Convoy OG 69 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convoy OG.69 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Germany |
 United Kingdom |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Admiral Karl Dönitz | |||||
| Strength | |||||
| 8 U-boats 2 Italian submarines |
28 merchant ships 17 escorts |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 9 ships sunk | |||||
Imagine a long line of cargo ships sailing together across the ocean. This was a "convoy" during World War II. Their job was to carry important supplies. Convoy OG 69 was one such group of ships. It sailed from Liverpool, England, towards Gibraltar in July 1941.
This convoy faced a big danger: German and Italian submarines, known as U-boats. These submarines tried to sink the supply ships. Over several days, from July 25 to July 30, nine ships from Convoy OG 69 were sunk.
Contents
Who Were the Submarines?
The German navy, called the Kriegsmarine, and the Italian navy, Regia Marina, sent submarines to attack the convoy. German spies first found out about the convoy. Then, a German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 aircraft confirmed its location. In total, ten submarines were sent to intercept the convoy. This included eight German U-boats and two Italian submarines.
Here are the submarines that tried to attack Convoy OG 69:
| Name | Type | First Contact | Ships Sunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-68 | IXC | 26 July 1940 | None |
| U-79 | VIIC | 26/27 July 1940 | Kelwin |
| U-126 | IXC | 26/27 July 1940 | Erato, Inga I |
| U-203 | VIIC | 26/27 July 1940 | Hawkinge, Lapland, Norita |
| U-331 | VIIC | None | None |
| U-561 | VIIC | 27 July 1940 | Wrotham |
| U-562 | VIIC | None | None |
| U-564 | VIIC | None | None |
| Barbarigo | Marcello-class submarine | 22 July 1940 | None |
| Pietro Calvi | Calvi-class submarine | None | None |
What Ships Were in the Convoy?
The convoy started with 28 merchant ships. These were cargo ships carrying goods. They were protected by special escort ships. Some merchant ships were sunk even after they left the main convoy.
Allied Merchant Ships Attacked
Here are some of the merchant ships that were part of Convoy OG 69. We'll highlight the ones that were sunk during the attacks.
| Name | Flag | Size (GRT) | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erato (1923) |  United Kingdom |
1,335 | Sunk by U-126 on July 27. Nine people died. Survivors were rescued and taken to Gibraltar. |
| Hawkinge (1924) | United Kingdom |
2,475 | Sunk by U-203 on July 27. Fifteen people died. Survivors were picked up by HMS Sunflower and HMS Vanoc. |
| Inga I (1921) |  Norway |
1,304 | Sunk by U-126 on July 27. Nine people died. Survivors were rescued by an escort ship. |
| Kellwyn (1920) | United Kingdom |
1,459 | Sunk by U-79 on July 27. Fourteen people died. Nine survivors were picked up by HMT St.Nectan. |
| Lapland (1936) | United Kingdom |
1,330 | Sunk by U-203 on July 28. Luckily, no one died. Survivors were rescued by HMS Rhododendron. |
| Norita (1924) |  Sweden |
1,516 | Sunk by U-203 on July 28. Two people died. |
| Shahristan (1945) | United Kingdom |
7,309 | Sunk by U-371 on July 30, after leaving the convoy. |
| Sitoebondo (1916) |  Netherlands |
7,049 | Sunk by U-371 on July 30, after leaving the convoy. Nineteen people died. |
| Wrotham (1927) | United Kingdom |
1,884 | Sunk by U-561 on July 27. No one died. Nine survivors were rescued by HMS Fleur de Lys and HMS Rhododendron. |
Convoy Escorts: The Protectors
Escort ships are military vessels that protect merchant ships from attacks. They sail alongside the convoy. Many different escort ships helped protect Convoy OG 69 during its journey. They joined and left the convoy at different times.
| Name | Flag | Type of Ship | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Alisma (K185) |  Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Begonia (K66) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 28 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Black Swan (L57) | Royal Navy |
Black Swan-class sloop | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Dianella (K07) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMT Drangey (FY195) | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 20 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Fleur De Lys (K122) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 27 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Goodwin | Royal Navy |
Armed boarding vessel | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Jasmine (K23) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Kingcup (K33) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMT Lady Hogarth (FY489) | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 27 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMT Lady Shirley (FY464) | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 27 Jul 1941 | 31 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Larkspur (K82) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMT Paynter (FY242) | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Pimpernel (K71) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Rhododendron (K78) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 30 Jul 1941 |
| HMT St Nectan | Royal Navy |
ASW trawler | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMS Sunflower (K41) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 27 Jul 1941 |
See also
- List of shipwrecks in July 1941
