Background
SC 130, comprising thirty-seven ships, departed Halifax Harbour on 11 May 1943; in the care of a Western Local Escort Force, led by RCN destroyer Niagara. Convoy Commodore was HC Forsyth in the freighter Sheaf Holme. They were met on 15 May by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7, led by Cdr. P Gretton in the D class leader Duncan and consisting of the V and W class destroyer Vidette, the River class frigate Tay, and Flower class corvettes Snowflake, Sunflower, Pink, Loosestrife and two armed trawlers. As B-7 was one vessel short for the voyage, the corvette Kitchener was seconded from the local group for the crossing. SC 130 also included two oilers for mid-ocean re-fueling and re-arming, and the convoy rescue ship Zamalek.
Ranged against them were 25 U-boats in three patrol lines, which had been organized by U-boat Command BdU on 15 May. This was in response to intelligence from B-Dienst which reported a westbound convoy (ONS 7) and two eastbound (HX 238 and SC 130) approaching the Air Gap. One group, Iller, of six newly arrived boats was just arriving, while two other groups, Donau I and Donau II, were formed from boats already on station, plus reinforcements.
ONS 7 came under attack on 13 May, and, warned by this and by intelligence from HF/DF readings and Enigma decrypts, the Admiralty was able to divert HX 238 (which arrived without incident) and to reinforce SC 130.
Read more about this topic: Convoy SC 130
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