Conflict: | Convoy HX.156 |
Partof: | World War II |
Date: | 22 October 1941-5 November 1941 |
Place: | North Atlantic |
Combatant2: | |
Commander1: | Admiral Karl Dönitz |
Commander2: | Rear-Admiral E W Leir DSO |
Strength2: | 52 merchant ships 16 escorts |
Casualties2: | 1 ship sunk |
Convoy HX 156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool.[1] Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941,[1] and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of,,, and s and .[2]
The sighted the convoy at dawn on 31 October 1941, and torpedoed as the destroyer approached to investigate the Huff-Duff bearing of the sighting report.[3] A torpedo struck the port side and detonated the forward magazine.[3] The hull aft of the third stack remained afloat for 5 minutes; and 44 men were rescued from the crew of 159.[3]
Reuben James was the first United States warship sunk during World War II.[4] U-552 was driven off by the escort; but found the convoy that afternoon.
Task Unit 4.1.3 handed the convoy off to the British 6th Escort Group on 1 November 1941.
U-552 and U-567 made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on 1 November and maintained contact with the convoy through 3 November.[2] launched her Hawker Sea Hurricane to intercept a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft, which it chased off. The Hurricane pilot was rescued by after ditching his aircraft.[5] [6] The convoy reached Liverpool on 5 November.[1]
These ships were members of Convoy HX 156.[7]
Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Alchiba (1920) | 4,427 | Iceland | |
Ancylus (1935) | 8,017 | Oil tanker. Onward To N Russia | |
Anna Knudsen (1931) | 9,057 | ||
Arabian Prince (1936) | 1,960 | 4 Passengers | |
Athelvictor (1941) | 8,410 | ||
Benmacdhui (1911) | 6,869 | ||
Brabant (1938) | 2,483 | 2 Passengers | |
Bralanta (1936) | 9,608 | ||
British Governor (1926) | 6,840 | Scapa Flow | |
Cape Breton (1940) | 6,044 | ||
Charlbury (1940) | 4,836 | ||
Chepo (1919) | 5,707 | Returned, See Convoy HX 158 | |
Clan Macquarrie (1913) | 6,471 | ||
Comanchee (1936) | 6,837 | ||
Delilian (1923) | 6,423 | ||
Edam (1921) | 8,871 | 27 Passengers | |
Eidanger (1938) | 9,432 | ||
El Capitan (1917) | 5,255 | Onward To N Russia | |
El Estero (1920) | 4,219 | ||
Empire Confidence (1935) | 5,023 | 12 Passengers | |
Empire Day (1941) | 7,242 | CAM ship | |
(1941) | 7,047 | CAM ship | |
Empire Rainbow (1941) | 6,942 | CAM ship | |
Empire Tern (1919) | 2,479 | ||
Gallia (1939) | 9,974 | ||
Ganymedes (1917) | 2,682 | ||
Gudrun Maersk (1937) | 2,294 | Iceland to Belfast | |
K G Meldahl (1938) | 3,799 | ||
Kollbjorg (1937) | 8,259 | ||
Leiv Eiriksson I (1936) | 9,952 | Ex-Iceland | |
Leonatus (1938) | 2,242 | ||
Lewant (1930) | 1,942 | 2 Passengers | |
Maihar (1917) | 7,563 | 1 Passenger | |
Markhor (1929) | 7,917 | ||
Mergus (1906) | 1,368 | Iceland to Clyde | |
Munin (1899) | 1,285 | Iceland To Clyde | |
Nestor (1913) | 14,629 | 197 Passengers | |
Norefjord (1920) | 3,082 | ||
O A Knudsen (1938) | 11,007 | ||
Polar Chief (1897) | 8,040 | ||
Prince De Liege (1938) | 2,588 | ||
Prins Willem Van Oranje (1938) | 1,303 | ||
San Alvaro (1935) | 7,385 | 4 Passengers | |
San Arcadio (1935) | 7,419 | 1 Passenger | |
San Emiliano (1939) | 8,071 | 4 Passengers | |
Sandanger (1938) | 9,432 | ||
Skaraas (1936) | 9,826 | ||
Sourabaya (1915) | 10,107 | 28 Passengers | |
Stanlake (1923) | 1,742 | Possibly joined this convoy | |
Svanholm (1922) | 1,321 | ||
Troubadour (1920) | 5,808 | 6 Passengers | |
Escort 22 – 24 Oct, Destroyer | |||
(1939) | 6,198 | to Reykjavik, Armed 'Attack cargo ship' | |
Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 24 Oct, sunk by on 31 Oct 41 (prior to US declaration of war) | |||
Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, Corvette | |||
HMS Larkspur (K82) | Escort 31 Oct – 5 Nov, Corvette | ||
HNoMS Montbretia | Escort 31 Oct – 5 Nov, Corvette | ||
HNoMS Eglantine | Escort 1 – 5 Nov, Corvette | ||
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Flotilla leader | |||
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Destroyer | |||
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Corvette | |||
HMT King Sol | Escort 1 Nov, Trawler | ||