Convoy HX 156

Convoy HX-156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941; and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of Gleaves class destroyer Niblack, Clemson class destroyer Reuben James, Wickes class destroyer Tarbell, and Benson class destroyers Benson and Hilary P. Jones.

U-552 sighted the convoy at dawn on 31 October 1941, and torpedoed Reuben James as the destroyer approached to investigate the Huff-Duff bearing of the sighting report. A torpedo struck the port side and detonated the forward magazine. The hull aft of the third stack remained afloat for 5 minutes; and 44 men were rescued from the crew of 159. Reuben James was the first United States warship sunk during World War II. U-552 was driven off by the escort; but U-567 found the convoy that afternoon. Task Unit 4.1.3 handed the convoy off to the British 6th Escort Group on 1 November 1941. U-552 and U-567 made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on 1 November and maintained contact with the convoy through 3 November. The convoy reached Liverpool on 5 November.