Convoy HX 156 explained

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 Action

31 October 1941

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.

1 November 1941

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]

Ships in the convoy

These ships were members of Convoy HX 156.[7]

NameFlagTonnage (GRT)Notes
Alchiba (1920)4,427Iceland
Ancylus (1935)8,017Oil tanker. Onward To N Russia
Anna Knudsen (1931)9,057
Arabian Prince (1936)1,9604 Passengers
Athelvictor (1941)8,410
Benmacdhui (1911)6,869
Brabant (1938)2,4832 Passengers
Bralanta (1936)9,608
British Governor (1926)6,840Scapa Flow
Cape Breton (1940)6,044
Charlbury (1940)4,836
Chepo (1919)5,707Returned, See Convoy HX 158
Clan Macquarrie (1913)6,471
Comanchee (1936)6,837
Delilian (1923)6,423
Edam (1921)8,87127 Passengers
Eidanger (1938)9,432
El Capitan (1917)5,255Onward To N Russia
El Estero (1920)4,219
Empire Confidence (1935)5,02312 Passengers
Empire Day (1941)7,242CAM ship
(1941)7,047CAM ship
Empire Rainbow (1941)6,942CAM ship
Empire Tern (1919)2,479
Gallia (1939)9,974
Ganymedes (1917)2,682
Gudrun Maersk (1937)2,294Iceland to Belfast
K G Meldahl (1938)3,799
Kollbjorg (1937)8,259
Leiv Eiriksson I (1936)9,952Ex-Iceland
Leonatus (1938)2,242
Lewant (1930)1,9422 Passengers
Maihar (1917)7,5631 Passenger
Markhor (1929)7,917
Mergus (1906)1,368Iceland to Clyde
Munin (1899)1,285Iceland To Clyde
Nestor (1913)14,629197 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)7,3854 Passengers
San Arcadio (1935)7,4191 Passenger
San Emiliano (1939)8,0714 Passengers
Sandanger (1938)9,432
Skaraas (1936)9,826
Sourabaya (1915)10,10728 Passengers
Stanlake (1923)1,742Possibly joined this convoy
Svanholm (1922)1,321
Troubadour (1920)5,8086 Passengers
Escort 22 – 24 Oct, Destroyer
(1939)6,198to 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 MontbretiaEscort 31 Oct – 5 Nov, Corvette
HNoMS EglantineEscort 1 – 5 Nov, Corvette
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Flotilla leader
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Destroyer
Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Corvette
HMT King SolEscort 1 Nov, Trawler

References

Notes and References

  1. Hague 2000 p.127
  2. Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.94
  3. Morison 1975 p.94
  4. Silverstone 1968 p.9
  5. Encyclopedia: Wise . James E. Jr. . Catapult Off – Parachute Back . United States Naval Institute Proceedings . 1974 . 70–77 .
  6. Book: Hague, Arnold . The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 . Naval Institute Press . 2000 . 1-55750-019-3 . 79 .
  7. Web site: Convoy HX.156. Arnold Hague Convoy Database. 20 October 2013.