Convoy HX 106 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convoy HX.106 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |||||
|
|||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Germany |
 United Kingdom |
||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Admiral Karl Dönitz, Admiral Günther Lütjens | Capt W H Poole Rd RNR | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 41 merchant ships 11 escorts (1 when attacked) |
|||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 2 merchants sunk | |||||
Imagine a long line of cargo ships, like a train on the ocean, all sailing together for safety. This is called a convoy. Convoy HX 106 was one of many such groups of ships during World War II. These ships carried important supplies from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada to Liverpool, England.
On January 30, 1941, 41 merchant ships began their journey across the North Atlantic. They were protected by warships, known as escorts. This was a common way to defend against German U-boats (submarines) and other enemy ships during the Battle of the Atlantic.
On February 8, 1941, two powerful German battleships, the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, suddenly appeared. These huge warships were under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. The captain of the Scharnhorst wanted to attack the British escort battleship, HMS Ramillies. This would have allowed the Gneisenau to sink the slower cargo ships.
The Scharnhorst was much faster than the Ramillies. Its guns could also shoot farther. However, Admiral Lütjens chose not to fight. He was following strict orders from Hitler to avoid battles with large enemy warships. So, the German battleships left without attacking the convoy.
Later, two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by a German submarine, U-96. One of these was the Arthur F. Corwin. It was carrying 14,500 tons of aviation fuel. The ship went down on February 13, and sadly, all 59 crew members were lost.
Ships in the Convoy: Who Sailed Together?
This convoy included many different ships. They were all working together to deliver vital supplies.
Allied Merchant Ships: The Cargo Carriers
A total of 41 merchant ships joined Convoy HX 106. Some started in Halifax, while others joined along the way. These ships carried all sorts of goods needed for the war effort.
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abercos (1920) |  United Kingdom |
6,076 | Fell behind the convoy |
| Arthur F Corwin (1938) | United Kingdom |
10,516 | Joined from another convoy, fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 Sunk by U-96 |
| Athelbeach (1931) | United Kingdom |
6,568 | Joined from another convoy |
| Botavon (1912) | United Kingdom |
5,848 | Fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 Vice-Commodore (second in command) |
| British Fortune (1930) | United Kingdom |
4,696 | Joined from another convoy |
| Capsa (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,229 | Joined from another convoy |
| Cardium (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,236 | Joined from another convoy |
| Chama (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,077 | Joined from another convoy |
| Charlton Hall (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,200 | Fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 |
| Clea (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,028 | Joined from another convoy, fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 Sunk by U-96 |
| Cliona (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,375 | |
| Contractor (1930) | United Kingdom |
6,004 | Joined from another convoy |
| Dover Hill (1918) | United Kingdom |
5,815 | Joined from another convoy |
| Edward F Johnson (1937) | United Kingdom |
10,452 | Joined from another convoy |
| Esturia (1914) | United Kingdom |
6,968 | Joined from another convoy, fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 |
| Evanger (1920) |  Norway |
3,869 | |
| Ganges (1930) | United Kingdom |
6,246 | Joined from another convoy |
| Garonne (1921) | Norway |
7,113 | Joined from another convoy |
| Geo W McKnight (1933) | United Kingdom |
12,502 | Joined from another convoy |
| Harpagus (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,173 | |
| Hopemount (1929) | United Kingdom |
7,434 | Fell behind on Feb 3, 1941 |
| Horda (1920) | Norway |
4,301 | Fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 |
| Kheti (1927) | United Kingdom |
2,734 | Joined from another convoy |
| Laguna (1923) | United Kingdom |
6,466 | Joined from another convoy, fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 |
| Leiesten (1930) | Norway |
6,118 | Joined from another convoy. Fell behind on Feb 10 |
| Lodestone (1938) | United Kingdom |
4,877 | Joined from another convoy, fell behind on Feb 10, 1941 |
| Mactra (1936) | United Kingdom |
6,193 | Joined from another convoy |
| Malmanger (1920) | Norway |
7,078 | Joined from another convoy |
| Miralda (1936) | United Kingdom |
8,013 | Joined from another convoy |
| Mirza (1929) |  Netherlands |
7,991 | Joined from another convoy |
| Nurtureton (1929) | United Kingdom |
6,272 | |
| Oilfield (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,516 | Joined from another convoy |
| Opalia (1938) | United Kingdom |
6,195 | Joined from another convoy |
| R J Cullen (1919) | United Kingdom |
6,993 | |
| San Eliseo (1939) | United Kingdom |
8,042 | Joined from another convoy |
| San Fabian (1922) | United Kingdom |
13,031 | |
| Silveray (1925) | United Kingdom |
4,535 | Joined from another convoy |
| Temple Arch (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,138 | Joined from another convoy. Fell behind on Feb 10 |
| Topdalsfjord (1921) | Norway |
4,271 | Captain W H Poole Rd RNR (the main leader of the convoy) |
| Torborg (1921) | Norway |
6,042 | Joined from another convoy |
| Trelissick (1919) | United Kingdom |
5,265 | Joined from another convoy |
Convoy Escorts: The Protectors
Warships joined and left the convoy at different times. Their job was to protect the slower merchant ships from enemy attacks.
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Burnham |  Royal Navy |
Town-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 15 Feb 1941 |
| HMCS Collingwood |  Royal Canadian Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 30 Jan 1941 | 31 Jan 1941 |
| HMS Kingcup | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 15 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 |
| HMS La Malouine | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 12 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 |
| HMS Malcolm | Royal Navy |
Destroyer leader | 12 Feb 1941 | 15 Feb 1941 |
| HMS/HMT Northern Pride | Royal Navy |
ASW (anti-submarine warfare) trawler | 15 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 |
| HMS Ramillies | Royal Navy |
Revenge-class battleship | 30 Jan 1941 | 10 Feb 1941 |
| HMS Saladin | Royal Navy |
S-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 14 Feb 1941 |
| HMS Sardonyx | Royal Navy |
S-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 17 Feb 1941 |
| HMS Skate | Royal Navy |
R-class destroyer | 12 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 |
| HMT Vizalma | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 15 Feb 1941 | 18 Feb 1941 |
