Convoy TAG 18 explained

Conflict:Convoy TAG.18
Partof:World War II
Date:2–8 November 1942
Place:Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea
Combatant1: Germany
Combatant2: Canada




United Kingdom

Commander1:Admiral Karl Dönitz
Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen
Hans-Ludwig Witt
Strength1:2 U-boats
Strength2:37 merchant ships
8 escorts
Casualties2:6 ships sunk

Convoy TAG 18 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 18th of the numbered TAG Convoys from Trinidad and Aruba to Guantánamo.[1] The convoy was shadowed from 1 to 4 November by skippered by Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves) and joined on 5 November by – skippered by Hans-Ludwig Witt (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross). The two U-boats sank six ships from the convoy.[2]

Ships in the convoy

Name[3] FlagTonnage (GRT)Notes
Acasta (1918)5,229
Anna Knudsen (1931)9,057
Ardmore (1913)7,035Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Astrell (1925)7,595Ex Curaçao. Sunk by [4] on 5 Nov
Baron Elphinstone (1937)4,635
Benjamin Bourn (1942)7,176
Chr J Kampmann (1924)2,281Sunk by [5]
Cities Service Kansas (1920)7,641Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
City Of Lancaster (1924)3,041
Clio (1935)374Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Domino (1919)3,170
Eagle (1917)6,003Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Edward L Doheny (1913)5,871Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Empire Marvell (1941)9,812Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Errington Court (1925)4,913
Esso Caracas (1913)4,323
F H Bedford Jr (1930)10,844Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
(1917)5,965
Gulfpride (1927)12,510Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Gypsum Empress (1929)4,034Sunk by [6]
Hanley (1920)7,583Did Not Sail
Jupiter (1928)1,464
Kaldfonn (1936)9,931Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Karmt (1938)4,991
La Salina (1927)2,402
Leda (1925)8,546Sunk by,[7] Sank In Tow
Leonidas (1928)4,573
Meton (1920)7,027Sunk by [8] on 5 Nov
Moldova (1911)4,083
Nishmaha (1919)6,040
Pan Gulf (1918)5,599
Paulsboro (1916)6,699Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Peter Hurll (1930)10,871Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Prins Maurits (1936)1,287
St Clears (1936)4,312
Thorshavet (1938)11,015Sunk by [9]
USCG 6 United States Coast GuardEscort 4 Nov – 08 Nov
USCG Colfax (WSC-133) United States Coast GuardEscort 4 Nov – 08 Nov
USCG Rush (WSC-151) United States Coast GuardEscort 4 Nov – 08 Nov
USS Lea (DD-118)Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov
Destroyer
USS PCC-469Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov
USS PC-495Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov
USS PC-559Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov
USS PC-561Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov
Vulcanus (1907)1,819

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hague, p.113
  2. Rohwer & Hummelchen, pp.168 & 169
  3. Web site: Convoy TAG.18. Arnold Hague Convoy Database. 18 October 2013.
  4. Web site: MV Astrell – Norwegian Motor tanker. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.
  5. Web site: SS Chr J Kampmann – Canadian Steam merchant. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.
  6. Web site: SS Gypsum Empress – British Steam merchant. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.
  7. Web site: MV Leda – Panamanian Motor tanker. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.
  8. Web site: SS Meton – American Steam tanker. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.
  9. Web site: MV Thorshavet – Norwegian Motor tanker. www.uboat.net. 24 October 2013.