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Action off Cape Bougaroun

Coordinates:37°10′N6°0′E/ 37.167°N 6.000°E/37.167; 6.000
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Action off Cape Bougaroun
Part of theBattle of the MediterraneanofWorld War II

Map of Cape Bougaroun, to the east of Algiers
Date6 November 1943
Location
Mediterranean SeaoffCape Bougaroun,Algeria
37°10′N6°0′E/ 37.167°N 6.000°E/37.167; 6.000
Result German victory
Belligerents
United States
United Kingdom
Kingdom of GreeceGreece
NetherlandsNetherlands		 Germany
Commanders and leaders
United StatesCharles C. Hartman
Strength
1cruiser
10destroyers
4destroyer escorts
26 merchant ships		 25aircraft
Casualties and losses
4 killed
1 destroyer sunk
2 merchant ships sunk
1 destroyer damaged
2 merchant ships damaged		 ~10 killed
7 aircraft shot down

Theaction off Cape Bougaroun(Cap Bougaroûn) [Attack on Convoy KMF 25A], was aLuftwaffeoperation against anAlliednaval convoy off the coast ofAlgeriaduringWorld War II.The convoy ofAmerican,British,GreekandDutchships was attacked on 6 November 1943 by 25Germanbombers and torpedo-bombers.

Six Allied vessels were sunk or damaged and seven German aircraft were shot down. The Germans had achieved a tactical victory, though the Allied fighter escorts and warships were praised for shooting down so many bombers. At least 1,400 men and women were killed but the rescue effort led to the saving of over 6,000 passengers and crew.

Background

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Task Group 60.2

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Before the routine convoying of transatlantic convoys to Bizerta (nowBizerte) in Tunisia, US convoy escorts occasionally supplemented British convoy escorts in the Mediterranean. Task Group 60.2 (CaptainCharles C. HartmanUSN) escorted Convoy UGF 10 across the Atlantic toOranand then escorted several convoys in the Mediterranean. On 3 September 1943, the convoy being escorted was attacked by theLuftwaffe,which failed to hit merchant ships but torpedoed the destroyerUSSKendrickin the stern, the destroyer making its own way to port. The task group escorted two more convoys and was then assigned to escort Convoy KMF 25A, a troop convoy from Britain.[1]

Luftwaffe

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Hs 293 glide bombs

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Main article:Henschel Hs 293
Example of a Hs 293 rocket-boosted glide-bomb

Kampfgeschwader 26began operations over the Mediterranean as a torpedo-bomber unit in early 1941. II./KG 26 was equipped with He 111 torpedo-bombers and III./KG 26 flewJunkers Ju 88torpedo-bombers and practicedZangenangriffe(pincer-attacks) when aStaffelof torpedo-bombers swarmed targets, to prevent them from maneuvering as they could to evade torpedoes dropped from one direction.[2]A specialistLuftwaffeunit,Kampfgeschwader 100(KG 100) had been transferred from Italy to a base near Marseilles in July 1943, having received more than fiftyDornier Do 217Sonderkampfflugzeuge(special combat aircraft).[3]

II./KG 100 received Dornier Do 217 E 5 aircraft, equipped for the Hs 293 a wireless guided glide-bomb, accelerated by a rocket motor and Dornier Do 217 K 2 bombers, adapted to use theFritz Xguided bomb, equipped III./KG 100.[3]BothGruppenwent into action in July 1943 against shipping in theBay of Biscayand the Mediterranean. On 25 August 1943 twelve Do 217E‑5s of II./KG 100, escorted by seven Ju 88C‑6s, attacked the sloopsHMSEgretandHMSBidefordand the frigateHMSWaveney.One man killed and 16 injured onBideford.Two days later,Egretwas hit by an Hs 293 from II./KG 100 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) west ofVigoand sunk with 198 men killed; the Canadian destroyerHMCSAthabaskanwas severely damaged.[4]

Convoy KMF 25A and escorts

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Convoy KMF 25A consisted of 26 merchant ships and troop transports escorted by 15 warships, fromLiverpooltoAlexandriavia Palermo and Naples.[5]Task Group 60.2 (TG 60.2) comprised the Britishlight cruiserHMSColombo,the destroyersUSSMervine,Davison,Parker,Laub,Beatty,Tillman,McLanahan,thedestroyer escortsUSSFrederick C. DavisandHerbert C. Jonesand theHunt-classdestroyersHMSCroome,Haydon,Tetcottand the GreekHSKanarisandHSThemistoklis.On 27 October 1943, Convoy KMF 25A sailed from Britain.[6]

Prelude

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Voyage

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After passingGibraltar,the ships were escorted by theRoyal Air Force(RAF) in relays. The convoy sailed in columns of seven to nine ships each fromMers-El-Kebirto Naples but formed three columns to pass through the Tunisian War Channel (the Sicilian Narrows).Laubsailed 5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) ahead of the fleet onradarwatch.Mervineled the warships in a circular course around the three columns.BeattyandTillmanwere astern andMervinewas 2,000 yd (1,800 m) ahead, under an overcast sky with the cloud base at 1,000 ft (300 m). On 6 November,Haydondetected an aircraft to the north soon after noon but this was transmitting AlliedIdentification friend or foe(IFF).[1]

On 26 November, Ju 88s on reconnaissance reported a convoy of 15–25 vessels, including a troopship, off the North African coast. The convoy was protected by aBeaufighter,aWellingtonand several single-engined fighters. Convoy KMF 26 was an eastbound troop convoy of 22 merchant vessels and 15 escorts from the Clyde carrying mainlyUnited States Army Air Forces(USAAF) personnel to Alexandria, via Gibraltar.[7][a]Twenty-two He 177s of II./Kampfgeschwader 40(GruppenkommandeurMajor Rudolf Mons), took off fromBordeaux-Mérignac,each carrying two Hs 293 glide-bombs. One He 177 crashed on take-off due to an engine failure and caught fire, four of the crew being killed. The rest of the He 177s were followed by 18Heinkel He 111sfrom II./KG 26 and 15 Junkers Ju 88s from III./KG 26. Night was falling when the bombers sighted the convoy offBéjaïa,in Algeria.[8]

Action

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Ju 88s over the Mediterranean in 1943

The convoy went to action stations at 17:36 and about 17:45, the convoy was 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) north ofPhilippevilleoffCap Bougaroûnin Algeria (37°05′16″N, 6°28′03″E) whenLaubdetected six aircraft to the north but these were also transmitting Allied IFF. Hartman signaled the destroyers to make smoke and prepare for action. The passengers were also ordered to go below deck and remain there until the threat was over. At 18:00Tillman,on the port side of the convoy, detected a contact to the north-west at 8,000 yd (7,300 m), sighted aircraft soon afterwards and opened fire.[9]

As the He 177s attacked,Spitfire VBsfrom the Free FrenchGroupe de Chasse1/7,P-39 Airacobrasof the350th Fighter Group(USAAF) and Beaufighter VIFs from153 SquadronRAF and the414th Night Fighter Squadron(USAAF) arrived.[10]As the German bombers came within range, the escorts and the merchant ships opened fire. Seconds later, the Germans began glide bombing, the Hs 293 booster rockets looking orangey-red. The bombers concentrated onTillmanwhich escaped damage by rapid maneuveres and accurate anti-aircraft fire. A He 177 dropped a glide-bomb about 1,000 yd (910 m) off the beam and the automatic weapons on the port side fired at the bomb. When the projectile was 600 yd (550 m) away the bomb was hit and it fell into a steep dive, crashing 150 yd (140 m) off the port side.[11]

USSBeatty,photographed off New York in January 1943

A second bomber dropped a glide-bomb to port asTillmanwas steered back to its place in the convoy screen.Tillmanturned towards the bomb and the automatic weapons fired at the bomb as the main guns engaged the bomber. The bomb passed over the bows, turned around and hit the water about 150 yd (140 m) to starboard as the bomber was hit by the 5-inch guns and exploded. A glide-bomb from a third He 177 hit the sea 500 yd (460 m) to starboard. Concussion from the bomb-explosions damaged the fire-control radar and when torpedo-bombers flew low to the port of the convoy, the gunners resorted to aiming by sight. Torpedoes were dropped by a wave of the torpedo-bombers,Tillmancombed the tracks and at 18:18 two torpedoes were seen to pass down the starboard side, one exploding in the wake, concussion damaging the hull at the stern.[11]

SSMontereyin the 1930s

Beatty(CommanderWilliam Outerson) on the starboard side of the convoy detected two aircraft showing Allied IFF at 18:05 16,000 yd (15,000 m) astern but one was seen to be a Ju 88 and Outerson inferred that the IFF was being transmitted by German aircraft. The smoke screen obscured some of the view, two Ju 88s appeared out of it, were engaged by the anti-aircraft armament and turned away. Thirty seconds after the Ju 88s had sheered off, a torpedo hit the after engine room, which broke the ship's back, caused a power-cut throughout the ship and flooded the engine-room.[12]One officer and six men were wounded andBeattyslowly began to sink at 27°12'N, 06°16'E, 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) west-north-west of Philippeville.[13]

All hands were called on deck but when the ship did not settle, they assisted damage-control parties and began throwing overboard anything that moved.Beattybegan slowly to settle at about 21:00,Laubtook off some of the crew and began to rig a towline but it became clear thatBeattycould not be saved. At 22:30 as the list reached 45° the remaining crew members abandoned ship, it broke into two parts and sank.[12]About three torpedo-bombers got through the fighters and the escort screen and hitSanta Elena9,135GRT(William C. Renaut), at 37°12'N, 06°16E, that sank some hours later at37°13′N6°21′E/ 37.217°N 6.350°E/37.217; 6.350.Santa Elena,carrying 1,965 Canadian troops and nurses was also hit; four crewmen were killed and the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving.[14]The Dutch troopshipMS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde,with 2,924 troops on board, was severely damaged but had no fatalities.[15]

Aftermath

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HMSColomboin July 1943

Hartman ordered the commander of Destroyer Squadron 16, CaptainC. J. Cater,to oversee the rescue operation with five of the destroyers asMontereyandRuyztook off passengers from the damaged troopships, in a heavy swell.[16]Destroyer Division 32(Commander J. C. Sowell) comrpisingUSSChamplin,Boyle,NieldsandOrdronauxsailed from Algiers but were too late to assist the damaged ships.[17]Tugs from Philippeville were sent to assist and took the damaged liners in tow to Philippeville.Santa Elenasank just short in the outer harbor andMarnixxgrounded as attempts were being made to beach it.[16]

Rear AdmiralCarleton F. Bryantendorsed Hartman's after action report but was critical of the British organisation of the convoy, writing that the convoy commodore and the escort commander should have been from the same service. Bryant criticised the slow speed of the convoy and should have been at the speed of the slowest ship, not the 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) that it was moving. Once in the Mediterranean, the convoy should have been divided into a fast group and a slow group to benefit from the 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)-speed of some of the ships;Montereycapable of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) should not have been limited to 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) and the air cover should not have been withdrawn at dusk.[18]

Casualties

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About 300 people were killed by the bombing ofRohna;most of the lifeboats were destroyed or damaged and many of the life-rafts were found to be unusable.Rohnasank within an hour; in the growing darkness and swelling sea the rescuers had great difficulty, leading to the deaths of 1,015 American servicemen, 120 British and Indian crew members, eleven gunners and three Red Cross workers were killed.[10]Four crew were killed inSanta Elenaand the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving.MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde,with 2,924 troops on board, was severely damaged but with no fatalities.[15]The rescue operation saved 6,228 people, including the crew ofBeatty.[19]The US Navy Armed Guard gunners on board the US ships claimed five aircraft shot down and one probable.[20]Later examination of German records by Gross (2006) showed that three He 111 torpedo-bombers of I./KG 26 and four Ju 88 torpedo-bombers from III./KG 26 were shot down, includingHauptmannEberhard Peukert, the commander (Staffelkapitän) of 8.Staffel.[21]Two He 177s of 4.Staffel/KG 40 and two of 6.Staffel/KG 40, a He 177 of 6.Staffelditched offMontpellierand one He 177 was written off after crashing on landing.[22]

Allied order of battle

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Freighters and troopships (data taken from Arnold Hague Convoy Database unless indicated)[23]
Ship Year Flag GRT Notes
SSAlmanzora 1915 United Kingdom 15,551 Troopship[24]
USSAndromeda 1943 United States Navy 6,556 Andromeda-class attack cargo ship,Oran to Bizerta
USS Anne Arundel 1941 United States 7,796
MVAorangi 1924 United Kingdom 17,491 Troopship to Algiers[25]
SSArgentina 1929 United States 20,614 WSAtroopship, 4,770 soldiers[26]
Aronda 1941 United Kingdom 9,031 Troopship[27]Oran to Augusta
USSDorothea L. Dix 1940 United States 6,736
USSEdmund B. Alexander 1905 United States 21,329 Troopship
Hai Lee 1934 Norway 3,616 Troopship to Philippeville[28]
SSHawaiian Shipper 1941 United States 7,775
USNS Henry Gibbins 1943 United States 12,097
USATJames Parker 1939 United States 10,021 2,095 troops
MSJohn Ericsson 1928 United States 16,552 5,336 troops to Naples
MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde 1930 Netherlands 19,355 2,924 troops, sunk by torpedo-bombers
SS Monterey 1932 United States 18,017 Ocean Steamship Co., liner, WSA troopship, 3,966 troops[29]
USSOberon 1942 United States Navy 7,371 Arcturus-class attack cargo ship,Oran to Bizerta
Ruys 1937 Netherlands 14,155 Troopship, via Gibraltar, Algiers and Philippeville[30]
Santa Elena 1933 United States 9,135 WSA transport, 1,848 troops, 101 nurses, sunk, 4 killed[31][b]
SSSanta Paula 1932 United States 9,135 WSA
SSSanta Rosa 1932 United Kingdom 9,135 WSAUnited States Marine Corpstransport[32]
Sloterdijk 1940 Netherlands 9,340 HALBritish government charter[33]
MVStaffordshire 1929 United Kingdom 10,683 Troopship, 1,823 troops[34]
SSStrathmore 1935 United Kingdom 23,428 Troopship, 5,336 troops[35]
Tegelberg 1937 Netherlands 14,150 Ministry of War Transportcharter, troopship[30]
USATThomas H. Barry 1930 United States 11,350
USSThurston 1942 United Kingdom 6,509

Convoy escorts

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Task Group 60.2 (data taken from Arnold Hague Convoy Database unless indicated)[23]
Ship Flag Type Notes
HMSColombo Royal Navy Cruiser Escort, 4–8 November
HMSCroome Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6 November
HMSHaydon Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
HMSTetcott Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
HSKanaris Hellenic Navy Destroyer Escort 6–11 November
HSThemistoklis Hellenic Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
USSBeatty United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November, torpedo-hit, sank 23:05[13]
USSBoyle United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 11 November
USSChamplin United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 11 November
USSDavison United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 8 November
USSFrederick C. Davis United States Navy Destroyer escort Escort, 5–8 November, joined fromMers El Kébir[36]
USSHerbert C. Jones United States Navy Destroyer escort Escort, 5–7 November, joined from Mers El Kébir[36]
USSLaub United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USSMcLanahan United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 8 November
USSMervine United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USSNields United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USSOrdronaux United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USSParker United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USSTillman United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November, minor damage[11]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^The Americans were destined for India, to join theTenth Air Forceand theChina Burma India theater.[7]
  2. ^7 November, foundered off Philippeville, 2,163 survivors[31]

Footnotes

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  1. ^abMorison 1956,p. 261.
  2. ^Forsyth 2021,p. 207.
  3. ^abHinsley 1984,pp. 338–339.
  4. ^Forsyth 2021,p. 198.
  5. ^Hague 2000,p. 173;Morison 1956,p. 261.
  6. ^Hague 2000,p. 173.
  7. ^abForsyth 2018,p. 56.
  8. ^Forsyth 2018,pp. 56–57.
  9. ^Morison 1956,pp. 261–262.
  10. ^abForsyth 2018,p. 58.
  11. ^abcMorison 1956,p. 262.
  12. ^abMorison 1956,p. 263.
  13. ^abBrown 1995,p. 100.
  14. ^Hague 2000,p. 174.
  15. ^abJordan 2006,pp. 281, 552, 394, 585.
  16. ^abMorison 1956,pp. 263–264.
  17. ^Roscoe 1953,p. 3335.
  18. ^Roscoe 1953,p. 335.
  19. ^Morison 1956,p. -264.
  20. ^Shores & Massimello 2018,p. 303.
  21. ^Goss 2006,p. 153.
  22. ^Forsyth 2018,p. 59.
  23. ^abKindell 2005.
  24. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 178, 518.
  25. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 194, 518.
  26. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 405, 590.
  27. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 98, 518.
  28. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 301, 567.
  29. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 404, 593.
  30. ^abJordan 2006,pp. 277, 556.
  31. ^abJordan 2006,pp. 394, 585.
  32. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 396, 595.
  33. ^Jordan 2006,p. 285.
  34. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 92, 522.
  35. ^Jordan 2006,pp. 170, 522.
  36. ^abRoscoe 1953,p. 334.

References

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  • Brown, David (1995) [1990].Warship Losses of World War Two(2nd rev. ed.). London: Arms and Armour Press.ISBN978-1-85409-278-6.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2018). Holmes, Tony (ed.).Heinkel He 177 Units of World War 2.Combat Aircraft No. 123. Oxford: Osprey.ISBN978-1-47-282041-9.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2021).Luftwaffe Special Weapons 1942–45(ebook ed.). Oxford: Osprey.ISBN978-1-4728-3983-1.
  • Goss, Chris (2006).Sea Eagles: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942–1945.Luftwaffe Colours. Vol. II. Burgess Hill: Classic Colours (Ian Allen).ISBN978-1-903223-56-7.
  • Hague, Arnold (2000).The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945: Its Organisation, Defence and Operation.London: Chatham.ISBN1-86176-147-3.
  • Hinsley, Harry;Thomas, E. E.; Ransom, C. F. G.; Knight, R. C. (1984).British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations (Part I).History of the Second World War Military Series. London: HMSO.ISBN0-11-630935-0.
  • Jordan, Roger W. (2006) [1999].The World's Merchant Fleets 1939: The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships(2nd ed.). London: Chatham/Lionel Leventhal.ISBN978-1-86176-293-1.
  • Kindell, Don (2005)."KMF Convoy Series: KMF 25A".Arnold Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved14 August2024.
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot(1956).The Atlantic Battle Won: May 1943 – May 1945.History of United States Naval operations in World War II. Vol. X. Boston: Little, Brown and Company Inc.OCLC1018166599.
  • Roscoe, Theodore (1953).United States Destroyer Operations in World War II.Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute.ISBN0-87021-726-7– via Archive Foundation.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni (2018).A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome, 14 May 1943 – 5 June 1944.Vol. IV. London: Grub Street.ISBN978-1-911621-10-2.

Further reading

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  • Bragadin, Marc'Antonio (1957).The Italian Navy in World War II.Annapolis: United States Naval Institute.ISBN0-405-13031-7– via Archive Foundation.
  • Jackson, Carlton (2001) [1997].Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna.University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK: Red River Books.ISBN0-8061-3418-6.First published asForgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of HMT Rohna,Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
  • Molony, C. J. C.; Flynn, F. C.;Davies, H. L.;Gleave, T. P.(2004) [1973].The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy, 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944.History of the Second World War, United Kingdom, Military Series. Vol. V (Facs. pbk. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London: HMSO.ISBN978-1-84574-069-6.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (2005) [1972].Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two(3rd rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing.ISBN1-86176-257-7.
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