Convoy HX 228
Encyclopedia
HX 228 was a North Atlantic convoy
of the HX series
which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
. It was one of 4 convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for seeing the loss of the Escort Group leader Cdr AA "Harry" Tait.
on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool
and carrying war materials.
Mid-Ocean Escort Force
group B3 joined the convoy from St Johns
. Escort group B3 was led by Cdr AA Tait of HMS Harvester
; the other ships of this group were destroyers HMS Escapade
, ORP Burza
and ORP Garland
, and four corvettes; HMS Narcissus
and FNFL ships Aconit
, Renoncule and Roselys. B3 group was backed by the escort carrier Bogue
and 2 destroyers which sailed from Argentia
on 5 March.
Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were patrol lines, Wildfang, Burggraf and Neuland, although in the event only a re-configured Neuland, comprising 13 U-boats, engaged HX 228.
In early March the U-boat rakes came in contact with SC 121
, which was several days ahead of HX 228, and engaged; the Admiralty
diverted HX 228 north-east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the Neuland patrol area.
and took no part in the action.
On the evening of 10/11 March, during a snow squall, the first attacks took place.
U-221 attacked 3 ships, sinking 2 ammunition ships, Tucurinca and Andrea F Luckenbach, and damaging a third, Lawton Edwards. U-221 was vigorously counterattacked, and withdrew to repair damage.
U-444 and U-757
both fired on William C Gorgas; she dropped back and sank later.
U-757 also fired on Brant County which was also carrying ammunition; she caught fire and exploded, and U-757 was damaged as a result. She was forced to return to base; she was later attacked in Bay of Biscay
by the RAF, in company of 2 other boats, but all survived.
U-86 and U-406 both claimed hits using FAT torpedoes; Jamaica Provider was damaged during this stage.
On 11 March during the morning Harvester sighted U-444 on the surface and ran in to attack; she opened with gunfire and then rammed U-444, suffering damage to her propellers in the process. It was originally thought that Harvester had sunk U-444 but she was found later on the surface and finished off by Aconit.
While in the area Harvester found and picked up survivors; 50 men from William Gorgas and 1 from U-444; while attempting to re-join the convoy her engines failed, and she summoned Aconit
for assistance.
While Harvester lay helpless, she was sighted and torpedoed by U-432; she sank with 149 on board, including Cdr Tait.
Arriving on the scene Aconit gained Asdic contact on U-432 which was lying motionless at periscope depth, her commander and crew celebrating their victory. Aconit attacked with depth charge
s, blowing her to the surface and sinking her later with gunfire.
Aconit picked up a number of survivors; 20 from U-432, 48 from Harvester, 12 from William C Gorgas and the one from U-444, to join the 3 previously picked up.
Despite further action that day and during the night of 11/12 March there were no further losses to either side, and on 12 March BdU
called off the attack.
HX 228 arrived safely at Liverpool on 15 March 1943.
Allied warships sunk
U-boats destroyed
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
of the HX series
HX convoys
The HX convoys were a series of North Atlantic convoys which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. They were east-bound convoys and originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia from where they sailed to ports in the United Kingdom...
which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was one of 4 convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for seeing the loss of the Escort Group leader Cdr AA "Harry" Tait.
Prelude
HX 228 was an east bound convoy of 60 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and carrying war materials.
Mid-Ocean Escort Force
Mid-Ocean Escort Force
Mid-Ocean Escort Force referred to the organization of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys between Canada and the British Isles...
group B3 joined the convoy from St Johns
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
. Escort group B3 was led by Cdr AA Tait of HMS Harvester
HMS Harvester (H19)
HMS Harvester was an H-class destroyer originally ordered by the Brazilian Navy with the name Jurua in the late 1930s, but was bought by the Royal Navy after the beginning of World War II in September 1939. Almost immediately after commissioning, in May 1940, the ship began evacuating Allied troops...
; the other ships of this group were destroyers HMS Escapade
HMS Escapade (H17)
HMS Escapade was an E class destroyer of the British Royal Navy in commission from 1934 until 1946, that saw service before and during World War II, seeing service on Russian, Malta and Atlantic convoys.-Construction:...
, ORP Burza
ORP Burza
ORP Burza was a of the Polish Navy which saw action in World War II.-History:ORP Burza was ordered on 2 April 1926 from the French shipyard Chantiers Naval Francais together with her sister ship Wicher...
and ORP Garland
ORP Garland
HMS Garland, also known by her Polish designation ORP Garland, was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 the ship spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of...
, and four corvettes; HMS Narcissus
HMS Narcissus (K74)
HMS Narcissus was which served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War from 1941 to the end of the war in 1945. She primarily escorted convoys across the Atlantic Ocean.- Construction and armament :...
and FNFL ships Aconit
French corvette Aconit
Aconit was one of the nine s lent by the Royal Navy to the Force Navales Françaises Libres . During World War II, she escorted 116 convoys, spending 728 days at sea...
, Renoncule and Roselys. B3 group was backed by the escort carrier Bogue
USS Bogue (CVE-9)
USS Bogue was the lead ship in the Bogue-class of escort aircraft carriers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was originally classified AVG-9, but was changed to ACV-9, 20 August 1942; CVE-9, 15 July 1943; and CVHP-9, 12 June 1955.Bogue was laid down on 1 October 1941 as Steel...
and 2 destroyers which sailed from Argentia
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
on 5 March.
Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were patrol lines, Wildfang, Burggraf and Neuland, although in the event only a re-configured Neuland, comprising 13 U-boats, engaged HX 228.
In early March the U-boat rakes came in contact with SC 121
Convoy SC-121
Convoy SC-121 was the 121st of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool...
, which was several days ahead of HX 228, and engaged; the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
diverted HX 228 north-east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the Neuland patrol area.
Action
On 10 March first contact made by U-336, in heavy weather; during the rest of the day 8 others were directed to join. Ironically, at this point the weather forced Bogue and her group to detach, as it was impossible to fly off aircraft in the storm. She sailed for ArgentiaNaval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
and took no part in the action.
On the evening of 10/11 March, during a snow squall, the first attacks took place.
U-221 attacked 3 ships, sinking 2 ammunition ships, Tucurinca and Andrea F Luckenbach, and damaging a third, Lawton Edwards. U-221 was vigorously counterattacked, and withdrew to repair damage.
U-444 and U-757
German submarine U-757
German submarine U-757 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Launched from Werk 140at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven Lower Saxony , U-757 served with 6th U-boat Flotilla from February 28, 1942 to January 8, 1944 under the command of...
both fired on William C Gorgas; she dropped back and sank later.
U-757 also fired on Brant County which was also carrying ammunition; she caught fire and exploded, and U-757 was damaged as a result. She was forced to return to base; she was later attacked in Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by the RAF, in company of 2 other boats, but all survived.
U-86 and U-406 both claimed hits using FAT torpedoes; Jamaica Provider was damaged during this stage.
On 11 March during the morning Harvester sighted U-444 on the surface and ran in to attack; she opened with gunfire and then rammed U-444, suffering damage to her propellers in the process. It was originally thought that Harvester had sunk U-444 but she was found later on the surface and finished off by Aconit.
While in the area Harvester found and picked up survivors; 50 men from William Gorgas and 1 from U-444; while attempting to re-join the convoy her engines failed, and she summoned Aconit
French corvette Aconit
Aconit was one of the nine s lent by the Royal Navy to the Force Navales Françaises Libres . During World War II, she escorted 116 convoys, spending 728 days at sea...
for assistance.
While Harvester lay helpless, she was sighted and torpedoed by U-432; she sank with 149 on board, including Cdr Tait.
Arriving on the scene Aconit gained Asdic contact on U-432 which was lying motionless at periscope depth, her commander and crew celebrating their victory. Aconit attacked with depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s, blowing her to the surface and sinking her later with gunfire.
Aconit picked up a number of survivors; 20 from U-432, 48 from Harvester, 12 from William C Gorgas and the one from U-444, to join the 3 previously picked up.
Despite further action that day and during the night of 11/12 March there were no further losses to either side, and on 12 March BdU
Befehlshaber der U-Boote
Befehlshaber der U-Boote was the title of the supreme commander of the Kriegsmarines U-boat Arm during World War II. The term also referred to the Command HQ of the U-boat arm itself....
called off the attack.
HX 228 arrived safely at Liverpool on 15 March 1943.
Conclusion
HX 228 cannot be seen as a victory for either side; HX 228 had lost 4 ships and a warship, with the loss also of Cdr Tait, an effective and well-respected Escort Group commander; while Neuland had lost 2 boats, a potentially ruinous rate of exchange.Tables
Allied ships sunk| Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Tonnage | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 March 1943 | Tucurinca | Brit | 1 | 5412 GRT | U-221 |
| 10th | Andrea F Luckenbach | US | 21 | 6565 GRT | U-221 |
| 11th | Brant County | Nor | 6 | 5001 GRT | U-757 |
| 11th | William C Gorgas | US | ?55 | 7197 GRT | U-444, U-757 |
Allied warships sunk
| Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Type | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 March 1943 | Harvester | Brit | 149 | destroyer | U-432 |
U-boats destroyed
| Date | Number | Type | Captain | Casualties | Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 March 1943 | U-444 | VIIC | O/L Langfeld | 41 | Harvester, Aconit |
| 11th | U-432 | VIIC | K/L Eckhardt | 20 | Aconit |