Convoy QP 14
QP 14 was an Arctic convoy of the QP series which ran during World War II. It was one of a series of convoys run to return Allied ships from Soviet northern ports to home ports in Britain. It sailed in September 1942 from Archangel in Russia to Loch Ewe in Scotland.
Convoy QP.14 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Second World War | |||||
HMS Somali sunk | |||||
| |||||
Belligerents | |||||
Germany | United Kingdom | ||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Admiral Karl Dönitz | JCK Dowding (Comm.) | ||||
Strength | |||||
7 U-boats |
17 merchant ships 65 escorts | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
6 ships sunk |
Ships
The convoy initially consisted of 20 merchant ships, most of which had arrived with PQ 17. The convoy commodore was Capt. JCK Dowding, in Ocean Voice. The close escort comprised two destroyers, four corvettes, three ASW minesweepers, and four ASW trawlers, supplemented by three AA cruisers. Most of these had also arrived with PQ 17. Senior Officer for the escort was Capt. JHF Crombie, in the minesweeper Bramble. The convoy was joined at sea by the ocean escort from PQ 18, comprising the cruiser Scylla, the escort carrier Avenger, and 16 destroyers. These were supported by a cruiser cover force, of three cruisers and eight destroyers, and a distant cover force of two battleships, a cruiser, and four destroyers.[1][2] This was a substantial force, though weakened by its five day battle protecting PQ 18. QP 14 was opposed by a patrol line of seven boats (an ad hoc group formed from the U-boats that attacked PQ 18) in the Norwegian Sea, and by German air forces, though these were also depleted from their attack on PQ 18.
Voyage
QP 14 departed Archangel on 13 September, the day after the attack on PQ 18 started. It was accompanied by a local escort of four ASW minesweepers, which departed after two days. On 16 September QP 14 passed PQ 18 and the ocean escort began to transfer, leaving in groups to avoid drawing attention.
QP 14 remained undetected until 20 September, when Leda was attacked and sunk by U-435. A search for the U-boat found nothing. That afternoon the two submarines detached from the convoy in an attempt to strike at the shadowing U-boats, which were travelling on the surface to maintain speed. In poor weather P 614 detected U-408 and fired four torpedoes at her, but the U-boat was warned by a premature explosion and escaped.[3] That night the convoy was attacked again; Silver Sword was sunk by U-255, and the destroyer Somali was torpedoed by U-703. She was taken in tow, but foundered four days later, before she could be brought to port.
On 22 September U-435 penetrated the escort screen and torpedoed three ships, one of them, Ocean Voice, carrying the convoy commodore, leaving him adrift for the second time (his ship in PQ 17 had been sunk also). The oiler Gray Ranger was also hit, and could not be saved; she was scuttled later that day.[2]
On 23 September the pursuing U-253 was attacked and sunk by a Liberator of Coastal Command, flying escort for the convoy.[4]
QP 14 arrived at Loch Ewe on 26 September.[1]
Ships in the convoy
Merchant ships
Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Alcoa Banner (1919) | United States | 5,035 | |
Bellingham (1920) | United States | 5,345 | Sunk by U-435[6] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. No dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin |
Benjamin Harrison (1942) | United States | 2,191 | |
RFA Black Ranger (A163) | Royal Fleet Auxiliary | 3,417 | Oiler |
Deer Lodge (1919) | United States | 6,187 | |
Empire Tide (1941) | United Kingdom | 6,978 | CAM ship. 23 Passengers |
RFA Grey Ranger (1941) | Royal Fleet Auxiliary | 3,313 | Oiler. Sunk by U-435[7] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. 6 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin |
Harmatris (1932) | United Kingdom | 5,395 | |
Minotaur (1918) | United States | 4,554 | |
Ocean Freedom (1942) | United Kingdom | 7,173 | 8 Passengers. Ship's Master is vice-commodore |
Ocean Voice (1941) | United Kingdom | 7,174 | 5 Naval staff officers. 25 Soviet passengers. Sunk by U-435[8] on 22 Sep. No dead. Survivors picked up by both HMS Seagull (J85), and landed at Scapa Flow, and Zamalek, and landed at Glasgow. Capt J C K Dowding CBE DSO Rd RNR (Commodore) |
RFA Oligarch (1918) | Royal Fleet Auxiliary | 6,894 | Oiler |
Rathlin (1936) | United Kingdom | 1,600 | Rescue ship. Routed via Seidisfjord 23 Sep for stores |
Samuel Chase (1942) | United States | 7,191 | |
Silver Sword (1919) | United States | 4,937 | Sunk by U-255[9] on 20 Sep. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek and landed at Glasgow. |
Tobruk (1942) | Poland | 7,048 | |
Troubador (1920) | Panama | 6,428 | |
West Nilus (1920) | United States | 5,495 | |
Winston-Salem (1920) | United States | 6,223 | Position Unknown, Lloyd's Confirm Slg |
Zamalek (1921) | United Kingdom | 1,567 | Rescue Ship, 61 Survivors, 4 Passengers |
Escorts
Name | Flag | Ship Type | Duration | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
HMS Alynbank | Royal Navy | Anti-aircraft cruiser | ? – 17 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Amazon (D39) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 15 – 22 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Anson (79) | Royal Navy | Battleship | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Ashanti (F51) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Avenger (D14) | Royal Navy | Escort carrier | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Ayrshire (FY225) | Royal Navy | ASW trawler | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Blankney (L30) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Bramble (J11) | Royal Navy | ASW minesweeper | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Bramham (L51) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 23 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Britomart (J22) | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 Sep. | Eastern Local Escort |
HMS Bulldog (H91) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 14 – 22 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Cowdray (L52) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | ? – 20 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Cumberland (57) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 14 – 22 Sep. | Operation Gearbox II (Spitzbergen re-supply mission) |
HMS Dianella (K07) | Royal Navy | Corvette | 13 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Duke of York (17) | Royal Navy | Battleship | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Echo (H23) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 14 – 22 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Eclipse (H08) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 14 – 22 Sep. | Operation Gearbox II (Spitzbergen re-supply mission) |
HMS Eskimo (F75) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Faulknor (H62) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Fury (H76) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Halcyon (J42) | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 Sep. | Eastern Local Escort |
HMS Hazard | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 Sep. | Eastern Local Escort |
HMS Impulsive (D11) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | ? – 25 Sep. | Western Local Escort |
HMS Intrepid (D10) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Jamaica (44) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Keppel (D84) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS La Malouine (K46) | Royal Navy | Corvette | 13 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Leda (J93) | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 – 20 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort Sunk by U-435[10] on 20 Sep SW of Spitzbergen. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek. Cdr A H Wynne-Edwards RN |
HMS London (69) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 14 – 22 Sep. | Cruiser Cover Force |
HMS Lord Austin (FY220) | Royal Navy | ASW trawler | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMT Lord Middleton (FY219) | Royal Navy | ASW trawler | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Lotus (K130) | Royal Navy | Corvette | 13 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Mackay | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Marne (G35) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Meteor (G73) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Middleton (L74) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 13 – 25 Sep. | Escort |
HMS Milne (G14) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 22 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Montrose (D01) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 19 – 22 Sep. | Distant Cover Force |
HMS Norfolk (78) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 14 – 22 Sep. | Cruiser Cover Force |
HMT Northern Gem (FY194) | Royal Navy | ASW trawler | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Oakley (L98) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | ? – 20 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Offa (G29) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Onslaught (G04) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Onslow (G17) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Opportune (G80) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS P614 | Royal Navy | Submarine | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS P615 | Royal Navy | Submarine | 17 – 21 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Palomares | Royal Navy | Anti-aircraft cruiser | 13 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Poppy (K213) | Royal Navy | Corvette | 13 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Pozarica | Royal Navy | Anti-aircraft cruiser | 23 – 26 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Salamander (J86) | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 Sep. | Eastern Local Escort |
HMS Scylla (98) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Seagull (J85) | Royal Navy | ASW Minesweeper | 13 – 25 Sep. | Convoy Close Escort |
HMS Sheffield (C24) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 14 – 22 Sep. | Operation Gearbox II (Spitzbergen re-supply mission) |
HMS Somali (F33) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort Torpedoed by U-703[11] on 20 Sep. Crippled, the majority of the crew were rescued by HMS Lord Middleton (FY219), leaving a skeleton crew aboard. HMS Ashanti (G51) took the vessel in tow, but the line parted, she folded in half, capsized and sank. Only 35 of the skeleton crew survived. |
HMS Suffolk (55) | Royal Navy | Cruiser | 14 – 22 Sep. | Cruiser Cover Force |
HMS Tartar (F43) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 25 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Venomous (D75) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 14 – 22 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Wheatland | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Wilton (L128) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | 17 – 20 Sep. | Ocean Escort |
HMS Windsor (D42) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | ? – 20 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) |
HMS Worcester (D96) | Royal Navy | Destroyer | ? - 25 Sep. | Force P (Spitzbergen re-fueling mission) Western Local Escort |
Axis forces
U-boats
Name | Type | Navy | Contact | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
U-251 | VIIC | Kriegsmarine | no contact | |
U-253 | VIIC | KM | no contact | destroyed by Liberator[1][4] |
U-255 | VIIC | KM | 20 Sept. | sank Silver Sword on 20/21 Sept. |
U-403 | VIIC | KM | no contact | |
U-435 | VIIC | KM | 20-22 Sept. | sank HMS Leda on 20 Sept. sank Bellingham, Ocean Voice, Gray Ranger, on 22 Sept. |
U-592 | VIIC | KM | no contact | |
U-703 | VIIC | KM | 20 Sept. | torpedoed HMS Somali on 20/21 Sept. |
References
- Ruegg, Hague pp44-45
- Kemp p108-110
- Smith p183
- Smith pp188-9
- "Convoy QP.14". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Bellingham - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Grey Ranger - British fleet oiler". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ocean Voice - British steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Silver Sword - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Leda (J93) - British fleet minesweeper". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Somali (F33) - British Destroyer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
Bibliography
Further reading
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 978-1-86176-147-7.
- Hinsley, F. H. (1994) [1993]. British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations. History of the Second World War (2nd rev. abr. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-630961-7.
- Richards, Denis; St G. Saunders, H. (1975) [1954]. Royal Air Force 1939–1945: The Fight Avails. History of the Second World War, Military Series. II (pbk. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-771593-6. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- Roskill, S. W. (1962) [1956]. The Period of Balance. History of the Second World War: The War at Sea 1939–1945. II (3rd impr. ed.). London: HMSO. OCLC 174453986. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force (repr. Public Record Office War Histories ed.). Richmond, Surrey: Air Ministry. 2001 [1948]. ISBN 978-1-903365-30-4. Air 41/10.
- Woodman, Richard (2004) [1994]. Arctic Convoys 1941–1945. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5752-1.