Convoy HX 72
Encyclopedia
HX 72 was a North Atlantic convoy
of the HX series
which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
.
on 9 September 1940 bound for Liverpool
and carrying war materials.
The convoy, made up of contingents from Halifax, Sydney
and Bermuda
was led by Commodore HH Rogers RNR in Tregarthen.
Escorts at this stage of the campaign were generally meagre; convoys generally were unescorted, or had just an Armed Merchant Cruiser as protection against surface raiders until reaching the Western Approaches
. HX 72's ocean escort was the AMC Jervis Bay
, though at sunset on 20 September Jervis Bay detached to meet a west-bound convoy. HX 72 wasn’t due to meet the Western Approaches escort until the afternoon of 21st, so HX 72 was unprotected when it was sighted at last light by Prien
of .
The U boat Arm ((UBW) was also sparse, able to maintain only a few boats at any one time in the North Atlantic, operating at the edge of the Western Approaches to intercept convoys before their escort had joined.
U 47 was on weather duty, her armament depleted after an attack on SC 2 earlier that month, and was able only to report contact.
After reporting the convoy Prien shadowed the convoy, while U-boat Control (BdU) summoned all available U-boats.
During night and following day a pack of 6 boats was gathered, and , which were nearby, and others en route from Germany.
, 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
.
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.
During 21 September Prien and Bleichrodt were joined by 4 other boats, , , and , while 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, sloop Lowestoft, destroyer Shikari and 3 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 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,
, 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.
Whilst undoubtedly a victory, and a vindication of Donitz’s wolfpack tactic, most of the UBW's successes were achieved by two of its aces using their high-risk tactic of penetrating the convoy to attack from within. The other boats following the more traditional approach from the flank, and at longer range, were far less successful.
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...
.
Background
HX 72 was an east-bound convoy of 43 ships which sailed from HalifaxCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
on 9 September 1940 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.
The convoy, made up of contingents from Halifax, Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
was led by Commodore HH Rogers RNR in Tregarthen.
Escorts at this stage of the campaign were generally meagre; convoys generally were unescorted, or had just an Armed Merchant Cruiser as protection against surface raiders until reaching the Western Approaches
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...
. HX 72's ocean escort was the AMC Jervis Bay
HMS Jervis Bay (F40)
HMS Jervis Bay was a British liner later converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser, pennant F40. She was launched in 1922 and sunk on 5 November 1940 by the German pocket battleship ....
, though at sunset on 20 September Jervis Bay detached to meet a west-bound convoy. HX 72 wasn’t due to meet the Western Approaches escort until the afternoon of 21st, so HX 72 was unprotected when it was sighted at last light by Prien
Prien
Prien may refer to:*Prien am Chiemsee, a municipality in Bavaria, Germany*Prien, Louisiana, a place in Louisiana, United States*Günther Prien, a U-Boat captain from World War Two...
of .
The U boat Arm ((UBW) was also sparse, able to maintain only a few boats at any one time in the North Atlantic, operating at the edge of the Western Approaches to intercept convoys before their escort had joined.
U 47 was on weather duty, her armament depleted after an attack on SC 2 earlier that month, and was able only to report contact.
After reporting the convoy Prien shadowed the convoy, while U-boat Control (BdU) summoned all available U-boats.
During night and following day a pack of 6 boats was gathered, and , which were nearby, and others en route from Germany.
Action
KretschmerKretschmer
Kretschmer is a surname and may refer to:* Ernst Kretschmer , German psychiatrist* Marian Kretschmer , German comics artist* Otto Kretschmer , German U-Boat commander in World War II...
, 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
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
.
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.
During 21 September Prien and Bleichrodt were joined by 4 other boats, , , and , while 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, sloop Lowestoft, destroyer Shikari and 3 corvettes, Calendula, Heartsease
HMS Heartsease (K15)
HMS Heartsease was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Navy. She served with both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy during the Second World War, with the latter navy as USS Courage...
and La Malouine
HMS La Malouine (K46)
HMS La Malouine was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Navy, serving during the Second World War.-Origin:La Malouine was one of four Flower-class corvettes ordered by the French Navy . Only two of these were delivered to the Marine Nationale. One of these ships was La Malouine the other La...
.
At nightfall on 21/22 September U-100 struck, entering the convoy to attack at close range.
Attacking before moonrise Schepke hit three ships within minutes, causing confusion. Canonesa
SS Canonesa
SS Canonesa was a British cargo ship operated by the Houlder Line.She was part of Convoy HX 72 in September 1940, carrying 7,265 tons of refrigerated and general cargo, including 2,258 tons of bacon, 955 tons of cheese, 379 tons of fish and 250 tons of ham, from Sydney to Liverpool...
, 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,
, 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 gross register tons, of which Kretschmer sank three and Schepke seven ships.Whilst undoubtedly a victory, and a vindication of Donitz’s wolfpack tactic, most of the UBW's successes were achieved by two of its aces using their high-risk tactic of penetrating the convoy to attack from within. The other boats following the more traditional approach from the flank, and at longer range, were far less successful.
Table
Allied ships sunk| Date | Name | Nationality | Casualties | Tonnage (GRT Gross Register Tonnage Gross register tonnage a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of . It is calculated from the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel. The ship's net register tonnage is obtained by reducing the volume of non-revenue-earning spaces i.e... ) |
Sunk by… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/21 Sept | Invershannon | British | 16 | 9,154 | U-99 |
| 20/21 Sept | Baron Blythswood | British | 34 | 3,668 | U-99 |
| 21 Sept | Elmbank | British | 1 | 5,156 | U-99, U-47 |
| 21 Sept | Blairangus | British | 7 | 4,409 | U-48 |
| 21/22 Sept | British | 1 | 8,286 | U-100 | |
| 21/22 Sept | Torinia | British | 5 | 10,364 | U-100 |
| 21/22 Sept | Dalcairn | British | none | 4,608 | U-100 |
| 21/22 Sept | British | 33 | 6,586 | U-100 | |
| 21/22 Sept | Scholar | British | none | 3,940 | U-100 |
| 21/22 Sept | Frederick S. Fales | British | 11 | 10,525 | U-100 |
| 22 Sept | Simla | Norwegian | 5 | 6,031 | U-100 |