| Conflict: | Convoy HX.106 |
| Partof: | World War II |
| Date: | 30 January 1941-18 February 1941 |
| Place: | North Atlantic |
| Combatant2: |  United Kingdom |
| Commander1: | Admiral Karl Dönitz Admiral Günther Lütjens |
| Commander2: | Captain W. H. Poole Rd RNR |
| Strength2: | 41 merchant ships 11 escorts (1 when attacked) |
| Casualties2: | 2 merchants sunk |
Convoy HX 106 was the 106th of the numbered series of Allied HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England. Forty-one ships departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 30 January 1941, eastbound to Liverpool, England.[1] The use of convoys was a standard tactic throughout the Battle of the Atlantic as a defence against U-boats and German commerce raiders.
On 8 February 1941 the two German battleships, and, found the convoy.[2] The German squadron was under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. The captain of Scharnhorst offered to draw off the escorting Royal Navy battleship, so that Gneisenau could sink the merchant ships. This strategy, if successful, would have entailed little risk to Scharnhorst as she was 11lk=inNaNlk=in faster than Ramillies, and her newer 280mm guns outranged the 1915 era 15adj=onNaNadj=on guns of the British ship. However, Lutjens strictly followed Hitler's directive not to engage enemy capital ships, and withdrew.[2]
Later, two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by the submarine, including Arthur F. Corwin loaded with 14,500 tons of aviation fuel. She went down on 13 February, taking all 59 crew with her.
A total of 41 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Halifax or later in the voyage.[3]
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abercos (1920) | 6,076 | Straggled | |
| Arthur F Corwin (1938) | 10,516 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 Sunk by [4] | |
| Athelbeach (1931) | 6,568 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Botavon (1912) | 5,848 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 Vice-Commodore | |
| British Fortune (1930) | 4,696 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Capsa (1931) | 8,229 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Cardium (1931) | 8,236 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Chama (1938) | 8,077 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Charlton Hall (1940) | 5,200 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 | |
| Clea (1938) | 8,028 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 Sunk by [5] | |
| Cliona (1931) | 8,375 | ||
| Contractor (1930) | 6,004 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| (1918) | 5,815 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Edward F Johnson (1937) | 10,452 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Esturia (1914) | 6,968 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 | |
| Evanger (1920) |  | 3,869 | |
| Ganges (1930) | 6,246 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Garonne (1921) | | 7,113 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Geo W McKnight (1933) | 12,502 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Harpagus (1940) | 5,173 | ||
| Hopemount (1929) | 7,434 | Straggled 3 Feb 41 | |
| Horda (1920) | | 4,301 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Kheti (1927) | 2,734 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Laguna (1923) | 6,466 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 | |
| Leiesten (1930) | | 6,118 | Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb |
| Lodestone (1938) | 4,877 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 | |
| Mactra (1936) | 6,193 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Malmanger (1920) | | 7,078 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Miralda (1936) | 8,013 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Mirza (1929) |  | 7,991 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Nurtureton (1929) | 6,272 | ||
| Oilfield (1938) | 8,516 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Opalia (1938) | 6,195 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| R J Cullen (1919) | 6,993 | ||
| San Eliseo (1939) | 8,042 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| San Fabian (1922) | 13,031 | ||
| Silveray (1925) | 4,535 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
| Temple Arch (1940) | 5,138 | Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb | |
| Topdalsfjord (1921) | | 4,271 | Capt W H Poole Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| Torborg (1921) | | 6,042 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Trelissick (1919) | 5,265 | Joined ex-BHX 106 | |
A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.[3]
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 1941 | 15 Feb 1941 | |||
| 30 Jan 1941 | 31 Jan 1941 | |||
| 15 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 | |||
| 12 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 | |||
| Admiralty-type destroyer leader | 12 Feb 1941 | 15 Feb 1941 | ||
| HMS/HMT Northern Pride | ASW (anti-submarine warfare) trawler | 15 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 | |
| 30 Jan 1941 | 10 Feb 1941 | |||
| Admiralty S-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 14 Feb 1941 | ||
| Admiralty S-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 | ||
| 12 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 | |||
| ASW trawler | 15 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 | ||