Convoy TM 1 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Convoy TM 1
Part of Atlantic Campaign of the Second World War
HMS Havelock in camouflage
Date 3–12 January 1943 Location mid-Atlantic Ocean Result German victory
Belligerents
Nazi Germany	United Kingdom  Belgium
Commanders and leaders
Rudolf Schendel	Cdr. Boyle
Strength
10 U-boats	1 destroyer 3 corvettes 9 tankers
Casualties and losses
2 U-boats damaged	7 ships sunk

Convoy TM 1 was a group of ships traveling together for safety during World War II. This particular convoy was made up of nine tankers. These were large ships designed to carry oil. They were sailing from Trinidad (an island in the Caribbean Sea) all the way to Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a British territory located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

The tankers were protected by warships from the Royal Navy, which is the British navy. However, during their journey across the central Atlantic Ocean, the convoy was attacked. German U-boats, which were submarines, hunted them in groups called "wolf packs." Most of the tankers in Convoy TM 1 were sunk during these attacks. This event was one of the most successful attacks by German U-boats on Allied supply convoys during the entire war.

The Battle Begins

The story of Convoy TM 1 began even before the main attack. On December 29, 1942, a German U-boat, U-124, spotted one of the British escort ships, HMS Godetia. This ship was protecting two tankers that were on their way to join the main convoy.

A few days later, on January 3, 1943, another U-boat, U-514, found the convoy itself. It attacked and damaged the tanker MV British Vigilance. The crew had to leave the ship, but it didn't sink right away.

When Admiral Karl Dönitz, the commander of all German U-boats, learned about this large convoy of tankers, he knew it was important. He believed the tankers were carrying fuel for the Allied armies fighting in North Africa. So, he ordered a group of U-boats, known as "Wolf Pack Dolphin," to move into the area and try to stop the convoy.

Wolf Pack Attacks

On January 8, U-381 made contact with the convoy, and the wolf pack began its first major attacks that evening. U-436 attacked and sank the tanker SS Oltenia II. It also damaged another tanker, MV Albert L. Ellsworth.

The British escort ships fought back. The destroyer HMS Havelock launched a counter-attack, damaging U-381 and forcing it to leave. Meanwhile, the corvettes HMS Pimpernel and HMS Godetia chased away other U-boats, U-571 and U-575.

The next morning, on January 9, the attacks continued. U-522 returned and damaged two more tankers, MV Norvik and MV Minister Wedel. At the same time, U-442 damaged the tanker Empire Lytton. Other U-boats, U-181 and U-134, also tried to attack but missed their targets. Godetia used depth charges (underwater bombs) to damage U-134.

Finishing Off the Damaged Ships

Later that evening, on January 9, U-620 stayed close to the convoy. U-522 then returned to the two tankers it had damaged earlier, Norvik and Minister Wedel, and sank both of them.

Meanwhile, U-442 went back to the damaged and abandoned Empire Lytton. It finished off the ship with two torpedoes. U-436 also returned to the abandoned Albert L. Ellsworth and sank it using shells from its deck gun. Separately, U-511 found a merchant ship called MV William Wilberforce that was traveling alone and not part of the convoy. It sank that ship too.

Final Attacks and Arrival

The U-boat attacks continued into the night of January 10 and 11. U-522 torpedoed MV British Dominion. The crew left the ship, but it was only damaged. It didn't sink until U-620 arrived and finished it off with another torpedo and gunfire. Other attacks by U-571 and U-511 over the next two days were not successful.

By this time, the convoy was getting closer to Gibraltar. More British warships were sent to help protect them. These included the destroyer HMS Quentin and the corvettes HMS Samphire and HMS Pentstemon. With extra protection from these ships and planes from the air, the convoy finally reached Gibraltar safely on January 14.

Out of the original nine tankers, only two survived: Cliona and Vanja. The last action related to Convoy TM 1 happened on January 24. The abandoned ship British Vigilance, which had been damaged by U-514 on January 3, was found by another U-boat, U-105, and finally sunk.

Ships Involved

Here are some of the ships that were part of Convoy TM 1 or involved in the battle:

Tankers (Merchant Ships)

• Seven tankers were sunk:
  • Albert L. Ellsworth (Norwegian)
  • British Dominion (British)
  • British Vigilance (British)
  • Empire Lytton (British)
  • Minister Wedel (Norwegian)
  • Norvik (Panamanian)
  • Oltenia II (British)
• Two tankers reached port safely:
  • Cliona (British)
  • Vanja (Norwegian)

Escort Warships

These ships protected the convoy:

• HMS Godetia (Flower-class corvette, Royal Navy)
• HMS Havelock (H-class destroyer, Royal Navy)
• HMS Pentstemon (Flower-class corvette, Belgian section, Royal Navy) - Joined later
• HMS Pimpernel (Flower-class corvette, Royal Navy)
• HMS Quentin (Q-class destroyer, Royal Navy) - Joined later
• HMS Samphire (Flower-class corvette, Royal Navy) - Joined later
• HMS Saxifrage (Flower-class corvette, Royal Navy)

German U-boats

Many U-boats took part in the attacks, especially those from "Wolf Pack Dolphin."

• U-134 - Damaged by Godetia.
• U-181
• U-381 - Damaged by Havelock.
• U-436 - Sank two tankers.
• U-442 - Sank one tanker.
• U-511 - Sank an unattached merchant ship.
• U-522 - Sank two tankers and damaged another.
• U-571
• U-575
• U-620 - Sank one tanker.
• U-105 - Sank the abandoned British Vigilance later.
• U-124 - Made the first sighting.
• U-514 - Damaged British Vigilance initially.