Vorlage:Short description Vorlage:Use dmy dates Vorlage:Infobox military conflict
Convoy ON 92 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the Second World War. It was the 92nd of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The ships departed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942[1] and were joined on 7 May[2] by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3.
The convoy was discovered by Wolfpack Hecht on 11 May; seven ships were sunk before the U-boats lost contact with the convoy on 13 May.[3] Surviving ships reached Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 May.[1] Vorlage:Toclimit
Prelude Bearbeiten
ON 92 was a west-bound convoy of 42 ships, either in ballast or carrying trade goods, and sailed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942 bound for ports in North America. Convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill in Southern Princess.
It was escorted by mid-ocean escort group A-3, comprising the destroyer Gleaves (Capt. J Heffernan as SOE), the US Coast Guard cutter Spencer, and four corvettes Algoma, Arvida, Bittersweet and Shediac. The convoy was supported by a rescue ship, the North Sea packet Bury. Two of the merchant ships were equipped as CAM ships, with a catapult-launched Hurricane fighter as temporary air cover. Heffernan had a background in destroyers and anti-submarine warfare but was inexperienced in convoy protection, as was his group. Only Bittersweet had the new 10cm radar, and only the rescue ship Bury had HF/DF.[4][5]
ON 92's passage was barred by the patrol group Hecht, comprising six Type VII U-boats. Of these two commanders were experienced Knight's Cross holders, while the others were on their first Atlantic patrol.[6]
Action Bearbeiten
After making rendezvous with its ocean escort ON 92 proceeded west, following along the great circle route to reduce distance. However German intelligence (B-Dienst) was aware of its passage, and U-Boat Command was able to send group Hecht in pursuit. On the morning of 11 May U-569 made contact and began to shadow. Its transmissions were detected by Bury, which was confirmed by the Admiralty that afternoon but Heffernan made no response until 1700, when he led Gleaves and Spencer in a wide sweep around the convoy. At 1749 Gleaves sighted a U-boat 17 miles ahead and both proceeded to attack, continuing until after midnight.[7] Meanwhile two more U-boats were in contact, U-94 and U-124, both commanded by Knights Cross holders. After sunset the commodore ordered evasive maneuvers, but without success, and at 2300 U-124 attacked, sinking Empire Dell and damaging Llanover.[8] A second attack by U-124 hit Mount Parnes and Cristales, while U-94 hit Cocles. Algoma sighted one and counter-attacked but with no success. At this point Gleaves and Spencer rejoined the convoy and no more attacks developed. Arvida and Shediac were able to pick up survivors, with Bury.[9]
On 12 May the three U-boats in contact were joined by three more Hecht boats, U-96, U-406 and U-590, and all six continued to shadow. At 1300 Heffernan again detached Gleaves and Spencer in a sweep around the convoy; at 1943 Spencer sighted two U-boats 27 miles NW of the convoy, and engaged with gunfire, while at the same time Gleaves made a sonar contact 18 miles SE and again began an anti-submarine hunt. At 2253 the U-boats around the convoy attacked again, U-94 hitting Batna. She was counter-attacked by Bittersweet, but escaped. Both ships with both firing star-shell, which brought Gleaves and Spencer back to the convoy. At 0310 on 13 May U-94 had a final success, hitting Tolken, but was driven off by defensive gunfire from the merchant. At this point foul weather closed in and the pack lost contact.
No further attacks developed and on 13 May Bury, with 178 survivors on board, was detached to St Johns, escorted by Arvida.[10]
The convoy was joined by the Western Local escort on 17 may and made port at Halifax on 21 May.[11]
Aftermath Bearbeiten
ON 92 lost seven ships of a total of 42 that set out. The Admiralty and Western Approaches Command were unimpressed with Heffernan's performance, particularly as he described it in his report as a success, commenting 'all escorts are entitled to credit for a highly satisfactory performance'. WAC disagreed, feeling the group had 'failed lamentably' in its defence of ON 92. The commodores report sums up the episode by commenting 'Gleaves was never there when ON 92 was attacked'.[12] After this Heffernan was moved to other duties, with leadership of A-3 being passed to USCG commander P Heineman of cutter Campbell.[13]
BdU had reason to be pleased with the sinking of seven merchant ships from the convoy, although this was the only successful attack on any North Atlantic convoy in the month of May. It was also noticeable that the only success fell to the two experienced commanders; the other four Hecht skippers achieved nothing.[14]
Ships in the convoy Bearbeiten
Merchant ships Bearbeiten
| Name[15] | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achilles (1906) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 1,815 | Bound for St John's, Newfoundland |
| Alex (1914) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 3,932 | Bound for Halifax |
| Batna (1928) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,399 | Sunk By Vorlage:GS[16] SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury |
| Belinda (1939) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 8,325 | Bound for Corpus Christi, Texas |
| British Power (1936) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 8,451 | Bound for Houston |
| Bury (1911) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 1,686 | Convoy rescue ship bound for Halifax. Carrying equipment for High-frequency direction finding |
| Carras (1918) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,234 | Bound for Father Point, Quebec |
| Chagres (1919) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,545 | Bound for Boston |
| Clearpool (1935) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,404 | Bound for Father Point, Quebec |
| Cocle (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,630 | Sunk By Vorlage:GS[17] on 12 May Vorlage:Convert SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 5 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St.John's, Newfoundland. |
| Cristales (1926) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,389 | Sunk by Vorlage:GS[18] on 12 May SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead. Abandoned and sunk by gunfire from HMCS Shediac. Survivors picked up by Shediac and USCGC Spencer and landed at Boston. |
| Dean Emery (1919) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 6,664 | Bound for Beaumont, Texas |
| Dimitrios Chandris (1910) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,643 | Returned |
| Dorcasia (1938) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 8,053 | Bound for Houston |
| Dorington Court (1939) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,281 | Bound for New York City |
| Elisabeth Lensen (1910) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,212 | Bound for Father Point, Quebec |
| Vorlage:SS (1919) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,945 | Bound for Halifax. Ship's Master is Vice-Commodore |
| Vorlage:SS (1918) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,684 | Bound for Baltimore |
| Vorlage:SS (1941) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 7,069 | CAM Ship. Bound for Halifax |
| Vorlage:SS (1941) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 7,065 | CAM ship. Sunk by Vorlage:GS[19] on 12 May. 2 dead. Survivors picked up by HMCS Shediac and Bury, and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Empire Wolfe (1941) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 2,888 | Bound for Halifax |
| Errington Court (1925) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,913 | Bound for River Clyde |
| Evanger (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 3,869 | |
| Fort Binger (1919) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,671 | With torpedo damage (uxb), in the port bow, from Vorlage:GS[20] on 18 May. 1 dead. Fog closed in, so U-boat lost contact and the Fort Binger docked for repairs in Yarmouth before making it to Halifax[21] |
| Gazcon (1932) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,224 | |
| Grey Lag (1910) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 3,312 | Bound for Halifax |
| Ivan Topic (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,943 | Bound for New York City |
| Juno (1908) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 1,763 | Bound for New York City |
| Langleebrook (1930) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,246 | Bound for New York City |
| Lisbeth (1922) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 2,732 | Bound for Halifax |
| Llanover (1928) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,959 | Sunk by Vorlage:GS[22] SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland on 12 May. 0 Dead. Scuttled by HMCS Arvida. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Mount Parnes (1917) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,371 | Sunk by Vorlage:GS[23] on 12 May Vorlage:Convert SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead. |
| Mount Rhodope (1919) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,182 | Bound for Montreal |
| Mount Taurus (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 6,696 | Bound for Montreal |
| Portsea (1938) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 1,583 | Bound for Pictou |
| Vorlage:SS (1941) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 2,866 | Bound for Father Point, Quebec |
| San Ambrosio (1935) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 7,410 | |
| Selvik (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 1,557 | |
| Selvistan (1924) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 5,136 | Bound for Halifax |
| Solarium (1936) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 6,239 | Bound for Baton Rouge |
| Southern Princess (1915) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 2,156 | Bound for Boston. Capt R Gill CBE Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| Spokane (1929) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 2,882 | Bound for Charleston, South Carolina |
| Suecia (1912) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,966 | Returned |
| Titanian (1924) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,880 | Bound for Father Point, Quebec |
| Tolken (1922) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,471 | Sunk by Vorlage:GS[24] Vorlage:Convert SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 0 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Zypenberg (1920) | Vorlage:Flagcountry | 4,973 | Bound for New York City |
Convoy escorts Bearbeiten
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vorlage:USS | Vorlage:Navy | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 18 May 1942 |
| Vorlage:USCGC | United States Coast Guard | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 18 May 1942 |
| Vorlage:HMCS | Vorlage:Naval | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 18 May 1942 |
| Vorlage:HMCS | Vorlage:Naval | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 14 May 1942 |
| HMS Bittersweet (K182) | Vorlage:Navy | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 18 May 1942 |
| Vorlage:HMCS | Vorlage:Naval | Vorlage:Sclass2 | 7 May 1942 | 16 May 1942 |
U-boats Bearbeiten
The convoy was attacked by Wolfpack Hecht, which consisted of U-boats, namely:
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : 3 ships sunk
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : no success
- Vorlage:GS Type XB : supply boat
- Vorlage:GS Type IXB : 4 ships sunk
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : no success
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : no success
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : no success
- Vorlage:GS (Type VIIC) : no success
In popular culture Bearbeiten
The song "Wolfpack," made by the Swedish power metal band Sabaton is about the voyage of the convoy ON 92, although it contains many inaccuracies. The song was released in their 2005 debut studio album Primo Victoria
References Bearbeiten
Bibliography Bearbeiten
- Blair, Clay (1996) Hitler's U-boat War Vol I Vorlage:ISBN
- Edwards, Bernard (1996) Donitz and the Wolf Packs Vorlage:ISBN
- Arnold Hague: The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. 2000, ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
- Rohwer, J., Hummelchen, G.: Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press, 1992, ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
External links Bearbeiten
{{DEFAULTSORT:Convoy ON 092}} [[Category:North Atlantic convoys of World War II|ON092]] [[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Canada]]
- ↑ a b Hague, p. 158
- ↑ ON convoys. Andrew Hague Convoy Database, abgerufen am 8. November 2013.
- ↑ Rohwer & Hummelchen, p. 139
- ↑ Blair p.599
- ↑ Edwards p.62
- ↑ Blair p.599
- ↑ Edwards p.65
- ↑ Edwards p.66
- ↑ Edwards p.67
- ↑ Edwards p.68
- ↑ Blair p.599
- ↑ Edwards p.68
- ↑ Blair p.599
- ↑ Blair p.601
- ↑ Convoy ON.92. Arnold Hague Convoy Database, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Batna – British Steam Merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 21. Dezember 2019.
- ↑ Cocle – Panamanian steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Cristales – British steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Empire Dell – British Catapult armed merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Fort Binger – British steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ SS Fort Binger torpedoed, damaged by U-588/Vogel 17 May 1942,Free French crew tried to ram, fought sub off. ericwilberg.com, abgerufen am 9. April 2023.
- ↑ Llanover – British steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Mount Parnes – Greek steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.
- ↑ Tolken – Swedish steam merchant. uboat.net, abgerufen am 7. November 2013.