USS Almaack (AKA-10) - Pre-War North Atlantic Convoy Operations

Pre-War North Atlantic Convoy Operations

Almaack—with a cargo of heavy roadbuilding equipment and coal—cleared New York in convoy on 27 July 1941, bound for Iceland. Screened by a battleship, three heavy cruisers, and seven destroyers, the convoy included Almaack, a transport, a storeship and an oiler, and the aircraft carrier Wasp (CV-7)—the latter with planes of the 33d Pursuit Squadron (Curtiss P-40s) on board, earmarked for the defense of the base in Iceland. The convoy reached Reykjavík on 6 August, with Wasp launching the planes without incident. Almaack discharged her cargo at Reykjavík over the ensuing days, and departed that port on 12 August.

After loading at New York, Almaack proceeded to Trinidad, arriving there, via San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 20 September 1941. Returning thence to New York, the cargo ship sailed independently for Halifax, Nova Scotia, there joining convoy HX 154 for her second run to Iceland. On 13 November 1941, Almaack, together with the storeship USS Tarazed (AF-13), an Iceland-registry freighter, and five American destroyers, cleared Iceland for a rendezvous with west-bound convoy ON 35 south of Iceland.

Within 24 hours of sailing, one of the escorts, USS Eberle (DD-430), picked up a definite sound contact and attacked, dropping depth charges. Over the next 36 hours, the ships marched and countermarched through rough seas, awaiting the tardy convoy which ultimately arrived on the morning of 15 November.