Convoy HX 72
Convoy HX 72 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of World War II | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Kriegsmarine | Royal Navy | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Admiral Karl Dönitz |
Comm: R Adm HH Rogers Escort: Cdr AM Knapp | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
8 U-boats |
43 ships 5 escorts | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
none |
11 ships sunk (72,727 GRT) 2 ships damaged (18,178 GRT) |
HX 72 was a
Background
HX 72 was an east-bound convoy of 43 ships which sailed from
The convoy comprised contingents from Halifax, Sydney and Bermuda. Its Commodore was Rear Admiral HH Rogers, RNR in Tregarthen.[1]
Escorts at this stage of the campaign were generally meagre; convoys generally were unescorted, or had just an
The
After reporting the convoy Prien shadowed the convoy, while U-boat Control
Action
Otto Kretschmer, in U-99 made contact around midnight of 20/21 September and attacked, hitting Invershannon. Rogers ordered a turn to port to try and shake off the attack, but this failed; U-99 attacked again, hitting Baron Blythswood, which sank, and Elmbank, which was disabled. U-99 and U-47 then attacked Elmbank with gunfire, but she did not sink until morning, at which point U-99 left the scene to return to Lorient.
U-48 arrived before dawn, and sank Blairangus, which was straggling. Rogers dropped smoke and turned again, to try and shake off his pursuers, but failed once more; U-47 and U-48 continued to shadow throughout the daylight on the 21st.
On 21 September, Prien and Bleichrodt were joined by 4 other boats of 2nd U-boat Flotilla, U-65, U-38, U-43 and U-32, while U-100 arrived at nightfall.
However, that afternoon the Western Approaches escort also arrived, causing the U-boats to draw back. At this stage, escorts usually arrived piecemeal, but by evening 5 warships had arrived, the sloop Lowestoft, destroyer Shikari and three corvettes, Calendula, Heartsease and La Malouine.
At nightfall on 21/22 September U-100 struck, entering the convoy to attack at close range. Attacking before moonrise Joachim Schepke hit three ships within minutes, causing confusion. Canonesa, Torinia and Dalcairn were sunk, and the convoy began to scatter in confusion. The escort sought to retaliate, but searched outside the convoy perimeter, where the rest of the pack was gathered; they were unable to find Schepke, but were able to frustrate further attacks. U-48 hit Broompark, which was damaged, but no other boat was successful. Just after midnight U-100 struck again, sinking 3 more ships; Empire Airman, Scholar, and Frederick S Fales. She also attacked Harlingen, but was spotted; Harlingen avoided the torpedoes aimed at her, and returned fire with her stern gun, scoring several hits, but causing little damage.
As the convoy broke up, two more ships were hit; U-100 sank Simla, while U-32 damaged Collegian.
This was the end of the action; HX 72 was scattered, but the U-boats were unable to pursue, as the presence of the escorts had forced them to submerge. The remaining ships of HX 72 proceeded independently, while the escorts tried to gather the convoy back together, but no further attacks took place and all remaining ships reached port safely.
Conclusion
HX 72 had lost 11 ships of 72,727
Table
Allied ships sunk
Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Tonnage (GRT) |
Sunk by... |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20/21 September 1940 | Invershannon | United Kingdom | 16 | 9,154 | U-99 |
20/21 September 1940 | Baron Blythswood | United Kingdom | 34 | 3,668 | U-99 |
21 September 1940 | Elmbank | United Kingdom | 1 | 5,156 | U-99, U-47 |
21 September 1940 | Blairangus | United Kingdom | 7 | 4,409 | U-48 |
21/22 September 1940 | Canonesa | United Kingdom | 1 | 8,286 | U-100 |
21/22 September 1940 | Torinia | United Kingdom | 5 | 10,364 | U-100 |
21/22 September 1940 | Dalcairn | United Kingdom | none | 4,608 | U-100 |
21/22 September 1940 | Empire Airman | United Kingdom | 33 | 6,586 | U-100 |
21/22 September 1940 | Scholar | United Kingdom | none | 3,940 | U-100 |
21/22 September 1940 | Frederick S. Fales | United Kingdom | 11 | 10,525 | U-100 |
22 September 1940 | Simla | Norway | 5 | 6,031 | U-100 |
References
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HX.72". HX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- Blair, Clay (1996). Hitler's U-Boat War. Vol. I. ISBN 0-304-35260-8.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Donitz and the Wolf Packs. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-55125-033-0.
- Roskill, Stephen (1954). The War at Sea 1939–1945. Vol. I.