Convoy PQ 13 - Convoy Escorts

Convoy Escorts

For the first stage, from Loch Ewe to Reykjavík, PQ 13 had a local escort of two destroyers and an ASW Trawler.

From Iceland to Murmansk the close escort consisted of the cruiser HMS Trinidad and the destroyers HMS Fury and HMS Eclipse, two armed trawlers and three minesweepers.

For the final leg the convoy was supported by the local escort based at Kola; two Soviet destroyers and four RN minesweepers.

Loch Ewe - Reykjavík: 10–16 March.
Leaving Loch Ewe in the afternoon of the 10th, the convoy was escorted by:

• Destroyer ORP Błyskawica (H34) (left the convoy on the 13th)
• Destroyer Lamerton
• ASW Trawler Paynter

On the 11th, another escort joined the convoy:

• Destroyer Saladin

Reykjavík - Murmansk: 18–31 March.
Leaving Reykjavík in the morning of the 18th, the convoy was escorted by:

• Trawler Celia, Bute and Wheatland. (left the convoy on the 23rd)

On the 23rd, other escorts joined the convoy:

• Destroyers Fury and Eclipse (left the convoy on the 25th)
• Light Cruiser Trinidad (left the convoy on the 25th)

The Barents Sea - Murmansk: 27 March - 3 April;
On the 27th, the convoy was joined by two Soviet destroyers:

• Destroyers Gremyashchi and Sokrushitelney

On 28 March the convoy was assisted by the involvement of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla operating here.
HMS Harrier, HMS Gossamer, HMS Speedwell and HMS Hussar of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla, under command of commander E.P. Hinton, sailed on the 28 April for a patrol in the Arctic waters. On the 29th Harrier went for a search for survivors of the Empire Ranger. On the 29th Speedwell attempted to intercept Harpalion, but failed to find her. HMS Oribi found abandoned boats of Empire Ranger on the 29th which indicated they were picked up by other boats. ( A German wireless claimed prisoners from a merchant ship, it was obvious they were from the Empire Ranger) On the 30th March, Gossamer found the Scottish American, Effingham and Dunboyne. But Gossamer received orders to proceed to the position of the torpedoed Indua, but failed to find her. Hussar made contact with a group of 9 ships of PQ 13 and a whaler. Escorted by two Russian destroyers and a trawler. Oribi sighted the whaler Silja who had run out of fuel. Oribi was ordered to go to the aid of River Afton which was reported to have been hit by a U-boat. Harrier took Silja in tow and Speedwell escorted them.

On 1 April, Niger (also of the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla) sailed to search for Sulla, but returned on the 3rd of April, having failed to find her.