Convoy ON 92

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Convoy ON 92
Part of the Battle of the Atlantic of World War II
USS Gleaves (DD-423) underway on 18 June 1941 (513043).jpg
USS Gleaves, 18 June 1941
Date6–21 May 1942
Location
Result German victory
Belligerents
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada
Commanders and leaders
BdU:War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Karl Dönitz Comm: Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg R Gill
SOE: Flag of the United States.svg J Heffernan
Strength
9 submarines 1 destroyer
4 corvettes
1 cutter
46 merchant ships
Casualties and losses
None 9 killed
7 merchant ships sunk
1 merchant ship damaged

Convoy ON 92 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the Second World War. It was the 92nd of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The ships departed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942 [1] and were joined on 7 May [2] by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3.

Contents

The convoy was discovered by Wolfpack Hecht on 11 May; seven ships were sunk before the U-boats lost contact with the convoy on 13 May. [3] Surviving ships reached Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 May. [1]

Prelude

ON 92 was a west-bound convoy of 42 ships, either in ballast or carrying trade goods, and sailed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942 bound for ports in North America. The convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill in Southern Princess.

It was escorted by mid-ocean escort group A-3, comprising the United States Navy destroyer Gleaves (Capt. J Heffernan as Senior Officer Escort), the United States Coast Guard cutter Spencer, and four Royal Canadian Navy corvettes Algoma, Arvida, Bittersweet and Shediac. The convoy was supported by a rescue ship, the North Sea packet Bury. [4] Two of the merchant ships were equipped as CAM ships, with a catapult-launched Hurricane fighter as temporary air cover. Heffernan had a background in destroyers and anti-submarine warfare but was inexperienced in convoy protection, as was his group. Only Bittersweet had the new 10 cm radar, and only the rescue ship Bury had HF/DF. [5] [6]

ON 92's passage was barred by the patrol group "Hecht", comprising six Type VII U-boats. Of these two commanders were experienced Knight's Cross holders, while the others were on their first Atlantic patrol. [5]

Action

After making rendezvous with its ocean escort ON 92 proceeded west, following along the great circle route to reduce distance. However German intelligence ( B-Dienst ) was aware of its passage, and U-boat Command (BdU) was able to send group "Hecht" in pursuit. On the morning of 11 May U-569 made contact and began to shadow. Its transmissions were detected by Bury, which was confirmed by the Admiralty that afternoon but Heffernan made no response until 1700, when he led Gleaves and Spencer in a wide sweep around the convoy. At 1749 Gleaves sighted a U-boat 17 miles (27 km) ahead and both proceeded to attack, continuing until after midnight. [7] Meanwhile two more U-boats were in contact, U-94 and U-124, both commanded by Knights Cross holders. After sunset the commodore ordered evasive maneuvers, but without success, and at 2300 U-124 attacked, sinking Empire Dell and damaging Llanover. [8] A second attack by U-124 hit Mount Parnes and Cristales, while U-94 hit Cocles. Algoma sighted one and counter-attacked but with no success. At this point Gleaves and Spencer rejoined the convoy and no more attacks developed. Arvida and Shediac were able to pick up survivors, with Bury. [9]

On 12 May the three U-boats in contact were joined by three more "Hecht" boats, U-96, U-406 and U-590, and all six continued to shadow. At 1300 Heffernan again detached Gleaves and Spencer in a sweep around the convoy; at 1943 Spencer sighted two U-boats 27 miles (43 km) northwest of the convoy, and engaged with gunfire, while at the same time Gleaves made a sonar contact 18 miles (29 km) southeast and again began an anti-submarine hunt.

At 2253 the U-boats around the convoy attacked again, U-94 hitting Batna. She was counter-attacked by Bittersweet, but escaped. Both ships with both firing star shell, which brought Gleaves and Spencer back to the convoy. At 0310 on 13 May U-94 had a final success, hitting Tolken, but was driven off by defensive gunfire from the merchant. At this point foul weather closed in and the pack lost contact.

No further attacks developed and on 13 May Bury, with 178 survivors on board, was detached to St Johns, escorted by Arvida. [10] The convoy was joined by units of Western Local Escort Force on 17 May and made port at Halifax on 21 May. [5]

Aftermath

ON 92 lost seven ships of a total of 42 that set out. The Admiralty and Western Approaches Command (WAC) were unimpressed with Heffernan's performance, particularly as he described it in his report as a success, commenting "all escorts are entitled to credit for a highly satisfactory performance." WAC disagreed, feeling the group had "failed lamentably" in its defence of ON 92. The commodores report sums up the episode by commenting "Gleaves was never there when ON 92 was attacked." [10] After this Heffernan was moved to other duties, with leadership of A-3 being passed to USCG commander P Heineman of the cutter Campbell. [5]

BdU had reason to be pleased with the sinking of seven merchant ships from the convoy, although this was the only successful attack on any North Atlantic convoy in the month of May. It was also noticeable that the only success fell to the two experienced commanders; the other four "Hecht" skippers achieved nothing. [11]

Ships in the convoy

Merchant ships

Name [12] FlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Achilles (1906)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,815Bound for St John's, Newfoundland
Alex (1914)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,932Bound for Halifax
Batna (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,399Sunk By U-94 [13] SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury
Belinda (1939)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 8,325Bound for Corpus Christi, Texas
British Power (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,451Bound for Houston
Bury (1911)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,686 Convoy rescue ship bound for Halifax. Carrying equipment for High-frequency direction finding
Carras (1918)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 5,234Bound for Father Point, Quebec
Chagres (1919)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,545Bound for Boston
Clearpool (1935)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,404Bound for Father Point, Quebec
Cocle (1920)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,630Sunk By U-94 [14] on 12 May 740 nautical miles (1,370 km) SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 5 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland.
Cristales (1926)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,389Sunk by U-124 [15] on 12 May SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead. Abandoned and sunk by gunfire from HMCS Shediac. Survivors picked up by Shediac and USCGC Spencer and landed at Boston.
Dean Emery (1919)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 6,664Bound for Beaumont, Texas
Dimitrios Chandris (1910)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,643Returned
Dorcasia (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,053Bound for Houston
Dorington Court (1939)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,281Bound for New York City
Elisabeth Lensen (1910)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,212Bound for Father Point, Quebec
Empire Antelope (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,945Bound for Halifax. Ship's Master is Vice-Commodore
Empire Chamois (1918)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,684Bound for Baltimore
Empire Clive (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,069 CAM Ship. Bound for Halifax
Empire Dell (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,065 CAM ship. Sunk by U-124 [16] on 12 May. 2 dead. Survivors picked up by HMCS Shediac and Bury, and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland
Empire Wolfe (1941)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,888Bound for Halifax
Errington Court (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,913Bound for River Clyde
Evanger (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,869
Fort Binger (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,671With torpedo damage (uxb), in the port bow, from U-588 [17] on 18 May. 1 dead. Fog closed in, so U-boat lost contact and the Fort Binger docked for repairs in Yarmouth before making it to Halifax [18]
Gazcon (1932)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,224
Grey Lag (1910)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 3,312Bound for Halifax
Ivan Topic (1920)Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 4,943Bound for New York City
Juno (1908)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,763Bound for New York City
Langleebrook (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,246Bound for New York City
Lisbeth (1922)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,732Bound for Halifax
Llanover (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,959Sunk by U-124 [19] SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland on 12 May. 0 Dead. Scuttled by HMCS Arvida. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland
Mount Parnes (1917)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,371Sunk by U-124 [20] on 12 May 650 nautical miles (1,200 km) SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead.
Mount Rhodope (1919)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 5,182Bound for Montreal
Mount Taurus (1920)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 6,696Bound for Montreal
Portsea (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,583Bound for Pictou
Ragnhild (1941)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,866Bound for Father Point, Quebec
San Ambrosio (1935)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,410
Selvik (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,557
Selvistan (1924)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,136Bound for Halifax
Solarium (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,239Bound for Baton Rouge
Southern Princess (1915)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,156Bound for Boston. Capt R Gill CBE Rd RNR (Commodore)
Spokane (1929)Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 2,882Bound for Charleston, South Carolina
Suecia (1912)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4,966Returned
Titanian (1924)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,880Bound for Father Point, Quebec
Tolken (1922)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4,471Sunk by U-94 [21] 675 nautical miles (1,250 km) SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 0 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland
Zypenberg (1920)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4,973Bound for New York City

Convoy escorts

NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft
USS Gleaves Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy Gleaves-class destroyer 7 May 194218 May 1942
USCGC Spencer [4] United States Coast Guard Treasury-class cutter 7 May 194218 May 1942
HMCS Algoma Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette 7 May 194218 May 1942
HMCS Arvida Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette 7 May 194214 May 1942
HMCS Bittersweet Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette 7 May 194218 May 1942
HMCS Shediac Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette 7 May 194216 May 1942

U-boats

The convoy was attacked by Wolfpack Hecht, which consisted of U-boats, namely:

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References

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  2. "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
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  4. 1 2 Milner, p.113
  5. 1 2 3 4 Blair p.599
  6. Edwards p.62
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  8. Edwards p.66
  9. Edwards p.67
  10. 1 2 Edwards p.68
  11. Blair p.601
  12. "Convoy ON.92". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  13. "Batna – British Steam Merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  14. "Cocle – Panamanian steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  15. "Cristales – British steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  16. "Empire Dell – British Catapult armed merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  17. "Fort Binger – British steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  18. "SS Fort Binger torpedoed, damaged by U-588/Vogel 17 May 1942,Free French crew tried to ram, fought sub off". ericwilberg.com. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  19. "Llanover – British steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  20. "Mount Parnes – Greek steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  21. "Tolken – Swedish steam merchant". uboat.net. Retrieved 7 November 2013.

Bibliography