Convoy QP 14
| Convoy QP.14 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second World War | |||||
.jpg) HMS Somali sunk | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
.svg){kind=small} Germany |
 United Kingdom | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Admiral Karl Dönitz | Capt J. C. K. Dowding CBE DSO Rd RNR (Commodore) | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 7 U-boats |
17 merchant ships 65 escorts | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 6 ships sunk | |||||
QP 14 was an Arctic convoy of the QP series which ran during World War II from Archangel in Russia to Loch Ewe in Scotland.
The convoy consisted of 17 merchant vessels and sixty-five escorts. QP 14 was attacked by seven U-boats, which sank six merchant vessels.
Escorts
The convoy was protected by the following:
- 2 Battleships
- 1 Aircraft carrier
- 4 Heavy Cruisers
- 3 Cruisers
- 4 Corvettes
- 33 Destroyers
- HMS Amazon, HMS Ashanti, HMS Blankney, HMS Bramble, HMS Bramham, HMS Bulldog, HMS Cowdray, HMS Echo, HMS Eclipse, HMS Eskimo, HMS Faulknor, HMS Fury, HMS Impulsive, HMS Intrepid, HMS Keppel, HMS Mackay, HMS Marne, HMS Meteor, HMS Middleton, HMS Milne, HMS Montrose, HMS Oakley, HMS Offa, HMS Onslaught, HMS Onslow, HMS Opportune, HMS Somali, HMS Tartar, HMS Venomous, HMS Wheatland, HMS Wilton, HMS Windsor, HMS Worcester
- 6 Minesweepers
- 4 ASW Trawlers
- 2 Submarines
- 2 Anti-aircraft ships
- HMS Alynbank, HMS Palomares, then HMS Pozarica introduced to replace Alynbank
- 3 Convoy oilers
- 2 Convoy rescue ships
- SS Rathlin and SS Zamalek
U-boats
The convoy was attacked by seven U-boats:
- U-251 – Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Timm[1]
- U-255 – Kapitänleutnant Reinhart Reche[2]
- U-403 – Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen[3]
- U-408 – Kapitänleutnant Reinhard von Hymmen[4]
- U-435 – Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Strelow[5]
- U-592 – Kapitänleutnant Carl Borm[6]
- U-703 – Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bielfeld[7]
Ships in the convoy
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoa Banner (1919) |  United States
|
5,035 | |
| HMS Alynbank |  Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 Sep. Anti-aircraft ship | |
| HMS Amazon (D39) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 15 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Anson (79) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. Battleship | |
| HMS Ashanti (F51) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Avenger (D14) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Escort aircraft carrier | |
| HMS Ayrshire (FY225) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. ASW trawler | |
| Bellingham (1920) | United States
|
5,345 | Sunk by U-435[9] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. No dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin |
| Benjamin Harrison (1942) | United States
|
2,191 | |
| RFA Black Ranger (A163) |  Royal Navy
|
3,417 | Escort Oiler |
| HMS Blankney (L30) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Bramble (J11) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Bramham (L51) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 23 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Britomart (J22) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep. Minesweeper | |
| HMS Bulldog (H91) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Cowdray (L52) | Royal Navy
|
Escort – 20 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Cumberland (57) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Heavy cruiser | |
| Deer Lodge (1919) | United States
|
6,187 | |
| HMS Dianella (K07) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 26 Sep. Corvette | |
| HMS Duke of York (17) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. Battleship | |
| HMS Echo (H23) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Eclipse (H08) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| Empire Tide (1941) |  United Kingdom
|
6,978 | CAM ship. 23 Passengers |
| HMS Eskimo (F75) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Faulknor (H62) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Fury (H76) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Destroyer | |
| RFA Grey Ranger (1941) | Royal Navy
|
3,313 | Replenishment oiler. Sunk by U-435[10] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. 6 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin |
| HMS Halcyon (J42) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep. Minesweeper | |
| Harmatris (1932) | United Kingdom
|
5,395 | |
| HMS Hazard | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep. Minesweeper | |
| HMS Impulsive (D11) | Royal Navy
|
Escort – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Intrepid (D10) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Jamaica (44) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. Cruiser | |
| HMS Keppel (D84) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. Destroyer leader | |
| HMS La Malouine (K46) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 26 Sep. Corvette | |
| HMS Leda (J93) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 20 Sep. Minesweeper. Sunk by U-435[11] on 20 Sep SW of Spitzbergen. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek. Cdr A H Wynne-Edwards RN | |
| HMS London (69) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Heavy cruiser | |
| HMS Lord Austin (FY220) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. ASW trawler | |
| HMT Lord Middleton (FY219) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. ASW trawler | |
| HMS Lotus (K130) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 26 Sep. Corvette | |
| HMS Mackay | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. Destroyer leader | |
| HMS Marne (G35) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Meteor (G73) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Middleton (L74) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Milne (G14) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| Minotaur (1918) | United States
|
4,554 | |
| HMS Montrose (D01) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 19 – 22 Sep. WW1-era destroyer | |
| HMS Norfolk (78) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Heavy cruiser | |
| HMT Northern Gem (FY194) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. ASW trawler | |
| HMS Oakley (L98) | Royal Navy
|
Escort – 20 Sep. Destroyer | |
| Ocean Freedom (1942) | United Kingdom
|
7,173 | 8 Passengers. Ship's Master is vice-commodore |
| Ocean Voice (1941) | United Kingdom
|
7,174 | 5 Naval staff officers. 25 Soviet passengers. Sunk by U-435[12] on 22 Sep. No dead. Survivors picked up by both HMS Seagull (J85), and landed at Scapa Flow, and Zamalek, and landed at Glasgow. Capt J C K Dowding CBE DSO Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| HMS Offa (G29) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| RFA Oligarch (1918) | Royal Navy
|
6,894 | Replenishment oiler |
| HMS Onslaught (G04) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Onslow (G17) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Opportune (G80) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS P614 | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Submarine | |
| HMS P615 | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 21 Sep. Submarine | |
| HMS Palomares | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 26 Sep. Anti-aircraft artillery ship | |
| HMS Poppy (K213) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 26 Sep. Corvette | |
| HMS Pozarica | Royal Navy
|
Escort 23 – 26 Sep. Anti-aircraft ship | |
| Rathlin (1936) | United Kingdom
|
1,600 | Rescue ship. Routed via Seidisfjord 23 Sep for stores |
| HMS Salamander (J86) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep. Minesweeper | |
| Samuel Chase (1942) | United States
|
7,191 | |
| HMS Scylla (98) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Cruiser | |
| HMS Seagull (J85) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 13 – 25 Sep. Minesweeper | |
| HMS Sheffield (C24) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Cruiser | |
| Silver Sword (1919) | United States
|
4,937 | Sunk by U-255[13] on 20 Sep. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek and landed at Glasgow. |
| HMS Somali (F33) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Destroyer. Torpedoed by U-703[14] on 20 Sep. Crippled, the majority of the crew were rescued by HMS Lord Middleton (FY219), leaving a skeleton crew aboard. HMS Ashanti (G51) took the vessel in tow, but the line parted, she folded in half, capsized and sank. Only 35 of the skeleton crew survived. | |
| HMS Suffolk (55) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Heavy cruiser | |
| HMS Tartar (F43) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| Tobruk (1942) |  Poland
|
7,048 | |
| Troubador (1920) |  Panama
|
6,428 | |
| HMS Venomous (D75) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 14 – 22 Sep. Destroyer | |
| West Nilus (1920) | United States
|
5,495 | |
| HMS Wheatland | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Wilton (L128) | Royal Navy
|
Escort 17 – 20 Sep. Destroyer | |
| HMS Windsor (D42) | Royal Navy
|
Escort – 20 Sep. World War I-era destroyer | |
| Winston-Salem (1920) | United States
|
6,223 | Position Unknown, Lloyd's Confirm Slg |
| HMS Worcester (D96) | Royal Navy
|
Escort - 25 Sep. Destroyer | |
| Zamalek (1921) | United Kingdom
|
1,567 | Rescue Ship, 61 Survivors, 4 Passengers |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinrich Timm". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Reinhart Reche". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz-Ehlert Clausen". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Reinhard von Hymmen". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Siegfried Strelow". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Carl Borm". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Bielfeld". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Convoy QP.14". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Bellingham - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Grey Ranger - British fleet oiler". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Leda (J93) - British fleet minesweeper". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ocean Voice - British steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Silver Sword - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Somali (F33) - British Destroyer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
Further reading
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 978-1-86176-147-7.
- Hinsley, F. H. (1994) [1993]. British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations. History of the Second World War (2nd rev. abr. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-630961-7.
- Richards, Denis; St G. Saunders, H. (1975) [1954]. Royal Air Force 1939–1945: The Fight Avails. History of the Second World War, Military Series. Vol. II (pbk. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-771593-6. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- Roskill, S. W. (1962) [1956]. The Period of Balance. History of the Second World War: The War at Sea 1939–1945. Vol. II (3rd impr. ed.). London: HMSO. OCLC 174453986. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force (repr. Public Record Office War Histories ed.). Richmond, Surrey: Air Ministry. 2001 [1948]. ISBN 978-1-903365-30-4. Air 41/10.
- Woodman, Richard (2004) [1994]. Arctic Convoys 1941–1945. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5752-1.