Convoy ON 207
Convoy ON 207 | |
---|---|
Part of North Atlantic | |
Result | Allied victory |
Canada
Escort:Cdr JA Burnett
19 escorts
ON 207 was a
Background
Still believing their new weapons and tactics gave them an advantage, despite the losses suffered by
Protagonists
ON 207 departed Liverpool on 18 October 1943, bound for New York. Composed of 52 ships it was escorted by Canadian escort group C-1, which comprised 3
as escort, and the Merchant aircraft carrier Amastra, though she had to return to base early in the voyage with storm damage.BdU had established the patrol line Seigfried of 18 boats. It consisted of 7 boats from the disbanded group
. All the reinforcements were commanded by new skippers; 6 from Norway were also new boats, while the 5 from France were experienced boats with new commanders. The Siegfried boats had fuel problems, so a re-fueling group was established north of the Azores, of 3When Allied intelligence learned of the position of Seigfried, it was decided to force an engagement with the wolfpack; several HX and SC convoys in the area were diverted away, whilst ON 207 was left to continue on course, as a bait convoy for the U-boats. ON 207 was massively reinforced by two support groups, 2nd EG commanded by Capt FJ Walker, and B-7 EG, commanded by Cdr P Gretton, which detached from a successful trip with ON 206. 2 EG comprised 4 sloops HMS Starling, HMS Magpie, HMS Wild Goose and HMS Woodcock and was accompanied by the escort carrier HMS Tracker. (Two of 2EG's sloops were absent at the time). B 7 group at this point comprised 2 destroyers HMS Duncan and HMS Vidette, and 2 corvettes Loosestrife and HMS Sunflower. B-7 also had 2 corvettes detached.
The Action
On 23 October 1943
On 26 October U-91 was attacked by a Liberator of No. 10 Squadron RCAF, but she escaped with little damage. Later in the day, another Liberator of 10 Squadron attacked and destroyed U-420.
On 29 October B 7 detached to join ON 208, which was following several days behind; the group found U-282 shadowing the convoy. Duncan, Vidette and Sunflower attacked with depth charges and Hedgehog, and U-282 was destroyed with all hands.
During the time ON 207 was in Siegfried's patrol area, none of its boats were able to launch an attack, and none of ON 207s ships were harmed by enemy action.
While this action was taking place, Siegfried's refuelling group was also under attack, from two USN
ON 207 continued to its destination, arriving at New York on 4 November 1943.
Conclusion
With 3 U-boats destroyed for no ships lost ON 207 was undoubtedly an Allied victory; but if Admiralty was hoping to inflict a crushing blow to UbW by wiping out an entire wolf pack, this success eluded them. Most of the U-boats were unable to make contact, and those that did were unable to shadow effectively in order to bring the pack together. Possibly the escorts were unfamiliar with their role as bait, and were too efficient at keeping the pack away from the convoy.
Following ON 207 BdU re-configured Siegfried to form 3 sub-groups to cover a wider area, but this failed to produce results. Also BdU was realizing that the new weapons and tactics underpinning the Autumn offensive were not being successful; and following the attack on ON 207 no further North Atlantic convoys were seriously harmed.
Table
U-boats destroyed
Date | Number | Type | Captain | Casualties | Sunk by... |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 October 1943 | U-274 | VIIC | O/L Jordan | 48 | B-24 Liberator "Z" 224 Sqdn RAFVidette Duncan |
26 October 1943 | U-420 | VIIC | O/L Reese | 49 | B-24 Liberator "A" 10 Sqdn RCAF |
29 October 1943 | U-282 | VIIC | O/L Muller | 48 | Duncan Vidette Sunflower |
References
- ISBN 0-304-35261-6.
- Peter Gretton : Convoy Escort Commander (1964).ISBN (none)
- Arnold Hague : The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 (2000). ISBN 1-86176-147-3(UK)
- Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
- Niestle, Axel (1998). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-352-8.
- Stephen Roskill : The War at Sea 1939–1945 Vol III(1959).ISBN (none)