Convoy PQ 13 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Convoy PQ 13
Part of World War II
HMS Trinidad
Date 28/29 March 1942 Location Arctic Ocean Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Germany	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
G. Ponitz	L. S. Saunders
Strength
3 destroyers	1 cruiser 5 destroyers
Casualties and losses
1 destroyer sunk	1 cruiser damaged 1 cargo sunk

Convoy PQ 13 was a group of ships that sailed together to deliver important war supplies from countries like the United Kingdom and the United States to the USSR (Russia) during World War II. These convoys, called Arctic convoys, traveled through very cold, dangerous waters.

This particular convoy faced attacks from German planes, submarines (U-boats), and warships. Even with these dangers, 15 ships made it safely to their destination. Sadly, five supply ships and one escort ship were lost during the journey.

What Was Convoy PQ 13?

Convoy PQ 13 was a special group of 19 merchant ships. These ships carried vital supplies for the war effort. They came from different countries, including seven from the United Kingdom, four from the United States, one from Poland, four from Panama, and one from Honduras.

Who Led the Convoy?

The convoy was led by Commodore D. A. Casey, who was on board the ship River Afton. To protect these valuable supply ships, there were many escort vessels.

Escort Ships Protecting the Convoy

The journey was split into two main parts, and different ships provided protection for each part:

• First Part (Scotland to Iceland): Two destroyers and a special ship called an ASW Trawler (used for finding submarines) acted as the local escort.
• Second Part (Iceland to the Soviet Union): This was the main part of the journey. The ocean escort included two destroyers and two trawlers. Three whalers (small ships) that were being given to the Soviet Navy also joined them. The overall commander for this stage was Captain L. S. Saunders, on the cruiser HMS Trinidad.

Heavy Cover Force

A very strong group of warships, called the Heavy Cover Force, also supported the convoy from a distance. Their job was to protect against a possible attack from a powerful German battleship called the German battleship Tirpitz. This force included:

• Two battleships: Duke of York and King George V.
• A battlecruiser: Renown.
• An aircraft carrier: HMS Victorious.
• Two cruisers: Kent and Edinburgh.
• Sixteen destroyers, including Ashanti and Punjabi.

This powerful group stayed far enough away to avoid being seen but close enough to help if the convoy faced a major threat.

The Journey and Attacks

The convoy began its journey from Loch Ewe in Scotland on March 10, 1942. It reached Reykjavík, Iceland, on March 16. After some ships left and new ones joined, Convoy PQ 13 set off from Reykjavík for the Soviet Union on March 20.

Storm and German Sightings

The voyage was calm until March 24, when a huge storm hit the convoy. The storm lasted four days and scattered the ships over a very wide area. They were spread out by about 150 miles! Over the next few days, the ships managed to group back into two smaller clusters, with a few sailing on their own.

On March 28, German planes spotted the scattered ships and attacked. Two ships, Raceland and Empire Ranger, were sunk by these air attacks.

Naval Battle with German Destroyers

A group of three German destroyers, Z24, Z25, and Z26, sailed out from Kirkenes, Norway. They were led by G. Ponitz.

• Night of March 28/29: The German destroyers found and sank the ship Bateau.
• Early March 29: The German destroyers then met the British cruiser Trinidad and the destroyer Fury.
• The Fight: During the battle, the Trinidad badly damaged the German destroyer Z26. Later, Z26 sank after more attacks from British and Soviet ships. However, the Trinidad was accidentally hit by one of its own torpedoes! This happened because the torpedo's guidance system froze in the cold.
• Aftermath: The remaining German ships left the fight. The damaged Trinidad, escorted by Fury and Eclipse, slowly made its way to Kola Inlet in Russia, arriving on March 30.

U-boat Attacks

The ships of Convoy PQ 13 also faced attacks from German U-boats (submarines). Two ships were found and sunk by U-boats:

• Induna was sunk by U-376.
• Effingham was sunk by U-435.

The British ship Fury attacked a submarine contact and was thought to have destroyed U-585. However, later studies showed that U-585 was lost somewhere else.

Arrival in Murmansk

By March 30, most of the convoy ships had arrived safely at Murmansk, a port in Russia. The last few ships arrived on April 1. In total, six ships were lost during the convoy's journey: five cargo ships and one whaler. The cruiser Trinidad was also damaged. In return, one German destroyer was sunk. This meant that 14 ships, more than two-thirds of the convoy, reached their destination safely.

Ships Lost During the Convoy

Here are the merchant ships and one whaler that were lost during the Convoy PQ 13 journey:

Merchant ships lost from the convoy

Date	Ship	Tonnage	Flag	Sunk by	Crew	Died
28 March	Raceland	4,815	Panama	Luftwaffe (German Air Force)	45	32
28 March	Empire Ranger	7,008	United Kingdom	Luftwaffe	55	0
29 March	Bateau	4,687	Panama	Z-26 (German Destroyer)	47	41
30 March	Induna	5,086	United Kingdom	U-376 (German U-boat)	66	42
30 March	Effingham	6,421	United States	U-435 (German U-boat)	42	12

Whaler lost from the convoy

Date	Ship	Tonnage	Flag	Sunk by	Crew	Died
29 March	HMS Sulla	251	Royal Navy	Heavy Icing	21	21

What Happened Next?

Even after reaching port, some ships from Convoy PQ 13 faced more danger.

• April 3: New Westminster City and Empire Starlight were bombed by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) in Murmansk harbor. New Westminster City was lost. Empire Starlight was later repaired and renamed Murmansk.
• Return Journey: Harpalion and Empire Cowper were lost on their way back home with another convoy, Convoy QP 10.

Merchant ships lost in harbor or on return convoy

Date	Ship	Tonnage	Flag	Sunk by	Crew	Died
3 April	New Westminster City	4,747	United Kingdom	Luftwaffe	52	2
3 April	Empire Starlight	6,850	United Kingdom	Luftwaffe	68	1
11 April	Empire Cowper	7,164	United Kingdom	Luftwaffe	68	19
13 April	Harpalion	5,486	United Kingdom	U-435	52	0

Images for kids

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  HMS Trinidad