Convoy HX 84 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convoy HX 84 |
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| Part of World War II | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Nazi Germany |
 United Kingdom |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Theodor Krancke |
 E.S.F. Fegen † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 heavy cruiser | 38 merchant ships 3 escorts (1 during attack) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 5 merchants sunk 1 merchant damaged 1 escort sunk (1 merchant sunk post-dispersal) |
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Imagine a long line of cargo ships, like a train on the ocean, carrying important supplies during World War II. This was Convoy HX 84. It was the 84th group of merchant ships sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Bermuda to Liverpool, England. These convoys were vital for getting supplies to Britain during the Battle of the Atlantic.
On 28 October 1940, 38 ships set sail from Halifax. Their only protection was an armed merchant ship called HMS Jervis Bay.
Contents
A Surprise Attack: The Admiral Scheer Appears
On the morning of 5 November, a German warship, the Admiral Scheer, was looking for Allied ships. It was a powerful heavy cruiser, much stronger than any ship protecting the convoy.
Spotting Mopan
The Admiral Scheer used its seaplane to scout the area. At 12:05 PM, the seaplane spotted a convoy. This was HX 84. The German captain, Theodor Krancke, decided to attack before nightfall.
But before reaching the main convoy, the Admiral Scheer saw another ship. This was the cargo liner Mopan. Mopan had been offered a chance to join the convoy earlier but had declined.
The Admiral Scheer fired warning shots at Mopan. Captain Krancke then ordered Mopan to stop and told its crew to abandon ship. He also warned them not to use their radio.
Mopan's radio officer wanted to send a distress signal. This signal, R-R-R, would warn Convoy HX 84 that a German raider was nearby. But Captain Sapsworth of Mopan knew his ship could be destroyed if he disobeyed. So, he ordered his crew to leave the ship safely.
This careful and slow evacuation of Mopan took time. The Admiral Scheer then sank Mopan. This whole process took almost two hours. This delay, caused by Mopan's crew, was very important.
The Battle Begins: Protecting the Convoy
The delay caused by Mopan meant that when the Admiral Scheer finally reached Convoy HX 84, it was getting dark. This made it harder for the German ship to find and sink the merchant vessels.
The Heroic Stand of Jervis Bay
As the Admiral Scheer approached, Captain Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen of the HMS Jervis Bay made a brave decision. He sailed his ship directly towards the powerful German cruiser. His goal was to fight the Admiral Scheer and delay it as much as possible. This would give the other ships in the convoy a chance to scatter and escape.
The Jervis Bay was no match for the Admiral Scheer's much larger guns. After about 20 minutes of fighting, the Jervis Bay was sunk. Most of its crew, 190 sailors, were lost. But their incredible sacrifice bought precious time for the convoy.
The Fight of Beaverford
Another merchant ship, the SS Beaverford, also tried to delay the Admiral Scheer. It had only two small guns. Some stories say it fought for hours, but the German captain's report doesn't mention a long battle. Still, Beaverford was sunk, and its resistance helped the convoy escape further.
Other Ships Attacked
Even with the delays, the Admiral Scheer managed to sink a few more ships: Maiden, Trewellard, Kenbane Head, and Fresno. The tanker San Demetrio was damaged and abandoned.
However, the story of San Demetrio is amazing. Two days later, some of its crew, who were in lifeboats, saw their ship still floating and on fire. They reboarded it, got the engines working, and managed to sail it safely to port! This incredible event was even made into a film.
Thanks to the bravery of Jervis Bay and the delays, the Admiral Scheer only sank six of the 38 ships in the convoy. The darkness also helped the remaining ships get away.
What Happened Next
The time spent by the Admiral Scheer dealing with Mopan, and then the brave stand of Jervis Bay and Beaverford, were crucial. These actions gave the convoy enough time to scatter and escape. This prevented a much bigger disaster for the Allies.
On 5 November 1941, a year after the battle, a monument was put up in Hamilton, Bermuda, to honor the Jervis Bay. A naval officer, Vice Admiral Sir Charles Kennedy-Purvis, spoke at the ceremony. He praised Captain Fegen and his crew. He said that Captain Fegen, following his training, believed it was his duty to protect the convoy at all costs. This he did, even against overwhelming odds. Captain Fegen was later given the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery.
Ships in the Convoy
Allied Merchant Ships
Here are the merchant ships that were part of Convoy HX 84. Five were sunk during the attack, and one more was sunk later.
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andalusian (1918) |  United Kingdom |
3,082 | |
| Anna Bulgaris (1912) |  Greece |
4,603 | |
| Athelempress (1930) | United Kingdom |
8,941 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Atheltemplar (1930) | United Kingdom |
8,992 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Beaverford (1928) | United Kingdom |
10,042 | Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| Briarwood (1930) | United Kingdom |
4,019 | |
| Castilian (1919) | United Kingdom |
3,067 | |
| Cetus (1920) |  Norway |
2,614 | |
| Cordelia (1932) | United Kingdom |
8,190 | Joined from BHX 84. Returned after scattering |
| Cornish City (1936) | United Kingdom |
4,952 | |
| Dan-Y-Bryn (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,117 | |
| Danae Ii (1936) | United Kingdom |
2,660 | |
| Delhi (1925) |  Sweden |
4,571 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Delphinula (1939) | United Kingdom |
8,120 | |
| Emile Francqui (1929) |  Belgium |
5,859 | |
| Empire Penguin (1919) | United Kingdom |
6,389 | |
| Erodona (1937) | United Kingdom |
6,207 | |
| Fresno City (1929) | United Kingdom |
4,955 | Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| Hjalmar Wessel (1935) | Norway |
1,742 | |
| James J Maguire (1939) | United Kingdom |
10,525 | |
| Kenbane Head (1919) | United Kingdom |
5,225 | Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| Lancaster Castle (1937) | United Kingdom |
5,172 | |
| Maidan (1925) | United Kingdom |
7,908 | Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| Morska Wola (1924) |  Poland |
3,208 | |
| Oilreliance (1929) | United Kingdom |
5,666 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Pacific Enterprise (1927) | United Kingdom |
6,736 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Persier (1918) | Belgium |
5,382 | |
| Puck (1935) | Poland |
1,065 | |
| Rangitiki (1929) | United Kingdom |
16,698 | |
| Saint Gobain (1936) | Sweden |
9,959 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| San Demetrio (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,073 | Damaged but later recovered by crew |
| Solfonn (1939) | Norway |
9,925 | Joined from BHX 84 |
| Sovac (1938) | United Kingdom |
6,724 | |
| Stureholm (1919) | Sweden |
4,575 | Returned to Halifax after scattering |
| Trefusis (1918) | United Kingdom |
5,299 | |
| Trewellard (1936) | United Kingdom |
5,201 | Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| Varoy (1892) | Norway |
1,531 | |
| Vingaland (1935) | Sweden |
2,734 | Sunk by German aircraft after scattering |
Convoy Escorts
These military ships helped protect the convoy at different times. Only one was present during the main attack.
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMCS Columbia |  Royal Canadian Navy |
Town-class destroyer | 28 October 1940 | 29 October 1940 |
| HMS Jervis Bay |  Royal Navy |
Armed merchant cruiser | 28 October 1940 | 5 November 1940 Sunk by Admiral Scheer |
| HMCS St. Francis | Royal Canadian Navy |
Town-class destroyer | 28 October 1940 | 29 October 1940 |
