Convoy ON-166
Encyclopedia
ON convoys
The ON convoys were a series of North Atlantic trade convoys running Outbound from the British Isles to North America during the Battle of the Atlantic .-History:...
series of merchant ship convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. Sixty-three ships departed 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...
11 February 1943; and were met the following day by 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 A-3 consisting of the USCG Treasury Class Cutter
USCG Treasury Class Cutter
The Treasury-class high endurance cutters were a group of seven ships launched by the United States Coast Guard between 1936 and 1937. The class were called the "Treasury-class" because they were each named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. These ships were also collectively known as the...
s Campbell
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury...
and Spencer
USCGC Spencer (WPG-36)
USCGC Spencer was a Treasury-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard that served during World War II.-Early career and World War II:...
and the Flower class corvette
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
s Dianthus
HMS Dianthus (K95)
HMS Dianthus was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 9 July 1940 from the Leith Docks on the Firth of Forth and named after the genus of flowering plants including Carnation, Pink, and Sweet William...
, Chilliwack
HMCS Chilliwack (K131)
HMCS Chilliwack was a of the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered from Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, British Columbia, laid down on 3 July 1940, launched on 14 September 1940, and commissioned on 8 April 1941 named after the city of Chilliwack, British Columbia.-Background:Flower-class...
, Rosthern
HMCS Rosthern (K169)
HMCS Rosthern was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was laid down on 18 June 1940 at Port Arthur Shipbuilding in Port Arthur, Ontario and launched on 30 November 1940. She was named after the town of Rosthern, Saskatchewan....
, Trillium
HMCS Trillium (K172)
HMCS Trillium was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered for the Royal Navy from Canadian Vickers Ltd. in Montreal and laid down on 20 February 1940. She was launched on 26 June 1940, transferred to the RCN, and commissioned on 31 October 1940...
and Dauphin
HMCS Dauphin (K157)
HMCS Dauphin was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered from Canadian Vickers Ltd. in Montreal and laid down on 6 July 1940. She was launched on 24 October 1940 and commissioned on 17 May 1941. She was named after the city of Dauphin, Manitoba.Dauphin escorted merchant ships...
.
21 February
On 20 February U-604 sighted the convoy scattered by sailing 8 days in a northwesterly gale. U-332 torpedoed straggling Norwegian Stigstad on the morning of 21 February. U-623 was sunk by a No. 120 Squadron RAFNo. 120 Squadron RAF
No. 120 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, Scotland until the type's withdrawal in March 2010.-Formation in WWI:...
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
that afternoon, and Campbell attacked a U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
that evening. Postwar analysis concluded Campbell sank U-225, but more recent re-evaluation indicates the attack may have destroyed U-529.
U-92 torpedoed British Empire Trader at 2032 and Norwegian NT Nielsen Alonso at 0153 on the night of February 21–22. Both ships were hit by a single torpedo on the port side, flooding the forward hold, and boiler room, respectively. 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...
from following convoy ONS 167 was ordered to reinforce the convoy escort.
22 February
U-606 torpedoed British Empire Redshank and Americans Chattanooga City and Expositor after sunset 22 February; and was damaged by depth chargeDepth 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 from the recently arrived 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...
. Campbell was disabled in a collision with U-606; and twelve men were rescued from the crew of the sinking U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
. 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...
left the convoy to tow Campbell back to port. Convoy rescue ship
Convoy rescue ship
During the Second World War purpose built convoy rescue ships accompanied some Atlantic convoys to rescue survivors from ships which had been attacked. Rescue ships were typically small freighters with passenger accommodations. Conversion to rescue service involved enlarging galley and food...
Stockport was sunk by U-604 while returning to the convoy after rescuing men from the three ships torpedoed by U-606.
23 February
U-628 torpedoed Panamanian Winkler at 0420 and Norwegian Glittre at 0425; and U-186 torpedoed American Hastings about 0430 and British Eulima at 0458 on 23 February, while Spencer, Rosthern and Chilliwack remained with the convoy and Dianthus left to refuel.24 February
U-600 torpedoed Norwegian Ingria at 0520 before dawn on 24 February. U-653 torpedoed straggling American Liberty shipLiberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
Jonathan Sturges.
25 February
U-628 hit British Manchester Merchant with two torpedoes on the starboard side at 0527 before dawn 25 February.Aftermath
The U-boats discontinued the attack on 26 February. Surviving ships in convoy were joined by from Halifax, Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
on 28 February with escorts , and ; and reached New York City
New 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 3 March 1943.
Ships in convoy
| Name | Flag | Dead | Tonnage | Cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amastra (1935) |  |
8,031 gross register tons (GRT) | |||
| Aruba (1929) |  |
3,979 GRT | general cargo | ||
| Beauregard (1920) |  |
5,976 GRT | returned to England | ||
| Brasil (1935) |  |
8,130 GRT | |||
| Charles H Cramp (1920) | |
6,220 GRT | straggled 1 March | ||
| Chattanooga City (1921) | |
0 | 5,687 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by 22 Feb |
| City of Canberra (1927) | |
7,484 GRT | carried convoy commodore Capt W E B Magee DSO RN | ||
| Delilian (1923) | |
6,423 GRT | |||
| (1942) | |
7,177 GRT | 16 passengers | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... ; returned to England |
|
| El Almirante (1917) |  |
5,248 GRT | returned to England | ||
| El Coston (1924) | |
7,286 GRT | joined from Iceland 16 Feb but returned to Iceland when leaking condenser caused water shortage | ||
| El Oceano (1925) | |
6,767 GRT | |||
| (1942) | |
7,039 GRT | returned to England | ||
| (1942) | |
9,891 GRT | joined Halifax to New York; survived this convoy and convoy HX 229 | ||
| (1937) | |
6,007 GRT | |||
| (1935) | |
5,023 GRT | |||
| (1919) | |
0 | 6,615 GRT | (in ballast) | torpedoed by & scuttled by escort 22 Feb |
| (1908) | |
0 | 9,990 GRT | 985 tons chemicals | veteran of convoy HX 79; torpedoed by & scuttled by escort 23 Feb |
| (1942) | |
9,891 GRT | |||
| Eulima (1937) | |
63 | 6,207 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by 23 February |
| Exilona (1919) | |
4,971 GRT | |||
| Expositor (1919) | |
6 | 4,959 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by & |
| Fort Thompson (1942) | |
7,134 GRT | coal | ||
| Fort Vermillion (1942) | |
7,133 GRT | |||
| Franz Klasen (1932) | |
1,194 GRT | |||
| Gateway City (1920) | |
5,432 GRT | veteran of convoy PQ 18 | ||
| George W McKnight (1933) | |
2,502 GRT | |||
| Glittre (1928) | |
3 | 6,402 GRT | (in ballast) | veteran of convoy ON 67 Convoy ON 67 Convoy ON-67 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 67th of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America... ; acting as escort oiler; sunk by & 23 Feb |
| Gyda (1934) | |
1,695 GRT | general cargo | straggled and lost following 24 Feb collision with Fort Thompson | |
| Hastings (1920) | |
9 | 5,401 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by 23 Feb |
| Ingria (1931) | |
0 | 4,391 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by & 24 Feb |
| (1942) | |
56 | 7,176 GRT | (in ballast) | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... straggled & sunk by 24 Feb |
| Kaipaki (1939) | |
5,862 GRT | |||
| Lechistan (1929) |  |
1,937 GRT | general cargo | straggled 20 Feb | |
| Lochmonar (1924) | |
9,412 GRT | 28 passengers | ship's master was convoy vice commodore | |
| Madoera (1922) | |
9,382 GRT | straggled 24 Feb & damaged by | ||
| Manchester Merchant (1940) | |
36 | 7,264 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by 25 Feb |
| (1942) | |
7,176 GRT | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... straggled with steering failure |
||
| Markay (1942) | |
10,342 GRT | joined from Iceland 16 Feb; romped 23 Feb | ||
| Molda (1937) | |
5,137 GRT | general cargo | ||
| N T Nielsen-Alonso (1900) | |
3 | 9,348 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by & 22 Feb |
| Pacific Exporter (1928) | |
6,734 GRT | |||
| Pacific Grove (1928) | |
7,117 GRT | |||
| Pan-Maine (1936) | |
7,237 GRT | |||
| Pan-Maryland (1938) | |
7,701 GRT | |||
| (1942) | |
7,191 GRT | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... veteran of convoy PQ 17 |
||
| Skandinavia (1940) | |
10,044 GRT | veteran of convoy ON 67 Convoy ON 67 Convoy ON-67 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 67th of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America... |
||
| Stigstad (1927) | |
3 | 5,964 GRT | (in ballast) | straggled & sunk by & 21 Feb |
| Stockport (1911) | |
63 | 1,683 GRT | (rescued crewmen of sunken ships) | rescue ship; sunk by while rescuing survivors |
| Tai Shan (1929) | |
6,962 GRT | 12 passengers | ||
| (1942) | |
7,176 GRT | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... romped & arrived New York 28 Feb |
||
| (1942) | |
7,176 GRT | Liberty ship Liberty ship Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by... returned to England |
||
| Tortuguero (1921) | |
5,285 GRT | |||
| Tropic Star (1926) | |
5,088 GRT | |||
| Wind Rush (1918) | |
5,586 GRT | |||
| Winkler (1930) | |
20 | 6,907 GRT | (in ballast) | sunk by & 23 Feb |