,101Bound for New York City
Corner Brook (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,767Bound for Halifax
Delhi (1925)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4,571Bound for New York City
Dorcasia (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,053Bound for New York City
El Lago (1920)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 4,221Straggled
Emma Bakke (1929)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,72113 passengers, bound for New York City
Empire Heywood (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,030Bound for New York City
Empire Ocean (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,765Ashore 4 Aug 42; Sank in tow 5 Aug 42
Empire Southey (1942)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,041
Empire Spray (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,242Bound for Halifax
Empire Trader (1908)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,990Bound for New York City then Auckland
G S Walden (1935)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,627Tanker. Torpedoed by U-552 [6] on 3 Aug east of Cape Race and towed into St. John's, Newfoundland. 1 dead
HMCS Galt Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Jul – 3 Aug Corvette
Gyda (1934)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,695Bound for Halifax
HMCS Hamilton Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 2 Aug Destroyer
Herbrand (1935)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,108Bound for Halifax
Hoegh Hood (1936)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,351Bound for Halifax
Jamaica Planter (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,098Bound for New York City
Katy (1931)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,825Bound for New York City
HMCS La Malbaie Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 3 – 8 Aug Corvette
Lochkatrine (1922)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,419Freighter. In ballast. Sunk by U-553. [7] 9 dead. Survivors picked up by HMCS Hamilton And HMCS Agassiz
HMCS Louisburg Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Jul – 3 Aug . Took in damaged G S Walden to St. John's, Newfoundland
Lucellum (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,425Returned
Manchester Trader (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,671Bound for Halifax thence Saint John, New Brunswick. Rear-Admiral H C Rawlings (Vice-Commodore)
Montreal City (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,066Bound for New York City
Mount Evans (1919)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,598Bound for New York City
Norsk Tank (1928)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,720Bound for Halifax
Ornefjell (1937)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,334Bound for Halifax
Otina (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,217Bound for Halifax
Pacific Grove (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,11717 Passengers, Bound for New York City. Admiral Sir A J Davies (Commodore)
Regent Panther (1937)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,556Bound for New York City
HMCS Rimouski Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 3 – 8 Aug Corvette
Robert F Hand (1933)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,197Bound for Halifax
HMCS Sackville Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Jul – 4 Aug Corvette
HMCS Saguenay Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Jul – 1 Aug Destroyer
San Ernesto (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,078Bound for New York City
Seminole (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10,389Bound for New York City
HMCS Skeena Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 – 31 Jul Destroyer sunk U-588 with depth charges on 31 Jul
Solfonn (1939)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,925Bound for Aruba
Tilapa (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,392Bound for Halifax
Topdalsfjord (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,271Bound for Hampton Roads
Tudor Prince (1940)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,914Bound for Halifax
USS Swanson Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy Escort. Destroyer
HMS Verity Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 3 – 8 Aug Destroyer
Westland (1931)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 5,8889 Passengers, Bound for New York City
HMCS Wetaskiwin Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Jul – 2 Aug Corvette. Sunk U-588 with depth charges on 31 Jul
HMS Witch Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 2 Aug Destroyer

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Convoy ON.115". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Convoy ON-115 - Convoy Battles - German U-boat Operations - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Rohwer & Hummelchen, pp. 144, 152 & 153
  4. ↑ "Arlette – British steam tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Belgian Soldier – Belgian steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "G S Walden – British motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Lochkatrine – British motor merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2013.

Bibliography

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