Convoy QP 3

Convoy QP 3 was one of Arctic convoys of World War II which sailed from the United Kingdom, United States or Iceland to the USSR.

Description

This small oceanic slow-speed special convoy sailed from Arkhangelsk in the Soviet Union on 27 November 1941. It called at Seyðisfjörður in Iceland, and reached its final destination — Kirkwall, Scotland — on 3 December 1941.

Convoy makeup

Cargo ships

• British cargo ships
  • Empire Baffin (6978/1941) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Harpalion (5486/1932) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Hartlebury (5082/1934) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Orient City (5095/1940) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Queen City (4814/1924) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Temple Arch (5138/1940) – reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
• Soviet cargo ships
  • Andre Marti (2352/1918) – reached Kirkwall on 9 December 1941
  • Arcos (2343/1918) – returned to Arkhangelsk on 29 November 1941
  • Kuzbass (3109/1914) – returned to Arkhangelsk on 29 November 1941
  • Revolutsioner (2900/1936) – reached Kirkwall on 9 December 1941

Escort

• Cruisers and destroyers
  • HMS Bedouin – destroyer. Was laid down: in January 1937. Made up an escort since 28 November to 2 December 1941.
  • HMS Intrepid – destroyer. Was laid down: 13 January 1936. Made up an escort since 28 November to 2 December 1941.
  • HMS Kenya – cruiser. Made up an escort since 28 November to 3 December 1941.
• Escorts:
  • HMS Bramble – Was launched in 1938. Made up an escort since 27 to 28 November 1941.
  • HMS Gossamer – Was laid down: 2 November 1936. Made up an escort since 27 November to 10 December 1941. Right down to 10 December escorted 2 Soviet cargo ships (Andre Marti and Revolutionary) to Kirkwall.
  • HMS Hussar – Was laid down: 28 August 1933. Made up an escort since 27 November to 9 December 1941.
  • HMS Seagull – Was laid down: 15 February 1937. Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941.
  • HMS Speedy – Was laid down: 1 December 1937. Made up an escort since 27 to 28 November 1941.
• Shakespearian-class trawler
  • HMT Hamlet – Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941. Escorted British cargo ships from Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall.
  • HMT Macbeth – Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941. Escorted British cargo ships from Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall.