Convoy PQ 18 order of battle

World War II naval convoy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Convoy PQ 18 order of battlemap

Convoy PQ 18 (2–21 September 1942) was an Arctic convoy of forty Allied freighters from Scotland and Iceland to Arkhangelsk in the Soviet Union during the Second World War. The convoy departed Loch Ewe, Scotland on 2 September 1942, rendezvoused with more ships and escorts at Iceland and arrived at Arkhangelsk on 21 September. An exceptionally large number of escorts were provided by the Royal Navy in Operation EV, including the first escort carrier to accompany an Arctic convoy. Detailed information on German intentions was provided by the code breakers at Bletchley Park and elsewhere, through Ultra signals decrypts and eavesdropping on Luftwaffe wireless communications. [1] The German B-Dienst code-breakers read some British signals and the Luftwaffe used the lull in convoys after Convoy PQ 17 (27 June – 10 July) to prepare a maximum effort with the Kriegsmarine.[2]

Quick Facts Date, Location ...
Convoy PQ 18
Part of Arctic Convoys of the Second World War

A depth-charge explosion near Convoy PQ 18
Date2–21 September 1942
Location
Arctic Ocean
75°N 40°E (Barents Sea)
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom
 United States
 Soviet Union
 Germany
Commanders and leaders
Robert Burnett Rolf Carls
Strength
40 merchant ships
40–50 escorts (in relays)
2 submarines
1 escort carrier
(12 fighters, 3 reconnaissance aircraft)
12 U-boats
92 torpedo-bombers
120 bombers
long-range reconnaissance aircraft
Casualties and losses
550+ survivors rescued
13 merchant ships
4 Sea Hurricane fighters
4 U-boats, 22–44 aircraft
A Sea Hurricane was washed overboard
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From 12 to 21 September Convoy PQ 18 was attacked by bombers, torpedo-bombers, U-boats and mines, which sank thirteen ships at a cost of forty-four aircraft and four U-boats. The convoy was defended by escort ships and the aircraft of the escort carrier HMS Avenger which used signals intelligence gleaned from Ultra and Luftwaffe wireless frequencies to provide early warning of some air attacks and to attempt evasive routeing of the convoy around concentrations of U-boats. United States Navy Armed Guard and British Naval and Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment gunners were embarked on the freighters to operate anti-aircraft guns and barrage balloons, which made air attacks more difficult and because of inexperience, occasionally wounded men and damaged ships and cargo, with wild shooting.[3][4][5]

The convoy handed over its distant escorts and Avenger to the homeward bound Convoy QP 14 near Archangelsk on 16 September and continued with the close escort and local escorts, riding out a storm in the Northern Dvina estuary and the last attacks by the Luftwaffe, before reaching Archangelsk on 21 September. Several ships ran aground in the storm but all were eventually refloated; unloading the convoy took a month. Because of its losses and the transfer in November of its most effective remaining aircraft to the Mediterranean to oppose Operation Torch, the Luftwaffe effort could never be repeated.[6]

Aftermath

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Analysis

In the official history (1956 [1962]) Stephen Roskill called Convoy PQ 18 an Allied success. The convoy operation brought 28 ships safely to their destinations and the Arctic convoy route, which had been suspended since the loss of Convoy PQ 17, was open again.[7] In 2001, Werner Rahn wrote that the Seekriegsleitung (SKL, Naval War Staff) had called the results "dearly bought and unsatisfactory".[8] In 2004, Richard Woodman referred to Convoy PQ 18 as a Pyrrhic victory.[9] The Luftwaffe torpedo-bomber attacks, while costly, had been highly effective and would have inflicted more losses had not the British Headache operators not given early warning of some attacks, which enabled Sea Hurricanes to be scrambled in time.[10] The Germans failed to prevent the convoy reaching Russia and their losses, particularly in trained pilots, were severe, reducing the ability of the Luftwaffe to repeat its anti-convoy operation. Attacks on Avenger had been defeated and the depth of the escort screen made torpedo attacks on the centre of the convoy extravagantly risky.[9] Coastal Command operations in support of Convoy PQ 18 and the returning convoy QP 14, involved 111 aircraft from 14 squadrons, which flew 279 sorties and logged 2,290 flying hours, most being taken up by the fights to and from the convoy.[11] In November, Luftflotte 5, the German air command in Norway and Finland, was ordered to transfer its Ju 88 and He 111 torpedo-bombers to the Mediterranean against Operation Torch, a decision which the British received through Ultra intercepts. Only the Heinkel 115 floatplanes, suitable for torpedo attacks on stragglers and some Ju 87 dive-bombers remained in Norway, along with a few long-range reconnaissance aircraft to observe for the surface and U-boat forces.[12]

Casualties

Roskill in 1962 and Woodman in 2004 wrote that the Germans managed to sink thirteen merchant ships for a loss of four U-boats and 44 aircraft, 38 torpedo-bombers and six long-range bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.[13] Michael Howard, in 1972, recorded that the Allies lost 38 aircraft from 309, 126 tanks from 448 and 85 of the 106 lorries carried in the convoy. Convoy PQ 19 was assembled at Loch Ewe but not dispatched, a net loss to the Allied war effort.[14]

Allied order of battle

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Convoy, Loch Ewe to Archangel

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Force Q

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Convoy, Loch Ewe to Reykjavík

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Convoy, Reykjavík to Arkhangelsk

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Convoy formation

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Convoy formation, * = ship sunk[21]
column 1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column 6 column 7 column 8 column 9 column 10
11

Empire Baffin    

21

Komiles    

31

Empire Snow    

41

Empire Beaumont*    

51

Empire Tristram    

61

Temple Arch    

71

Ocean Faith    

81

Dan-Y-Bryn    

91

Empire Stevenson*    

101

Oregonian*    

12

Kentucky*    

22

Petrovski    

32

St Olaf    

42

Patrick Henry    

52

Sahale    

62

Lafayette    

72

Nathaniel Greene    

82

Virginia Dare    

92

Wacosta*    

102

Macbeth*    

13

Charles R McCormick    

23

White Clover    

33

Exford    

43

Esek Hopkins    

53

Empire Morn    

63

Campfire    

73

John Penn*    

83

William Moultrie    

93

Mary Luckenbach*    

103

Stalingrad*    

14

Andre Marti    

24

    

34

Hollywood    

44

Meanticut    

54

Black Ranger    

64

Schoharie    

74

Goolistan    

84

    

94

Africander*    

104

Sukhona*    

15

Copeland    

25

    

35

    

45

Atheltemplar*    

55

    

65

Gray Ranger    

75

Tbilisi    

85

    

95

    

105

Oliver Ellsworth*    

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The Motor Minesweepers MMS 90, MMS 203 and MMS 212 were being delivered to the Soviet Northern Fleet and were to act as rescue ships en route, receiving no position number.[15]

Operation EV

Loch Ewe to Iceland

More information Name, Navy ...
Local escort[15]
NameNavyClassDatesNotes
HMS Echo Royal NavyE-class destroyer2–8 September 1942
HMS Campbell Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader2–8 September 1942Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Mackay Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader2–8 September 1942Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Montrose Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader2–8 September 1942Joined Heavy Cover Force
HMS Walpole Royal NavyW-class destroyer2–8 September 1942
HNoMS Eskdale Royal Norwegian NavyHunt-class destroyer2–8 September 1942
HMS Farndale Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer2–8 September 1942
HMT Arab Royal NavyASW trawler2–8 September 1942To Reykjavík as escort
HMT Duncton Royal NavyASW trawler2–8 September 1942
HMT Hugh Walpole Royal NavyASW trawler2–8 September 1942
HMT King Sol Royal NavyASW trawler2–8 September 1942
HMT Paynter Royal NavyASW trawler2–8 September 1942
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Escorts, Iceland to Archangelsk

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Close escort[15]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS Alynbank Royal NavyAuxiliary anti-aircraft cruiser7–21 September 1942
HMS Ulster Queen Royal NavyAuxiliary anti-aircraft cruiser7–21 September 1942
HMS Achates Royal NavyA-class destroyer7–21 September 1942
HMS Malcolm Royal NavyScott-class destroyer7–21 September 1942Cdr A. B. Russell SOE
HMS Amazon Royal NavyW class destroyer7–21 September 1942
HMS Bergamot Royal NavyFlower-class corvette7–21 September 1942
HMS Bluebell Royal NavyFlower-class corvette7–21 September 1942
HMS Bryony Royal NavyFlower-class corvette7–21 September 1942
HMS Camellia Royal NavyFlower-class corvette7–21 September 1942
HMS Gleaner Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper7–21 September 1942
HMS Harrier Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper7–21 September 1942
HMS Sharpshooter Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper7–21 September 1942
HMT Cape Argona Royal NavyASW trawler7–21 September 1942
HMT Cape Mariato Royal NavyASW trawler7–21 September 1942
HMT Daneman Royal NavyASW trawler7–21 September 1942
HMT St Kenan Royal NavyASW trawler7–21 September 1942
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Carrier group

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Avenger and escorts[15]
NameNavyClassDateNotes
HMS Avenger Royal NavyAvenger-class escort carrier9–17 September 1942
HMS Wheatland Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Wilton Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
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Fighting Destroyer Escort

Force A

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Fighting Destroyer Escort Force A[22]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS Scylla Royal NavyDido-class cruiser9–17 September 1942Flagship Rear Admiral Robert "Bullshit Bob" Burnett
HMS Offa Royal NavyO-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Onslaught Royal NavyO-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Onslow Royal NavyO-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Opportune Royal NavyO-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Ashanti Royal NavyTribal-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Eskimo Royal NavyTribal-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Somali Royal NavyTribal-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Tartar Royal NavyTribal-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
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Force B

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Fighting Destroyer Escort Force B[18]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS Faulknor Royal NavyF-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Fury Royal NavyF-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Impulsive Royal NavyI-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Intrepid Royal NavyI-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Marne Royal NavyM-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Martin Royal NavyM-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Meteor Royal NavyM-class destroyer9–17 September 1942
HMS Milne Royal NavyM-class destroyer9–17 September 1942Captain (D) Ian Campbell
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Eastern Local Escort

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Eastern local escort from Archangelsk[15]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
Gremyashchi Soviet NavyGnevny-class destroyer17–22 September 1942
Valerian Kuybyshev Soviet NavyOrfey-class destroyer17–22 September 1942
Sokrushitelny Soviet NavyGnevny-class destroyer17–22 September 1942
Uritski Soviet NavyOrfey-class destroyer17–22 September 1942
HMS Britomart Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper17–22 September 1942
HMS Halcyon Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper17–22 September 1942
HMS Hazard Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper17–22 September 1942
HMS Salamander Royal NavyHalcyon-class minesweeper17–22 September 1942
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Cruiser Covering Force

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Cruiser Covering Force[15]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS London Royal NavyCounty-class cruiser14–22 September 1942
HMS Norfolk Royal NavyCounty-class cruiser14–22 September 1942Flagship Vice-Admiral Stuart Bonham Carter
HMS Suffolk Royal NavyCounty-class cruiser14–22 September 1942
HMS Bulldog Royal NavyB-class destroyer14–22 September 1942
HMS Venomous Royal NavyW-class destroyer14–22 September 1942
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Distant cover

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Distant cover (Home Fleet)[15]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS Anson Royal NavyKing George V-class battleship11–14 September 1942Flagship, Vice-Admiral Bruce Fraser
HMS Duke of York Royal NavyKing George V-class battleship11–14 September 1942
HMS Jamaica Royal NavyFiji-class cruiser11–14 September 1942
HMS Campbell Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader11–14 September 1942Joined from local escort group
HMS Mackay Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader11–14 September 1942Joined from local escort group
HMS Montrose Royal NavyScott-class destroyer leader11–14 September 1942Joined from local escort group
HMS Broke Royal NavyThornycroft type destroyer leader11–14 September 1942
HMS Keppel Royal NavyThornycroft type destroyer leader11–14 September 1942Commander Jack Broome
HMS Bramham Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer11–14 September 1942
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Spitzbergen fuelling base

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Spitzbergen fuelling base[23][a]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
RFA Blue Ranger Royal NavyOiler9–21 September 1942
RFA Oligarch Royal NavyOiler9–21 September 1942
HMS Windsor Royal NavyW-class destroyer9–21 September 1942
HMS Worcester Royal NavyW-class destroyer9–21 September 1942
HMS Cowdray Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer9–21 September 1942
HMS Oakley Royal NavyHunt-class destroyer9–21 September 1942
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Operation Gearbox II

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Gearbox II (Spitzbergen supply run)[15][b]
NameFlagClassDatesNotes
HMS Cumberland Royal NavyCounty-class cruiser14 September 1942
HMS Sheffield Royal NavyTown-class cruiser14 September 1942
HMS Eclipse Royal NavyE-class destroyer14 September 1942
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Submarine patrols

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Submarine patrols (September–October 1942)[25]
Name Flag Type Patrol Notes
HMS Shakespeare Royal NavyS-class submarine7–23 SeptemberOff Norwegian coast
HMS Sturgeon Royal NavyS-class submarine2–6 SeptemberPatrol force, returned port
Rubis Free French Naval ForcesSaphir-class submarineMinelayer
HMS Tigris Royal NavyT-class submarine2 September – 1 OctoberPatrol force
HMS Tribune Royal NavyT-class submarine2 September – 1 OctoberPatrol force
HMS Unique Royal NavyU-class submarine7 September – 1 OctoberOff Norwegian coast
HMS Unrivalled Royal NavyU-class submarine7 September – 1 OctoberOff Norwegian coast
HMS Unshaken Royal NavyU-class submarine2 September – 1 OctoberPatrol force
HNoMS Uredd Royal Norwegian NavyU-class submarine2 September – 1 OctoberPatrol force
K-1 Soviet NavySoviet K-class submarinePatrol
K-2 Soviet NavySoviet K-class submarinePatrol
K-21 Soviet NavySoviet K-class submarinePatrol
M-174 Soviet NavySoviet M-class submarinePatrol
Shch-422 Soviet NavyShchuka-class submarinePatrol
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RAF

More information Sqn, Type ...
Search and Strike Force (Group-Captain Frank Hopps) based at Polyarny[26]
Sqn Type No. Role Notes
1 PRUSpitfire PR Mk IV(D)3Reconnaissance1 written off 9 September, 1 shot down 27 September
144 Squadron RAFHampden16torpedo-bomberAfrikanda, 6 lost in transit 4–5 September 1942
210 Squadron RAFCatalina9Reconnaissance/ASWGrasnaya, no losses
455 Squadron RAAFHampden16torpedo-bomberAfrikanda, 3 lost in transit 4–5 September 1942
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Axis order of battle

U-boats

Surface ships

Luftwaffe

Aircraft involved

More information Unit, Type ...
Luftflotte 5[33][c]
Unit Type No. Role Notes
I./Kampfgeschwader 26Heinkel He 111 H642–46Torpedo-bomberBanak
III./Kampfgeschwader 26Junkers Ju 88 A1727–35Torpedo-bomberBardufoss
Kampfgeschwader 30Junkers Ju 8860Bomber/dive-bomberBanak
1./Kampfgeschwader 40Focke-Wulf Fw 200Long-range reconnaissanceTrondheim
1./Küstenfliegergruppe 406Heinkel He 11515torpedo-bomberSørreisa, Billefjord, Tromsø
1./Küstenfliegergruppe 906Blohm & Voss BV 138Weather reconnaissanceSørreisa, Billefjord, Tromsø
I(F)/22, I(F)/124Junkers Ju 88ReconnaissanceBanak, Bardufoss, Kirkenes[35]
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Luftflotte 5

More information Command, Units ...
Luftflotte 5, order of battle, 1 June 1942[36]
Command Units
Luftflotte 5 HQ
Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen Stumpff
Oslo
Wettererkundungsstaffel 5 (Weather reconnaissance squadron)
Fliegerführer Nord (Ost)[d]
Colonel Alexander Holle
Kirkenes
I. und II./Kampfgeschwader 30; II. and 13./Jagdgeschwader 5; I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 5 (Dive-Bomber Wing); 3./Kampfgeschwader 26; 1./Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125 (Maritime Reconnaissance Wing); 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 22; 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 124 (Long-Range Reconnaissance Wing)
Fliegerführer Nord (West)[e]I./Kampfgeschwader 26; I./Kampfgeschwader 40; 2./Küstenfliegergruppe 906 (Coastal Reconnaissance Wing); Bordfliegerstaffel Tirpitz; 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 120
Fliegerführer Lofoten[f]
Colonel Ernst-August Roth
Bardufoss
III./Kampfgeschwader 30; III./Jagdgeschwader 5; 2./Kampfgeschwader 26; 4./Sturzkampfgeschwader 5; Kette 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 124
Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen[g]I./Jagdgeschwader 5; Jagdgruppe Drontheim (Fighter Wing)
Seenotdienstführer Norwegen[h]Seenotbereichskommando VIII (Maritime Rescue Area Command); Seenotbereichskommando IX
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Notes

  1. Spelled as it was originally named.[24]
  2. Spelled as it was originally named.[24]
  3. Woodman (2004) has 42 Heinkel and 35 Ju 88 torpedo-bombers.[34]
  4. Air Commander North (East)
  5. Air Commander North (West)
  6. Air Commander Lofotens
  7. Fighter Commander Norway
  8. Maritime Rescue Service Leader Norway

Footnotes

References

Further reading

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