Convoy SC 20

Last updated

Convoy SC.20
Part of World War II
Date22 January 1941 – 8 February 1941
Location
Belligerents
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Germany Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Royal Canadian Navy
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz
Strength
~3 U-boats 48 merchant ships
7 escorts
Casualties and losses
5 ships sunk
1 Damaged

Convoy SC 20 was the 20th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. The trade convoy left Halifax on 22 January 1941 [1] and was found by U-boats of the 2nd and 9th Flotillas, operating from Lorient and Brest, respectively. Five ships were sunk before the convoy reached Liverpool on 8 February. [2]

Contents

Ships in the convoy

Name [3] FlagTonnage (GRT) Notes
Alcor (1920)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3,526
Allende (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,081
HMS Arbutus Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 4 Feb - 8 Feb
Corvette
Baron Ogilvy (1926)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,391
Baron Yarborough (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,388
Bernhard (1924)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,563Returned with engine defects and a sick man
Biafra (1933)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,405
Blairesk (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,300
Calafatis (1917)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,443Romped and sunk by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 naval bomber, of I./KG.40, with the loss of 18 of her 31 crew [4]
HMS Camellia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 4 Feb - 8 Feb
Corvette
Cape Corso (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,807
Copeland (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,526Rescue ship
Coryton (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,553
Coultarn (1938)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,759
Dione II (1936)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,660Romped and sunk by U-93 [5] on 4 Feb
Einar Jarl (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,858
Emmy (1914)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 3,895Returned
Empire Engineer (1921)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,358Straggled and sunk by U-123 [6] On 4 Feb
HMS Erica Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 4 Feb - 08 Feb
Evviva (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,597Returned
Flensburg (1922)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 6,421
Flowergate (1911)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,161Arrived with furnace defects
Fylingdale (1924)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,918
Hadleigh (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,222
HMS Harvester Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 4 Feb - 8 Feb
Destroyer
Ila (1939)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,583Returned
Inger Toft (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,190
Ingertre (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,462
Ioannis M Embiricos (1934)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 3,734Bombed and sunk northwest of Ireland, by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 naval bomber, of I./KG.40 [7]

She was en route from Montreal to Preston with lumber.

Kordecki (1930)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1,975Returned
Lars Kruse (1923)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,807
Lylepark (1929)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,186Returned
Maclaren (1915)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,350Wrecked, salvaged, repaired
Manchester Division (1918)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,048
Maplecourt (1894)Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 3,388Sunk by U-107 [8] On 4 Feb
Maplewood (1930)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,566Capt A G Maundrell (Commodore)
Mathilda (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,650
Milcrest (1919)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,283
Myson (1927)Flag of France.svg  France 4,564
Narocz (1915)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1,795Returned
HMCS Otter Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 22 Jan - 23 Jan
Armed yacht
HMS Philante Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 4 Feb - 8 Feb
Armed yacht, acting as convoy escort vessel
Pilar De Larrinaga (1918)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,046
Pontypridd (1924)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,458
Quistconck (1918)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,144
Ranella (1912)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5,590Straggler from BHX 104
HMS Ranpura Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy Escort 22 Jan - 4 Feb
Armed merchant cruiser
Rolf Jarl (1920)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,917
Rozenburg (1918)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2,068Returned
Selbo (1921)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,778
Sevill (1921)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,383
Sinnington Court (1928)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,910Returned
Telesfora De Larrinaga (1920)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,780
Trident (1917)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,317
Willesden (1925)Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,563

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References

  1. Hague pp.133&134
  2. Blair, p.233
  3. "Convoy SC.20". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. "SS Calafatis [+1941]". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. "Dione II – British Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  6. "Empire Engineer – British Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  7. "SS Ioannis M. Embiricos (+1941)". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  8. "Maplecourt – Canadian Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 October 2013.

Bibliography