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Convoy PQ 18 order of battle

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Convoy PQ 18 was the last of the PQ/QP series of arctic convoys during World War II, bound from US and British ports via Reykjavík to the Barents Sea and White Sea ports of the Soviet Union, particularly Murmansk and Archangel. The convoy sailed on 2 September 1942 and arrived three weeks later on 21 September 1942. It was opposed by German sea and air forces based in occupied Norway.

The convoy comprised 40 merchant ships and 4 naval auxiliaries, plus contingents to and from Iceland (48 in all) and was defended by a close escort and a “Fighting Destroyer Escort”, as well as local escort forces, and two distant escort forces (74 warships in total). These were supported by aircraft of the RAF based in the Soviet Union.

The German forces comprised a U-boat group, code-named "Ice Palace", of 12 U-Boats and a surface attack force of 8 warships, though in the event these were not engaged. These were assisted by the aircraft of Luftflotte 5.

Allied forces

Merchant ships

Main body (Loch Ewe to Archangel)
Name Flag Cargo Tonnage (GRT) Fate Casualties Notes
SS Africander  Panama   5,441 Sunk in air attack    
MV Atheltemplar  United Kingdom   8,992 Damaged by U-457
Sunk by U-408		 16  
SS Beauregard  United States   5,976 Engine trouble[1]   Returned to Loch Ewe
RFA Black Ranger (A163)  Royal Navy Fleet oiler 3,417      
SS Campfire  United States   5,671      
SS Charles R. McCormick  United States   6,027      
SS Copeland  United Kingdom Rescue ship 1,526      
SS Dan-y-Bryn  United Kingdom   5,117     Vice-Commodore
SS Empire Baffin  United Kingdom   6,978      
SS Empire Beaumont  United Kingdom   7,044 Sunk in air attack    
SS Empire Morn  United Kingdom CAM ship 7,092      
SS Empire Snow  United Kingdom   6,327      
SS Empire Stevenson  United Kingdom   6,209 Sunk in air attack    
SS Empire Tristram  United Kingdom   7,167      
SS Esek Hopkins  United States   7,191      
SS Goolistan  United Kingdom   5,851      
RFA Gray Ranger  Royal Navy Fleet oiler 3,313      
SS Hollywood  United States   5,498      
SS John Penn  United States   7,177 Sunk in air attack    
SS Kentucky  United States   5,446 Sunk in air attack    
SS Lafayette  United States   5,887      
SS Macbeth  Panama   4,941 Sunk in air attack    
SS Mary Luckenbach  United States   5,049 Sunk in air attack    
SS Meanticut  United States   6,061      
SS Nathanael Greene  United States   7,177      
SS Ocean Faith  United Kingdom   7,174      
RFA Oligarch  Royal Navy Fleet oiler 6,894     Joined from Spitzbergen[2] group
SS Oliver Ellsworth  United States   7,191 Sunk by U-408 1  
SS Oregonian  United States   4,862 Sunk in air attack    
SS Patrick Henry  United States   7,191      
SS Sahale  United States   5,028      
SS Schoharie  United States   4,971      
SS St. Olaf  United States   7,191      
SS Temple Arch  United Kingdom   5,138     Flagship Comm EK Boddam-Whetham
SS Virginia Dare  United States   7,177      
SS Wacosta  United States   5,432 Sunk in air attack    
SS White Clover  Panama   5,462      
SS William Moultrie  United States   7,177      
Loch Ewe to Reykjavík group
Name Flag Cargo Tonnage (GRT) Fate Casualties Notes
SS Gateway City  United States   5,432     Loch Ewe to Reykjavík only
SS Oremar  United States   6,854    
SS San Zotico  United Kingdom   5,582    
Reykjavík to Archangel group
Name Flag Cargo Tonnage (GRT) Fate Casualties Notes
SS Andre Marti  Soviet Union   2,352     Joined from Reykjavík
SS Exford  United States   4,969    
SS Komiles  Soviet Union   3,966    
SS Petrovski  Soviet Union   3,771    
SS Richard Bassett  United States   7,191 Engine trouble[3]   Joined from, returned to, Reykjavík
SS Stalingrad  Soviet Union   3,559 Sunk by U-408 21 joined from Reykjavík
SS Sukhona  Soviet Union   3,124 Sunk in air attack  
SS Tbilisi  Soviet Union   7,169    

Escorts

First stage Local escort group
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Campbell destroyer Royal Navy 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42 Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Eskdale destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMS Farndale destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMS Mackay destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42 Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Montrose destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42 Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Echo destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMS Walpole destroyer RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMT Arab A/S trawler Royal Navy 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42 To Reykjavík as escort
HMT Duncton trawler RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMT Hugh Walpole trawler RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMT King Sol trawler RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
HMT Paynter trawler RN 2 Sep 42 8 Sep 42  
Second stage Close escort group
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Malcolm destroyer Royal Navy 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42 Cdr AB Russell SOE
HMS Achates destroyer RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Amazon destroyer RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Alynbank anti-aircraft ship RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Ulster Queen anti-aircraft ship RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Bergamot Template:Sclass2- RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Bryony Flower-class corvette RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Bluebell Flower-class corvette RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Camellia Flower-class corvette RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMT Cape Argona A/S trawler RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMT Cape Mariato A/S trawler RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMT Daneman A/S trawler RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMT St Kenan A/S trawler RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Harrier minesweeper RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Gleaner minesweeper RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
HMS Sharpshooter minesweeper RN 7 Sept 42 21 Sep 42  
Second stage Carrier group
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Avenger Escort carrier Royal Navy 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Wheatland Template:Sclass2- RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Wilton Hunt-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
Second stage Fighting Destroyer Escort group
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Scylla Template:Sclass- Royal Navy 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42 Flagship R Adm. "Bob" Burnett
HMS Onslow O-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Onslaught O-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Opportune O-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Offa O-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Ashanti Template:Sclass2- destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Eskimo Tribal-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Somali Tribal-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Tartar Tribal-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Milne M-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Marne M-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Martin M-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Meteor M-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Faulknor F-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Fury F-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Impulsive I-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
HMS Intrepid I-class destroyer RN 9 Sept 42 17 Sep 42  
Second stage Eastern local escort group
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
Gremyashchi Template:Sclass- Soviet Northern Fleet 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
Kuibishev Template:Sclass- Soviet Northern Fleet 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
Sokrushitelney Gnevny-class destroyer Soviet Northern Fleet 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
Uritski Orfey-class destroyer Soviet Northern Fleet 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Halcyon Minesweeper Royal Navy 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Hazard Minesweeper Royal Navy 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Salamander Minesweeper Royal Navy 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Britomart Minesweeper Royal Navy 17 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
Second stage Cruiser Cover Force
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Norfolk Template:Sclass2- Royal Navy 14 Sep 42 22 Sep 42 Flagship V Adm. S Bonham-Carter
HMS London County-class cruiser RN 14 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Suffolk County-class cruiser RN 14 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Bulldog Template:Sclass2- RN 14 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
HMS Venomous Admiralty modified W-class destroyer RN 14 Sep 42 22 Sep 42  
Second stage Heavy Cover Force
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Anson battleship Royal Navy 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42 Flagship V Adm. B Fraser
HMS Duke of York battleship RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
HMS Jamaica Template:Sclass2- RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
HMS Keppel destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42 Cdr JE Broome
HMS Montrose destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42 Joined from local escort group
HMS Campbell destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42 Joined from local escort group
HMS Mackay destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42 Joined from local escort group
HMS Bramham destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
HMS Broke destroyer RN 11 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  

Support forces

Second stage Spitzbergen re-fueling group[4]
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
RFA Blue Ranger Oiler Royal Fleet Auxiliary 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
RFA Oligarch Oiler Royal Fleet Auxiliary 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
HMS Oakley Template:Sclass2- Royal Navy 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
HMS Cowdray Hunt-class destroyer RN 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
HMS Worcester W-class destroyer RN 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
HMS Windsor W-class destroyer RN 10 Sep 42 10 Sep 42  
Second stage Spitzbergen re-inforcement group[5]
Name Class Navy Date joined Date departed Notes
HMS Cumberland Template:Sclass2- heavy cruiser Royal Navy 14 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
HMS Sheffield Template:Sclass2- cruiser RN 14 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
HMS Eclipse E-class destroyer RN 14 Sep 42 14 Sep 42  
Submarine patrol group
Name Class Navy commence
patrol		 end
patrol		 Notes
HMS Shakespeare S-class submarine Royal Navy 7 Sep 42 23 Sep 42  
HMS Unrivalled U-class submarine RN 7 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
HMS Unique U-class submarine RN 7 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
HMS Tribune T-class submarine RN 2 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
HMS Tigris T-class submarine RN 2 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
HMS Sturgeon S-class submarine RN 2 Sep 42 6 Sep 42 Returned to port;
mechanical defect
HMS Unshaken U-class submarine RN 2 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
HNoMS Uredd U-class submarine Royal Norwegian Navy 2 Sep 42 1 Oct 42  
French submarine Rubis Template:Sclass- submarine Free French      

Axis forces

U-boats

Name Type Navy Success Fate Notes
U-88 Type VIIC Kriegsmarine   Sunk by Faulknor[6]  
U-255 VIIC KM      
U-377 VIIC KM      
U-378 VIIC KM      
U-403 VIIC KM      
U-405 VIIC KM      
U-408 VIIC KM Sank Stalingrad[7]    
U-435 VIIC KM      
U-457 VIIC KM Damaged Atheltemplar[8] Sunk by Impulsive[9]  
U-589 VIIC KM Sank Oliver Ellsworth[10] Sunk by Onslow[11]  
U-592 VIIC KM      
U-703 VIIC KM      

Surface ships

Name Type Navy Sortie/1st sailing Fate/2nd sailing Notes
Admiral Scheer Template:Sclass- Kriegsmarine 9 Sep 42 Cancelled Flagship V Adm. O Kummetz
Admiral Hipper Template:Sclass- KM 9 Sep 42 "
Köln Template:Sclass- cruiser KM 9 Sep 42 "
Z4 Richard Beitzen Type 1934 destroyer KM 9 Sep 42 "
Z23 Type 1936A destroyer KM 9 Sep 42 "
Z27 Type 1936A destroyer KM 9 Sep 42 " Flag Capt Ponitz
8th Des Flot
Z29 Type 1936A destroyer KM 9 Sep 42 "
Z30 Type 1936A destroyer KM 9 Sep 42 "

Notes

  1. ^ Smith, 1975, p. 32
  2. ^ sic: see Hague
  3. ^ Smith, 1975, p. 37
  4. ^ Spelled as it was originally named; Smith, 1975, p. 213
  5. ^ Spelled as it was originally named; Smith, 1975, p. 213
  6. ^ Smith p50
  7. ^ Blair, 2000, p. 20
  8. ^ Blair, 2000, p. 20
  9. ^ Smith, 1975, pp. 150–151
  10. ^ Blair, 2000, p. 20
  11. ^ Smith, 1975, pp. 132–134

References

  • Clay Blair : Hitler's U-Boat War [Volume 2]: The Hunted 1942–1945 (1998) ISBN 0-304-35261-6 (2000 UK paperback ed.)
  • Bob Ruegg, Arnold Hague : Convoys to Russia (1992) ISBN 0-905617-66-5
  • Smith, Peter (1975). Convoy PQ18: Arctic Victory. London: William Kimber. ISBN 978-0-7183-0074-6.
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