Convoy HX 231
Convoy HX 231 was the 231st of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 25 March 1943 and were met on 31 March by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. The convoy was found on 4 April and attacked by eleven U-boats of the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th U-boat flotillas, operating out of Brest, La Rochelle, St Nazaire and Lorient, respectively. The U-boats sank six ships before losing contact on 7 April. Surviving ships reached Liverpool on 10 April.[1]
Convoy HX.231 | |||||
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Part of World War II | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||
Admiral Karl Dönitz | Admiral Sir C G Ramsey KCB (Commodore) | ||||
Strength | |||||
11 U-boats |
67 merchant ships 19 escorts | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
6 ships sunk |
Ships in the convoy[2]
Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
HMS Alisma (K185) | ![]() |
Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette | |
Amastra (1935) | ![]() |
8,031 | |
Ancylus (1935) | ![]() |
8,017 | |
Aruba (1929) | ![]() |
3,979 | Arrived with rudder damage |
Asbjorn (1935) | ![]() |
4,387 | |
Athelregent (1930) | ![]() |
8,881 | |
Athos (1937) | ![]() |
8,267 | |
Atlantida (1924) | ![]() |
4,191 | |
Beaverhill (1928) | ![]() |
10,041 | |
Blitar (1923) | ![]() |
7,065 | Romped and sunk by U-632[3] On 6 Apr, after an earlier unsuccessful attack the previous day by U-229. 26 dead |
British Ardour (1928) | ![]() |
7,124 | Escort Oiler. Sunk by U-706[4] On 5 April. 0 dead |
British Confidence (1936) | ![]() |
8,494 | |
HMS Buxton (H96) | ![]() |
Escort 27–31 March, Destroyer | |
HMCS Chicoutimi | ![]() |
Escort 27–31 March, Corvette | |
City of Lyons (1926) | ![]() |
7,063 | |
Clan Cameron (1937) | ![]() |
7,243 | |
HMS Eclipse | ![]() |
Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer | |
Eli Whitney (1942) | ![]() |
7,181 | |
Empire Chief (1897) | ![]() |
8,040 | Tanker carrying fuel oil |
Empire Coleridge (1942) | ![]() |
9,798 | Tanker carrying petrol. Fitted with AND |
Empire Dickens (1942) | ![]() |
9,819 | Tanker carrying petrol |
Empire Marvell (1941) | ![]() |
9,812 | Tanker carrying petrol & paraffin |
Erin (1932) | ![]() |
5,841 | |
Esso Dover (1921) | ![]() |
8,880 | |
F J Wolfe (1932) | ![]() |
12,190 | Escort Oiler. Returned |
Fort Finlay (1942) | ![]() |
7,134 | |
Fort Jemseg (1943) | ![]() |
7,134 | |
Fort Thompson (1942) | ![]() |
7,134 | |
HMS Fury | ![]() |
Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer | |
Geo W McKnight (1933) | ![]() |
12,502 | |
Georgian (1920) | ![]() |
5,825 | |
HMS Icarus | ![]() |
Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer | |
HMS Inglefield | ![]() |
Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer | |
Jamaica Planter (1936) | ![]() |
4,098 | Vice-Commodore |
Joel R Poinsett (1943) | ![]() |
7,176 | |
Katy (1931) | ![]() |
6,825 | |
HMCS Kenora (J281) | ![]() |
Escort 25 Mar – 28 Mar. Minesweeper | |
Kent (1918) | ![]() |
8,697 | |
Lady Rodney (1929) | ![]() |
8,194 | Halifax to St John's, Newfoundland |
Laurelwood (1929) | ![]() |
7,347 | |
Lochmonar (1924) | ![]() |
9,412 | Returned |
HMS Loosestrife (K105) | ![]() |
Escort 31 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette Landed 72 Survivors from Waroonga at Londonderry Port on 9 Apr 43 | |
Manchester Port (1935) | ![]() |
7,071 | |
HMCS Milltown (J317) | ![]() |
Escort 27–31 March, Minesweeper | |
Mobilgas (1937) | ![]() |
9,925 | |
Mosdale (1939) | ![]() |
3,022 | |
HMS Narvik (LST3044) | ![]() |
Escort 09 Apr – 10 Apr. Tank Landing ship | |
Nassa (1942) | ![]() |
8,134 | Fitted with AND |
Noah Webster (1943) | ![]() |
7,176 | Returned |
Norheim (1941) | ![]() |
9,816 | |
Norvinn (1930) | ![]() |
6,322 | |
Ocean Volunteer (1942) | ![]() |
7,174 | |
Ornefjell (1937) | ![]() |
1,334 | Bound For Halifax |
Pandorian (1941) | ![]() |
4,159 | |
Pierre Soule (1943) | ![]() |
7,191 | |
HMS Pink (K137) | ![]() |
Escort 29 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette | |
Pleiades (1939) | ![]() |
3,600 | |
Port Sydney (1914) | ![]() |
9,129 | |
HMCS Quesnel | ![]() |
Escort 25 Mar – 31 Mar. Corvette | |
Raphael Semmes (1942) | ![]() |
6,165 | |
Reinholt (1939) | ![]() |
4,799 | |
Salland (1920) | ![]() |
6,447 | |
Saluta (1906) | ![]() |
6,261 | Returned |
San Adolfo (1935) | ![]() |
7,365 | |
San Ambrosio (1935) | ![]() |
7,410 | |
Santa Maria (1942) | ![]() |
6,507 | |
HMCS Saskatoon | ![]() |
Escort 25 Mar – 28 Mar. Corvette | |
Scebeli (1937) | ![]() |
3,025 | Detached and independent 1 Apr |
Shillong (1939) | ![]() |
5,529 | Sunk by U-630[5] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack. 71 Dead |
Slemmestad (1928) | ![]() |
4,258 | |
HMS Snowflake (K211) | ![]() |
Escort 31 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette Landed 54 Survivors from British Ardour At Londonderry Port | |
Sovac (1938) | ![]() |
6,724 | |
Stephen C Foster (1943) | ![]() |
7,106 | |
Sunoil (1927) | ![]() |
9,005 | Straggler zig-zagging on 4 Apr due to engine trouble. Sunk by U-530[6] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-563 in an earlier attack. All 69 Crew Dead |
HMS Tay | ![]() |
Escort 31 March – 9 April, Frigate | |
Thomas Sumter (1942) | ![]() |
7,177 | Romped |
Tjibadak (1929) | ![]() |
7,083 | |
Torr Head (1937) | ![]() |
5,021 | |
Tulsa (1919) | ![]() |
5,083 | |
Tyndareus (1916) | ![]() |
11,361 | Admiral Sir C G Ramsey KCB (Commodore) |
USS Merak | ![]() |
6,982 | Stores and passenger ship. 138 Passengers |
Vaalaren (1936) | ![]() |
3,406 | Romped 4 Apr. Sunk by U-229[7] On 5 Apr. All 38 crew dead |
HMS Vidette | ![]() |
Escort 31 March – 9 April, Destroyer | |
Waroonga (1914) | ![]() |
9,365 | Sunk by U-630[8] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack. 19 dead |
William Mulholland (1942) | ![]() |
7,176 | |
William Whipple (1942) | ![]() |
7,181 | |
References
- Gretton, Peter (1974). Crisis Convoy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-925-1.
- "Convoy HX.231". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "Blitar – Dutch Steam Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "British Ardour – British Steam Tanker". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "Shillong – British Motor Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "Sunoil – American Motor Tanker". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "Vaalaren – Swedish Motor Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- "Waroonga – British Steam Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
Bibliography
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
External links
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