HG 70 was an Alliedconvoy of the HG (Homeward from Gibraltar) series during World War II. It was attacked by a pack of ten U-boats, without success. All U-boats were beaten off, and they sank no ships of the convoy. Two ships were lost to aircraft; 23 ships arrived safely.
HG 70 comprised 25 ships homeward bound from Gibraltar, many in ballast, or carrying trade goods.[1] The convoy commodore was R Adm. EW Leir, in the freighter Polo, and the convoy was protected by a Western Approaches Command escort group, consisting of five corvettes. The convoy escort was augmented during the first few days by the destroyerAvon Vale and the submarineClyde, and two ASWtrawlers. They were joined during the first part of the voyage by the destroyers Boreas and Eridge, and a second escort group from OG 70, comprising the sloopHMS Deptford, destroyers Nestor and Encounter, and the corvette Convolvulus; they were also reinforced at various times throughout the voyage as warships came and went.[2]
Ranged against them was an ad hoc (and unnamed) wolfpack of five U-boats, reinforced with a group of four U-boats returning from a cancelled mission to the South Atlantic, all captained by experienced skippers and all holders of the Knight's Cross.[3]
Action
HG 70 sailed from Gibraltar on 9 August 1941,[1] and was reported almost immediately by German agents across the bay in neutral Spain; these were able to report the convoy's composition, escort strength and departure time. In response U boat Command (BdU) ordered five boats from a northerly patrol line (Group South) to intercept, and diverted four boats returning from a cancelled mission to the South Atlantic, at that time off the Canaries. He also summoned aircraft from KG 40, a unit of Fw 200 "Condors" based at Bordeaux, to patrol and report on the convoys progress.
On 10 August the convoy was sighted by U-79, from Group South, which commenced shadowing, but she was attacked by escorting ships and aircraft. She was driven under and lost contact.
On 11 August the convoy was found again, this time by U-93 from the Canaries group; she was found by an escorting aircraft, bombed and damaged so severely that she had to break off and return to base for repairs. The report from U-93 enabled U-79 to regain contact, and for U-94 from the Canaries group to join; Both were depth-charged heavily by escorts, but remained in contact. A third U-boat, U-331 from South group, also joined, but was also detected and driven off by the escorts, and had to break off due to damage. Also that day HG 70 was attacked by aircraft; two ships, Empire Hurst and Sud, were hit and reported sunk,[2] though other sources say Sud was still afloat on 14 August when she was found and sunk by Italian submarine Marconi[4] and by U-126,[5] en route to join the attack on HG 70.
On 12 August the convoy was sighted by a patrolling Condor, and another Freetown boat, U-123, joined the pursuit. She too was detected and counter-attacked; Her crew counted 126 depth-charges dropped on them, 36 of them close enough to damage the boat so severely that she too had to return to base for repairs.
Later HG 70 was found by U-109 and U-124, both returning from Freetown. Both U-boats were attacked before they could obtain a firing position. U-109 was driven off, and returned to base with damage; U-124 found it impossible to approach and also broke off the attack.
On 15 August BdU cancelled the operation against HG 70 and the convoy continued on without further incident, arriving at Liverpool on 23 August.[3][1]
Aftermath
The attack on HG 70 was, for the Germans, a disastrous failure. Ten U-boats had been involved in the operation; none had been able to get close enough to fire on the merchant ships, and four had been so severely handled that h they had been obliged to return to base for repairs. Using radio-detection (HF/DF) to locate the U-boats as they broadcast their sighting reports, and by vigorously attacking any contact to drive them under and thus unable to keep up, the escorts kept the merchant ships in the convoy safe from attack.
The failure prompted BdU to consider loss of morale as a factor, and on their return three of the four older commanders (from the Freetown operation) were moved to shore posts.[3]
Blair, Clay (2000) [1996]. Hitler's U-boat War: The Hunters 1939–1942. Vol. I (Cassell ed.). New York: Random House. ISBN978-0-304-35260-9.
Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN1-86176-147-3.
March 04, 2023
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HG 70 was an Allied convoy of the HG Homeward from Gibraltar series during World War II It was attacked by a pack of ten U boats without success All U boats were beaten off and they sank no ships of the convoy Two ships were lost to aircraft 23 ships arrived safely Convoy HG 73Part of World War IIDate10 August 1941 15 August 1941LocationNorth AtlanticBelligerents Kriegsmarine Regia MarinaUnited KingdomCommanders and leadersAdmiral Karl DonitzComm R Adm EW LeirSOE unknownStrength8 U boats1 Italian submarines25 merchant ships22 escorts in rotation Casualties and losses4 U boats damaged forced to return to base2 ships sunk Contents 1 Forces involved 2 Action 3 Aftermath 4 Ships involved 4 1 Merchant ships 4 2 Escorts 4 3 German U boats 4 4 Italian submarines 5 Notes 6 ReferencesForces involved EditHG 70 comprised 25 ships homeward bound from Gibraltar many in ballast or carrying trade goods 1 The convoy commodore was R Adm EW Leir in the freighter Polo and the convoy was protected by a Western Approaches Command escort group consisting of five corvettes The convoy escort was augmented during the first few days by the destroyer Avon Vale and the submarine Clyde and two ASW trawlers They were joined during the first part of the voyage by the destroyers Boreas and Eridge and a second escort group from OG 70 comprising the sloop HMS Deptford destroyers Nestor and Encounter and the corvette Convolvulus they were also reinforced at various times throughout the voyage as warships came and went 2 Ranged against them was an ad hoc and unnamed wolfpack of five U boats reinforced with a group of four U boats returning from a cancelled mission to the South Atlantic all captained by experienced skippers and all holders of the Knight s Cross 3 Action EditHG 70 sailed from Gibraltar on 9 August 1941 1 and was reported almost immediately by German agents across the bay in neutral Spain these were able to report the convoy s composition escort strength and departure time In response U boat Command BdU ordered five boats from a northerly patrol line Group South to intercept and diverted four boats returning from a cancelled mission to the South Atlantic at that time off the Canaries He also summoned aircraft from KG 40 a unit of Fw 200 Condors based at Bordeaux to patrol and report on the convoys progress On 10 August the convoy was sighted by U 79 from Group South which commenced shadowing but she was attacked by escorting ships and aircraft She was driven under and lost contact On 11 August the convoy was found again this time by U 93 from the Canaries group she was found by an escorting aircraft bombed and damaged so severely that she had to break off and return to base for repairs The report from U 93 enabled U 79 to regain contact and for U 94 from the Canaries group to join Both were depth charged heavily by escorts but remained in contact A third U boat U 331 from South group also joined but was also detected and driven off by the escorts and had to break off due to damage Also that day HG 70 was attacked by aircraft two ships Empire Hurst and Sud were hit and reported sunk 2 though other sources say Sud was still afloat on 14 August when she was found and sunk by Italian submarine Marconi 4 and by U 126 5 en route to join the attack on HG 70 On 12 August the convoy was sighted by a patrolling Condor and another Freetown boat U 123 joined the pursuit She too was detected and counter attacked Her crew counted 126 depth charges dropped on them 36 of them close enough to damage the boat so severely that she too had to return to base for repairs Later HG 70 was found by U 109 and U 124 both returning from Freetown Both U boats were attacked before they could obtain a firing position U 109 was driven off and returned to base with damage U 124 found it impossible to approach and also broke off the attack On 15 August BdU cancelled the operation against HG 70 and the convoy continued on without further incident arriving at Liverpool on 23 August 3 1 Aftermath EditThe attack on HG 70 was for the Germans a disastrous failure Ten U boats had been involved in the operation none had been able to get close enough to fire on the merchant ships and four had been so severely handled that h they had been obliged to return to base for repairs Using radio detection HF DF to locate the U boats as they broadcast their sighting reports and by vigorously attacking any contact to drive them under and thus unable to keep up the escorts kept the merchant ships in the convoy safe from attack The failure prompted BdU to consider loss of morale as a factor and on their return three of the four older commanders from the Freetown operation were moved to shore posts 3 Ships involved EditMerchant ships Edit Ships 2 Flag Tonnage GRT NotesAlhama UK 1352 Baltallinn UK 1303 Baron Kelvin UK 3081 Briarwood UK 4019 British Coast UK 889 Cara UK 1760 City of Waterford UK 1017 Csarda Panama 3882 Dux Norwegian 1590 Empire Bay UK 2824 Empire Brook UK 2852 Empire Hurst UK 2852 sunk by aircraft 11 AugEmpire Kestrel UK 2674 Rear Comm Empire Snipe UK 2497 Empire Tern UK 2479 Flaminian UK 2711 Gothland UK 1286 Inger Lise Nor 1582 Lissa UK 1511 Menapia UK 902 Philipp M UK 2085 Polo UK 1950 Comm R Adm EW Leir DSOSud Yug 2589 hit by aircraft 11 AugWallsend UK 3157 Vice Comm Escorts Edit Ship 2 Type Joined Left NotesHMS Avon Vale L06 Hunt class destroyer 9 Aug 14 Aug HMS Begonia K66 Flower class corvette 9 Aug 23 Aug HMS Black Swan L57 Black Swan class sloop 15 Aug 21 Aug from convoy OG 70HMS Boreas H77 B class destroyer 11 Aug 13 Aug HMS Campbeltown I42 Town class destroyer 19 Aug from convoy OS 3HMS Clyde N12 River class submarine 9 Aug 11 Aug HMS Convolvulus K45 Flower class corvette 11 Aug before 18 Aug from convoy OG 70 to HG 71Copeland Convoy rescue ship 9 Aug 23 Aug 1526 tonsHMS Cossack F03 Tribal class destroyer 14 Aug HMS Deptford U53 Grimsby class sloop 11 Aug from OG 70HMS Duncan D99 D class destroyer leader 15 Aug 19 Aug HMS Encounter H10 E class destroyer 11 Aug from OG 70HMS Eridge L68 Hunt class destroyer 9 Aug 14 Aug HMS Faulknor H62 F class destroyer 10 Aug returning to UK for repair HMS Jasmine K23 Flower class corvette 9 Aug 23 Aug HMS Lady Hogarth ASW Trawler 9 Aug HMS Lady Shirley ASW Trawler 9 Aug HMS Larkspur K82 Flower class corvette 9 Aug 23 Aug HMAS Nestor G02 N class destroyer 11 Aug 13 Aug from OG 70 d c damage 13 AugHMS Pimpernel K71 Flower class corvette 9 Aug 23 Aug HMS Rhodedendron K78 Flower class corvette 9 Aug HMS Stork L81 Bittern class sloop 13 Aug from OG 71HMS Wild Swan D62 Modified W class destroyer 11 Aug 15 Aug German U boats Edit U boat 3 Type First contact NotesU 79 Type VIIC 10 Aug U 93 Type VIIC 11 Aug U 94 Type VIIC 11 Aug U 109 Type IXB 13 Aug U 123 Type IXB 12 Aug U 124 Type IXB 13 Aug U 126 Type IXC not found sank straggler Sud on 14 Aug 5 U 331 Type VIIC 11 Aug Italian submarines Edit Name Class First contact NotesGuglielmo Marconi Marconi class not found attacked straggler Sud on 14 Aug and left sinking claimed by U 126 4 Notes Edit a b c Hague p178 a b c d HG 70 at convoyweb a b c d Blair p335 a b Marconi at regiamarina net retrieved 22 December 2018 a b Sud at uboat net retrieved 22 December 2018References EditBlair Clay 2000 1996 Hitler s U boat War The Hunters 1939 1942 Vol I Cassell ed New York Random House ISBN 978 0 304 35260 9 Hague Arnold 2000 The Allied Convoy System 1939 1945 ISBN 1 86176 147 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Convoy HG 70 amp oldid 1116985329, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
