Convoy PQ 14
Encyclopedia
Convoy PQ 14 was an Arctic convoy
sent from Great Britain
by the Western Allies
to aid the Soviet Union
during World War II
. It sailed in April 1942, reaching Murmansk
after air and U-boat attacks that sank one ship, and ice damage that saw 16 vessels returned to port. Seven ships arrived safely.
E Rees in Empire Howard.
The Close escort comprised two minesweeper
s, and four trawlers
, joined later by an Ocean escort comprising the cruiser Edinburgh, R. Adm. SS Bonham–Carter
commanding, plus four destroyer
s and four corvette
s.
on 8 April 1942 with its close escort.
On 9 April, SSW of Jan Mayen Island, the convoy was joined by Edinburgh and the Ocean Escort Group.
On the night of 10/11 April, south-west of Jan Mayen, the convoy encountered heavy ice. The convoy was thrown into disarray and many ships were damaged. Eventually 16 ships and 2 of the escorts were forced to turn back through damage or being unable to rejoin the convoy.
The remaining eight ships, with the Edinburgh and the 12 escorts pressed on to Murmansk.
Over the next few days PQ 14 had no interference from German forces, though its reciprocal, Convoy QP 10, was under persistent attack during this period.
On 15 April, east of Bear Island, the convoy was sighted by German aircraft, and a number of air and U-boat attacks were made over the next three days.
On 16 April Empire Howard was hit by a torpedo from U 403. She sank with the loss of most of her crew, including Commodore Rees.
On the same day U-376 fired on Edinburgh, but scored no hits.
On 17 April the convoy was joined by three Soviet destroyers, and on 18 April by four RN
minesweepers stationed at Kola
.
Also on 18 a strong NW gale developed, putting an end to further air attacks.
A force of German destroyers stationed at Kirkenes
attempted to sortie to make an attack, but was also forced back by the weather.
On 19 April the seven remaining ships entered Kola Inlet, and arrived at Murmansk
.
deliveries to the Soviets, and ensured that the Allies would have to run larger convoys during the hazardous summer months to catch up.
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
sent from Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
to aid the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during 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 sailed in April 1942, reaching Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
after air and U-boat attacks that sank one ship, and ice damage that saw 16 vessels returned to port. Seven ships arrived safely.
Ships
PQ 14 consisted of 24 ships, led by CommodoreCommodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
E Rees in Empire Howard.
The Close escort comprised two minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s, and four trawlers
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
, joined later by an Ocean escort comprising the cruiser Edinburgh, R. Adm. SS Bonham–Carter
Stuart Bonham Carter
Vice Admiral Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, KCB, CVO, DSO was an officer in the Royal Navy who had a distinguished record in both world wars.-Naval career:...
commanding, plus four destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and four corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s.
Action
PQ 14 sailed from IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
on 8 April 1942 with its close escort.
On 9 April, SSW of Jan Mayen Island, the convoy was joined by Edinburgh and the Ocean Escort Group.
On the night of 10/11 April, south-west of Jan Mayen, the convoy encountered heavy ice. The convoy was thrown into disarray and many ships were damaged. Eventually 16 ships and 2 of the escorts were forced to turn back through damage or being unable to rejoin the convoy.
The remaining eight ships, with the Edinburgh and the 12 escorts pressed on to Murmansk.
Over the next few days PQ 14 had no interference from German forces, though its reciprocal, Convoy QP 10, was under persistent attack during this period.
On 15 April, east of Bear Island, the convoy was sighted by German aircraft, and a number of air and U-boat attacks were made over the next three days.
On 16 April Empire Howard was hit by a torpedo from U 403. She sank with the loss of most of her crew, including Commodore Rees.
On the same day U-376 fired on Edinburgh, but scored no hits.
On 17 April the convoy was joined by three Soviet destroyers, and on 18 April by four RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
minesweepers stationed at Kola
Kola
Kola can refer to:*Kola nut, a genus of about 125 species of trees**Inca Kola, a cola soft drink made in Peru**Kola Real, a Peruvian soft drink**Kola Inglesa , a Peruvian soft drink...
.
Also on 18 a strong NW gale developed, putting an end to further air attacks.
A force of German destroyers stationed at Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
attempted to sortie to make an attack, but was also forced back by the weather.
On 19 April the seven remaining ships entered Kola Inlet, and arrived at Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
.
Aftermath
Despite the safe arrival of the ships of PQ 14, the return of so many ships with ice damage created a shortfall in Lend-leaseLend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
deliveries to the Soviets, and ensured that the Allies would have to run larger convoys during the hazardous summer months to catch up.
Ship list
- Andre Marti
- Arcos
- Briarwood
- Cape Corso
- City of Joliet
- Dan-y-Bryn
- El Mirlo
- Exterminator
- Hegira
- Hopemount
- Ironclad
- Minotaur
- Mormacrio
- Pieter Van Hoogh
- Seattle Spirit
- Sukhona
- Trehata
- Yaka