Jump to content

Convoy HX 231

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Lyndaship (talk | contribs) at 15:56, 17 January 2021 (capitalisation, replaced: U-Boat → U-boat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Convoy HX.231
Part of World War II
Date25 March – 10 April 1943
Location
North Atlantic
Belligerents
Germany

 Royal Canadian Navy

United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz Admiral Sir C G Ramsey KCB (Commodore)
Strength
11 U-boats 67 merchant ships
19 escorts
Casualties and losses
6 ships sunk

Convoy HX 231 was the 231st of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 25 March 1943 and were met on 31 March by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. The convoy was found on 4 April and attacked by eleven U-boats of the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th U-boat flotillas, operating out of Brest, La Rochelle, St Nazaire and Lorient, respectively. The U-boats sank six ships before losing contact on 7 April. Surviving ships reached Liverpool on 10 April.[1]

Ships in the convoy[2]

Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Notes
HMS Alisma (K185)  Royal Navy Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette
Amastra (1935)  United Kingdom 8,031
Ancylus (1935)  United Kingdom 8,017
Aruba (1929)  Netherlands 3,979 Arrived with rudder damage
Asbjorn (1935)  United Kingdom 4,387
Athelregent (1930)  United Kingdom 8,881
Athos (1937)  Norway 8,267
Atlantida (1924)  Honduras 4,191
Beaverhill (1928)  United Kingdom 10,041
Blitar (1923)  Netherlands 7,065 Romped and sunk by U-632[3] On 6 Apr, after an earlier unsuccessful attack the previous day by U-229. 26 dead
British Ardour (1928)  United Kingdom 7,124 Escort Oiler. Sunk by U-706[4] On 5 April. 0 dead
British Confidence (1936)  United Kingdom 8,494
HMS Buxton (H96)  Royal Navy Escort 27–31 March, Destroyer
HMCS Chicoutimi  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 27–31 March, Corvette
City of Lyons (1926)  United Kingdom 7,063
Clan Cameron (1937)  United Kingdom 7,243
HMS Eclipse  Royal Navy Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer
Eli Whitney (1942)  United States 7,181
Empire Chief (1897)  United Kingdom 8,040 Tanker carrying fuel oil
Empire Coleridge (1942)  United Kingdom 9,798 Tanker carrying petrol. Fitted with AND
Empire Dickens (1942)  United Kingdom 9,819 Tanker carrying petrol
Empire Marvell (1941)  United Kingdom 9,812 Tanker carrying petrol & paraffin
Erin (1932)  United Kingdom 5,841
Esso Dover (1921)  United States 8,880
F J Wolfe (1932)  United Kingdom 12,190 Escort Oiler. Returned
Fort Finlay (1942)  United Kingdom 7,134
Fort Jemseg (1943)  United Kingdom 7,134
Fort Thompson (1942)  United Kingdom 7,134
HMS Fury  Royal Navy Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer
Geo W McKnight (1933)  United Kingdom 12,502
Georgian (1920)  United States 5,825
HMS Icarus  Royal Navy Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer
HMS Inglefield  Royal Navy Escort 06 Apr – 08 Apr. Destroyer
Jamaica Planter (1936)  United Kingdom 4,098 Vice-Commodore
Joel R Poinsett (1943)  United States 7,176
Katy (1931)  Norway 6,825
HMCS Kenora (J281)  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Mar – 28 Mar. Minesweeper
Kent (1918)  United Kingdom 8,697
Lady Rodney (1929)  United Kingdom 8,194 Halifax to St John's, Newfoundland
Laurelwood (1929)  United Kingdom 7,347
Lochmonar (1924)  United Kingdom 9,412 Returned
HMS Loosestrife (K105)  Royal Navy Escort 31 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette
Landed 72 Survivors from Waroonga at Londonderry Port on 9 Apr 43
Manchester Port (1935)  United Kingdom 7,071
HMCS Milltown (J317)  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 27–31 March, Minesweeper
Mobilgas (1937)  United States 9,925
Mosdale (1939)  Norway 3,022
HMS Narvik (LST3044)  Royal Navy Escort 09 Apr – 10 Apr. Tank Landing ship
Nassa (1942)  United Kingdom 8,134 Fitted with AND
Noah Webster (1943)  United States 7,176 Returned
Norheim (1941)  Norway 9,816
Norvinn (1930)  Panama 6,322
Ocean Volunteer (1942)  United Kingdom 7,174
Ornefjell (1937)  Norway 1,334 Bound For Halifax
Pandorian (1941)  United Kingdom 4,159
Pierre Soule (1943)  United States 7,191
HMS Pink (K137)  Royal Navy Escort 29 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette
Pleiades (1939)  United States 3,600
Port Sydney (1914)  United Kingdom 9,129
HMCS Quesnel  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Mar – 31 Mar. Corvette
Raphael Semmes (1942)  United States 6,165
Reinholt (1939)  Norway 4,799
Salland (1920)  Netherlands 6,447
Saluta (1906)  United Kingdom 6,261 Returned
San Adolfo (1935)  United Kingdom 7,365
San Ambrosio (1935)  United Kingdom 7,410
Santa Maria (1942)  United States 6,507
HMCS Saskatoon  Royal Canadian Navy Escort 25 Mar – 28 Mar. Corvette
Scebeli (1937)  Norway 3,025 Detached and independent 1 Apr
Shillong (1939)  United Kingdom 5,529 Sunk by U-630[5] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack. 71 Dead
Slemmestad (1928)  Norway 4,258
HMS Snowflake (K211)  Royal Navy Escort 31 Mar – 09 Apr. Corvette
Landed 54 Survivors from British Ardour At Londonderry Port
Sovac (1938)  United Kingdom 6,724
Stephen C Foster (1943)  United States 7,106
Sunoil (1927)  United States 9,005 Straggler zig-zagging on 4 Apr due to engine trouble. Sunk by U-530[6] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-563 in an earlier attack. All 69 Crew Dead
HMS Tay  Royal Navy Escort 31 March – 9 April, Frigate
Thomas Sumter (1942)  United States 7,177 Romped
Tjibadak (1929)  Netherlands 7,083
Torr Head (1937)  United Kingdom 5,021
Tulsa (1919)  United States 5,083
Tyndareus (1916)  United Kingdom 11,361 Admiral Sir C G Ramsey KCB (Commodore)
USS Merak  United States Navy 6,982 Stores and passenger ship. 138 Passengers
Vaalaren (1936)  Sweden 3,406 Romped 4 Apr. Sunk by U-229[7] On 5 Apr. All 38 crew dead
HMS Vidette  Royal Navy Escort 31 March – 9 April, Destroyer
Waroonga (1914)  United Kingdom 9,365 Sunk by U-630[8] On 5 Apr, after being damaged by U-635 in an earlier attack. 19 dead
William Mulholland (1942)  United States 7,176
William Whipple (1942)  United States 7,181

References

  1. ^ Gretton, Peter (1974). Crisis Convoy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-925-1.
  2. ^ "Convoy HX.231". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Blitar – Dutch Steam Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  4. ^ "British Ardour – British Steam Tanker". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Shillong – British Motor Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Sunoil – American Motor Tanker". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Vaalaren – Swedish Motor Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Waroonga – British Steam Merchant". Www.Uboat.Net. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Convoy_HX_231&oldid=1000962655"