Convoy OG 69
| Convoy OG.69 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofWorld War II | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Germany |
 United Kingdom | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| AdmiralKarl Dönitz | |||||
| Strength | |||||
|
8U-boats 2Italian submarines |
28 merchant ships 17 escorts | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 9 ships sunk | |||||
Convoy OG 69was a tradeconvoyof merchant ships during thesecond World War.It was the 69th of the numberedOG convoysOutbound from theBritish IslestoGibraltar.The convoy departedLiverpoolon 20 July 1941[1]and was found on 25 July byFocke-Wulf Fw 200CondorsofKampfgeschwader40.Nine ships were sunk by submarine attacks continuing through 30 July.[2]
Submarines[edit]
The convoy was initially located by German Naval signals intelligence (B-Dienst), then visual confirmation was provided by aFocke-Wulf Fw 200aircraft. A total of 10 boats were directed to intercept the convoy – eightU-boatsfromNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineand two submarines fromFascist Italy'sRegia Marina.
| Name | Type | First contact | Ships sunk | Ships damaged | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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-classsubmarine | ?22 July 1940 | none | [2] | |
| Pietro Calvi | Calvi-classsubmarine | none | none | [2] |
Ships in the convoy[edit]
Allied merchant ships[edit]
A total of 28 merchant vessels joined the convoy in Liverpool, with some being sunk after detaching from the convoy to head to other destinations.[3]
| Name | Flag | Tonnage(GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjutant(1922) |  United Kingdom
|
1,931 | Bound forGibraltar |
| Afghanistan(1940) | United Kingdom
|
6,992 | Bound forCape Town |
| Arabistan(1929) | United Kingdom
|
5,874 | Bound forCape Town |
| Charlbury(1940) | United Kingdom
|
4,836 | Bound forRio de Janeiro |
| City of Lyons(1926) | United Kingdom
|
7,063 | Bound forCape Town |
| Como(1910) | United Kingdom
|
1,295 | Bound forLisbon |
| Dayrose(1928) | United Kingdom
|
4,113 | In ballast |
| Empire Dawn(1941) | United Kingdom
|
7,241 | Bound forCape Town |
| Empire Voice(1940) | United Kingdom
|
6,828 | Bound forCape Town |
| Erato(1923) | United Kingdom
|
1,335 | Sunk byU-126[4]on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors, including the ship's Master, were picked up by HMSBegonia(K66) and landed in Gibraltar Capt C M Ford Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| Hawkinge(1924) | United Kingdom
|
2,475 | Sunk byU-203[5]on 27 Jul. There were 15 dead. Survivors were picked up by HMSSunflower(K41) and HMSVanoc(H33) |
| Inga I(1921) |  Norway
|
1,304 | Torpedoed, broke in two, and sunk byU-126[6]on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors were picked up by one of the escorts and landed in Gibraltar |
| Kellwyn(1920) | United Kingdom
|
1,459 | Sunk byU-79[7]on 27 Jul. There were 14 dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMTSt.Nectan |
| Lapland(1936) | United Kingdom
|
1,330 | Sunk byU-203[8]on 28 Jul. There were no dead. Survivors were picked up by HMSRhododendron(K78). |
| Larchbank(1925) | United Kingdom
|
5,151 | Bound forCape Town |
| Norita(1924) |  Sweden
|
1,516 | Sunk byU-203[9]on 28 Jul. There were 2 dead |
| Pelayo(1927) | United Kingdom
|
1,345 | Bound forGibraltar |
| Rhineland(1922) | United Kingdom
|
1,381 | Bound forLisbon |
| Romney(1929) | United Kingdom
|
5,840 | Bound forAlexandria |
| Ruth I(1900) | Norway
|
3,531 | Bound forCadiz |
| Shahristan(1945) | United Kingdom
|
7,309 | 68 Passengers. Bound forCape Town.Sunk byU-371[10]on 30 Jul SE of theAzores,after detaching from the convoy |
| Sheaf Crown(1929) | United Kingdom
|
4,868 | Bound forHuelva |
| Shuna(1937) | United Kingdom
|
1,575 | Returned |
| Sitoebondo(1916) |  Netherlands
|
7,049 | Bound forCape Town.Sunk byU-371[11]on 30 Jul after detaching from the convoy. There were 19 dead. |
| Thistlegorm(1940) | United Kingdom
|
4,898 | Bound forCape Town |
| Tintern Abbey(1939) | United Kingdom
|
2,471 | |
| Wrotham(1927) | United Kingdom
|
1,884 | Torpedoed, and sank in 30 seconds, byU-561[12]on 27 Jul. There were no dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMSFleur de Lys(K122) and HMSRhododendron(K78) and landed in Gibraltar |
| Yorkwood(1936) | United Kingdom
|
5,401 | Bound forCape Town |
Convoy escorts[edit]
A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.[3]
| Name | Flag | Type | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMSAlisma(K185) |  Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMSBegonia(K66) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 28 Jul 1941 |
| HMSBlack Swan(L57) | Royal Navy
|
Black Swan-classsloop | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMSDianella(K07) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMTDrangey(FY195) | Royal Navy
|
ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare)trawler | 20 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMSFleur De Lys(K122) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 27 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMSGoodwin | Royal Navy
|
Armed boarding vessel | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMSJasmine(K23) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMSKingcup(K33) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 26 Jul 1941 |
| HMTLady Hogarth(FY489)[13] | Royal Navy
|
ASWtrawler | 27 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMTLady Shirley(FY464)[14] | Royal Navy
|
ASWtrawler | 27 Jul 1941 | 31 Jul 1941 |
| HMSLarkspur(K82) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMTPaynter(FY242) | Royal Navy
|
ASWtrawler | 19 Jul 1941 | 20 Jul 1941 |
| HMSPimpernel(K71) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMSRhododendron(K78) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 20 Jul 1941 | 30 Jul 1941 |
| HMTSt Nectan | Royal Navy
|
ASWtrawler | 20 Jul 1941 | 01 Aug 1941 |
| HMSSunflower(K41) | Royal Navy
|
Flower-classcorvette | 21 Jul 1941 | 27 Jul 1941 |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Hague, pp.175&176
- ^abcRohwer & Hummelchen, p.74
- ^ab"Convoy OG.69".Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2013.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Erato – British steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Hawkinge – British steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Inga I – Norwegian steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Kellwyn – British steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Lapland – British steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Norita – Swedish steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Shahristan – British Steam Merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Sitoebondo – Dutch steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Wrotham – British steam merchant".uboat.net.Retrieved9 November2013.
- ^"Lady Hogarth".Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2017.Retrieved22 March2017.
- ^"Lady Shirley".Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2014.Retrieved22 March2017.
Bibliography[edit]
- Hague, Arnold (2000).The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945.ISBN1-86176-147-3.
- Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992).Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-105-X.
External links[edit]
- OG.69 at convoyweb
- Convoy OG 69at uboat.net