Convoy SL 78 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convoy SL.78 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Germany |
 Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Navy |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Admiral Karl Dönitz | Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSO | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| ~4 U-boats | 26 merchant ships 19 escorts |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 8 merchants sunk | |||||
During World War II, convoys were groups of ships that traveled together. This helped protect them from enemy attacks. Convoy SL 78 was one such group. It was the 78th convoy in a series called "SL convoys." These convoys sailed from Sierra Leone (in Africa) to Liverpool, England.
Ships carrying important goods for Britain often traveled alone to Freetown, Sierra Leone. From there, they joined a convoy for the dangerous journey across the Atlantic Ocean. On June 18, 1941, twenty-five merchant ships left Freetown. They were heading to Liverpool. German U-boats (submarines) attacked the convoy. Eight ships were sunk before the convoy reached Liverpool on July 12.
What Was Convoy SL 78?
Convoy SL 78 was a vital part of the Battle of the Atlantic. This battle was fought to keep supply lines open to Britain. German U-boats tried to stop these convoys. They wanted to cut off supplies to the United Kingdom.
Who Was in the Convoy?
The convoy included two main types of ships: merchant ships and escort ships. Merchant ships carried goods. Escort ships were military vessels that protected the merchant ships.
Allied Merchant Ships
A total of 26 merchant ships joined Convoy SL 78. They came from different Allied countries. These ships carried important supplies. They were the main targets for the German U-boats.
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliakmon (1913) |  Greece |
4,521 | |
| Arundo (1930) |  Netherlands |
5,163 | |
| Atle Jarl (1919) |  Norway |
1,173 | |
| Baron Napier (1930) |  United Kingdom |
3,559 | |
| Batna (1928) | United Kingdom |
4,399 | |
| Blackheath (1936) | United Kingdom |
4,637 | Had a small collision with an escort ship |
| Camerata (1931) | United Kingdom |
4,875 | |
| Criton (1927) | United Kingdom |
4,564 | Sunk by French warships near Freetown |
| Empire Ability (1931) | United Kingdom |
7,603 | Sunk by U-69 |
| Esneh (1919) | United Kingdom |
1,931 | |
| George J Goulandris (1913) | Greece |
4,345 | Sunk by U-66 |
| Kalypso Vergotti (1918) | Greece |
5,686 | Sunk by U-66; all 36 crew lost |
| Keilehaven (1919) | Netherlands |
2,968 | |
| Leonidas N Condylis (1912) | Greece |
3,923 | |
| Mary Slessor (1930) | United Kingdom |
5,027 | Ship of the Convoy Vice Commodore |
| Michael Jebsen (1927) | United Kingdom |
2,323 | Did not rejoin the convoy |
| Oberon (1911) | Netherlands |
1,996 | Sunk by U-123 |
| P.L.M.22 (1921) | United Kingdom |
5,646 | Sunk by U-123 |
| Parthenon (1908) | Greece |
3,189 | |
| Rio Azul (1921) | United Kingdom |
4,088 | Sunk by U-123 after leaving the convoy |
| River Lugar (1937) | United Kingdom |
5,423 | Sunk by U-69 |
| Rolf Jarl (1920) | Norway |
1,917 | |
| Sobo (1937) | United Kingdom |
5,353 | Ship of the Convoy Commodore, Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey |
| St Anselm (1919) | United Kingdom |
5,614 | Sunk by U-66 |
| Stad Arnhem (1920) | Netherlands |
3,819 | Later joined another convoy |
| Venus (1907) | Netherlands |
1,855 |
Convoy Escorts
These military ships protected the merchant vessels. They joined and left the convoy at different points. This ensured continuous protection across the Atlantic.
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Arbutus (K86) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 11 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Armeria (K187) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Asphodel (K56) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Aster (K188) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Begonia (K66) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Bridgewater (L01) | Royal Navy |
Bridgewater-class sloop | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Burdock (K126) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 18 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Chelsea (I35) | Royal Navy |
Town-class destroyer | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Convolvulus (K45) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Esperance Bay (F67) | Royal Navy |
Armed merchant cruiser and troopship | 18 Jun 1941 | 27 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Fleur De Lys (K122) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 30 Jun 1941 | 30 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Jasmine (K23) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Larkspur (K82) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HNoMS Mansfield (G76) | Royal Norwegian Navy |
Town-class destroyer | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Pegasus | Royal Navy |
Fighter catapult ship | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Pimpernel (K71) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Rhododendron (K78) | Royal Navy |
Flower-class corvette | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Shropshire (73) | Royal Navy |
County-class heavy cruiser | 26 Jun 1941 | 27 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Verity (D63) | Royal Navy |
Modified W-class destroyer | 09 Jul 1941 | 12 Jul 1941 |
