| Conflict: | Convoy SL.78 |
| Partof: | World War II |
| Date: | 18 June 1941 – 12 July 1941 |
| Place: | North Atlantic |
| Combatant1: | Germany |
| Combatant2: | |
| Commander1: | Admiral Karl Dönitz |
| Commander2: | Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSO |
| Strength1: | ~4 U-boats |
| Strength2: | 26 merchant ships 19 escorts |
| Casualties2: | 8 merchants sunk |
Convoy SL 78 was the 78th of the numbered series of World War II SL convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound for the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean traveled independently to Freetown to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage. Twenty-five merchant ships departed Freetown on 18 June 1941.[1] U-boats sank eight ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 12 July.[2]
A total of 26 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Sierra Leone or later in the voyage.[3]
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliakmon (1913) |  | 4,521 | |
| Arundo (1930) |  | 5,163 | |
| Atle Jarl (1919) |  | 1,173 | |
| Baron Napier (1930) | 3,559 | ||
| Batna (1928) | 4,399 | ||
| Blackheath (1936) | 4,637 | Collision with corvette escort on 11 July | |
| Camerata (1931) | 4,875 | ||
| Criton (1927) | 4,564 | Captured from the Vichy French by HMS Cilicia on 19 June, and being sailed back to Europe from West Africa. Intercepted by two Vichy French warships, Air France IV and Edith Germaine, near Freetown on 21 June and sunk by their gunfire.[4] [5] (see also Commander Bernard Peter de Neumann GM RN, second time sunk in the space of one month) | |
| Empire Ability (1931) | 7,603 | Sunk by [6] | |
| Esneh (1919) | 1,931 | ||
| George J Goulandris (1913) | | 4,345 | Sunk by [7] W of Canary Islands |
| Kalypso Vergotti (1918) | | 5,686 | Straggler was sunk by .[8] All 36 crew lost |
| Keilehaven (1919) | | 2,968 | |
| Leonidas N Condylis (1912) | | 3,923 | |
| Mary Slessor (1930) | 5,027 | Convoy Vice commodore's ship | |
| Michael Jebsen (1927) | 2,323 | Did Not Reform With Convoy | |
| Oberon (1911) | | 1,996 | Sunk by [9] |
| P.L.M.22 (1921) | 5,646 | Sunk by [10] | |
| Parthenon (1908) | | 3,189 | |
| Rio Azul (1921) | 4,088 | Sunk by [11] post-dispersal from this convoy | |
| River Lugar (1937) | 5,423 | Sunk by [12] | |
| Rolf Jarl (1920) | | 1,917 | |
| Sobo (1937) | 5,353 | Convoy commodore's ship – Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSO | |
| St Anselm (1919) | 5,614 | Sunk by [13] | |
| Stad Arnhem (1920) | | 3,819 | Joined Convoy HX 135 after dispersal |
| Venus (1907) | | 1,855 | |
A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.[3]
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Jul 1941 | 11 Jul 1941 | |||
| HMS Armeria (K187) | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 | ||
| HMS Asphodel (K56) | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 | ||
| HMS Aster (K188) | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 | ||
| 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |||
| sloop | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 | ||
| HMS Burdock (K126) | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 | ||
| 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |||
| 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |||
| HMS Esperance Bay (F67) | Armed merchant cruiser and troopship | 18 Jun 1941 | 27 Jun 1941 | |
| HMS Fleur De Lys (K122) | 30 Jun 1941 | 30 Jun 1941 | ||
| HMS Jasmine (K23) | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | ||
| 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |||
| 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |||
| HMS Pegasus | Fighter catapult ship | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | |
| HMS Pimpernel (K71) | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | ||
| HMS Rhododendron (K78) | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | ||
| heavy cruiser | 26 Jun 1941 | 27 Jun 1941 | ||
| Modified W-class destroyer | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 | ||