Convoy PQ 17 - Covering Forces

Covering Forces

The convoy's close escort was the First Escort Group (EG1), under Cdr. J Broome, and included six destroyers, 11 corvettes, minesweepers or armed trawlers, and two anti-aircraft auxiliaries. The destroyers were HMS Fury, Keppel, Leamington, Ledbury, Offa and Wilton. The anti-aircraft auxiliaries were the HMS Palomares and Pozarica. The other escorting ships were the corvettes HMS Lotus, Poppy, La Malouine, the minesweepers HMS Halcyon, Salamander, Dianella, Britomart and the anti-submarine trawlers HMT Lord Middleton, Lord Austin, Ayrshire and Northern Gem.

In a more distant covering role was the First Cruiser Squadron (CS1), under the command of Rear Admiral L. H. K. Hamilton), consisting of the British cruisers HMS London and Norfolk, the American cruisers USS Wichita and Tuscaloosa, and four destroyers, of which two were American.

As further protection, the convoy was to be tracked at about 200 mi (320 km) by Home Fleet battleships.

The second, heavy covering force, under the command of Admiral John Tovey, was made up of the British aircraft carrier Victorious, battleship Duke of York, cruisers Cumberland and Nigeria, the American battleship USS Washington, and nine destroyers.

As the convoy began its preliminary movements, the covering forces planned by the Admiralty were moving to positions. Hamilton's First Cruiser Squadron left Seidisfjord in the night from 30 June-1 July. It arrived in a covering position north of the convoy on 2 July. The cruisers were not sighted by the Germans until late on 3 July.

The heavy cover force was shadowed for a short period while northeast of Iceland on 1 July, while the cruiser screen was refuelling at Seidisfiord. It was shadowed for a short period early on 3 July, while in a covering position south of the convoy. Later that day, course was altered to the northward, to cross the convoy's track and to reach a position northwest of Bear Island. This would place Victorious within air striking range of the convoy on the morning of 4 July. This was calculated to occur at the same time at which a surface attack was expected to materialise. While on route to the new covering area, the task force was joined by HMS Manchester and Eclipse from Spitsbergen.

Air reconnaissance of the Norwegian harbours had been hindered by weather, but information available showed German heavy units were probably moving northwards, and an air photograph of Trondheim late on 3 July confirmed Tirpitz and Hipper had sortied. The flying boat patrol and the two lines of submarines between North Cape and Bear Island were being adjusted to cover the line of approach to the convoy as it moved eastwards. In view of the uncertainty of the two German ships' positions, Rear Admiral Hamilton decided to continue to provide close cover with the cruiser squadron and to pass east of Bear Island.