Convoys HX 229/SC 122 - The Battle

The Battle

B-Dienst had given notice of an east-bound convoy and by 8pm on the 13th had a location for SC122; Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz directed Raubgraf to intercept, forming a new rake to the west. However a westerly gale gave speed to SC122, which passed through Raubgrafs patrol area on the morning of the 15th just 24 hours before the patrol line was formed. The Enigma intelligence which had helped the Admiralty to divert convoys away from wolf packs, had been "blinded" on March 10, 1943 by the result of the Germans bringing in a new short weather report. This resulted in the English codebreakers being starved of the cribs necessary to break "Shark". The Admiralty OIC U-Boat tracking room was therefore unable to divert convoys around the U-Boat packs. Fortunately a message from a U-Boat gave away its position once that position had been fixed by DF and the convoy SC122 was diverted around the estimated danger area. The Allied Cipher Number 3 used by the convoy escorts had been broken by the Germans. This allowed them to position wolfpacks in the way of HX229, which was following a similar course. It passed through Raubgrafs rake in the night of 15th/16th without being sighted due to bad weather. However on the morning of 16th U-653, which had detached from Raubgraf to return to base with mechanical problems, sighted HX 229 heading east, and sent a sighting report. Donitz immediately ordered Raubgraf to pursue and intercept, while Stürmer and Dränger were ordered west to form a line ahead of the convoy. He saw in this an opportunity to attack an east-bound convoy, full of war materials bound for Europe, with the full width of the Air Gap to cross. Raubgraf caught up with HX 229 on the evening of the 16th and mounted an attack that night. Three ships were sunk that night and another five on the morning of the 17th, a total of 8 in just 8 hours. The escort was reported to be weak, as 2 ships had dropped out to pick up survivors The escorts chased 3 contacts during the night but with no result. During the rest of the day, boats from Stürmer began to arrive; one of these was attacked by a destroyer, but again without success.

Meanwhile, at the north-eastern end of Stürmer's rake, U-338 had sighted SC 122 heading east, about 120 miles from HX 229s position. After sending a sighting report she attacked, sinking 4 ships in quick succession; a fifth, Fort Cedar Lake, was damaged, to be sunk later in the day. Two more ships from HX 229 were lost during the day; two boats from Stürmer were able to penetrate the defences about midday on the 17th, But the escorts were able to fend off any further attacks, assisted by brief visits from VLR aircraft flying at extreme range. SC 122 was also able to resist further attacks until evening.

During the night of 17th/18th the attack on both convoys, now just 70 miles apart, continued. U-338 sank the freighter Granville, of SC122 in the evening, surviving a fierce counter-attack by escorts, and after midnight U-305 sank 2 more ships ( Port Auckland and Zouave); however, HX229 escaped further losses that night.

HX 229s escort suffered a blow as HMS Mansfield was forced to detach during the night of 17th/18th; however help was on its way in the form of destroyer HMS Highlander, under Cdr ECL Day RN. Arriving on the 18th, Day, as a senior and more experienced officer, he would take command of B4 group for the rest of the engagement. Also en route from Hvalfjord, in Iceland, were HMS Vimy and USS Babbitt, for HX 229, and USCG Ingham for SC 122. These were dispatched on the morning of the 18th, and arrived the following day.

On the afternoon of the 18th U-221 succeeded in sinking 2 ships of HX 229, but further losses were avoided. HMS Highlander joined that afternoon, a welcome addition as B4 was by this time reduced to 5 ships.

During the night of 18th/19th the two convoys were running in tandem, though sailing independently. All attacks on both convoys were repelled this night, and 6 firm contacts were attacked, but little damage was inflicted. One ship from HX 229 was lost, a romper which broke away to proceed independently; this ship Matthew Luckenbach ran into the melee around SC 122 and was torpedoed, to be sunk later on the 19th. A straggler from SC 122, Clarissa Radcliffe was also lost; she disappeared without trace.

On 19th the escorts were reinforced by the arrival of Vimy and Babitt, for HX 229, and Ingham for SC 122. HX 229 was also joined by HMS Abelia, detached from another convoy. Also on the 19th U-384 was attacked by air patrol to the north of SC 122 and sunk. There were no further losses on the 19th; faced with stiffening resistance, and sensing nothing further would be achieved without disproportionate losses, Donitz called off the assault.

The convoys continued east; further changes to the escort occurred on the 20th as reinforcement arrived in the form of HMS Sherbrooke, while Upshur and Ingham were detached.

The local escort groups met on the 23rd,and HX 229, with 27 ships surviving, arrived at Liverpool on 23 March; SC 122, with 42 ships, arrived later the same day.