Convoy OG 69

Convoy OG.69
Part of World War II
Date19 July – 1 August 1941
LocationNorth Atlantic
Belligerents
Germany United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz
Strength
8 U-boats
2 Italian submarines
28 merchant ships
17 escorts
Casualties and losses
7 ships sunk

Convoy OG 69 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 69th of the numbered OG convoys Outbound from the British Isles to Gibraltar. The convoy departed Liverpool on 20 July 1941[1] and was found on 25 July by Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors of Kampfgeschwader 40. Seven ships were sunk by submarine attacks continuing through 30 July.[2]

Escorts

The convoy was protected by the following escorts:-

  • HMS Alisma (K185)
  • HMS Begonia (K66)
  • HMS Dianella (K07)
  • HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)
  • HMS Jasmine (K23)
  • HMS Kingcup (K33)
  • HMS Larkspur (K82)
  • HMS Pimpernel (K71)
  • HMS Rhododendron (K78)
  • HMS Sunflower (K41)
  • HMS Black Swan (L57)
  • HMS Drangey (FY195)
  • HMS Lady Shirley
  • HMS Paynter (FY242)
  • HMT St Nectan
  • HMS Goodwin

Submarines

The convoy was initially located by German Naval signals intelligence (B-Dienst), then visual confirmation was provided by a Focke-Wulf Fw200 aircraft.

10 boats were directed to intercept the convoy, with the assistance of the Luftwaffe aircraft.

Ships in the convoy[11]

Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Notes
Adjutant (1922)  United Kingdom 1,931 Bound for Gibraltar
Afghanistan (1940)  United Kingdom 6,992 Bound for Cape Town
HMS Alisma (K185)  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jul – 26 Jul. Corvette
Arabistan (1929)  United Kingdom 5,874 Bound for Cape Town
HMS Begonia (K66)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 28 Jul. Corvette
HMS Black Swan (L57)  Royal Navy Escort 19 Jul – 20 Jul. Sloop
Charlbury (1940)  United Kingdom 4,836 Bound for Rio de Janeiro
City of Lyons (1926)  United Kingdom 7,063 Bound for Cape Town
Como (1910)  United Kingdom 1,295 Bound for Lisbon
Dayrose (1928)  United Kingdom 4,113 In ballast
HMS Dianella (K07)  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jul – 26 Jul
HMS Drangey (FY195)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul. ASW trawler
Empire Dawn (1941)  United Kingdom 7,241 Bound for Cape Town
Empire Voice (1940)  United Kingdom 6,828 Bound for Cape Town
Erato (1923)  United Kingdom 1,335 Sunk by U-126[12] on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors, including the ship's Master, were picked up by HMS Begonia (K66) and landed in Gibraltar
Capt C M Ford Rd RNR (Commodore)
HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)  Royal Navy Escort 27 Jul – 1 Aug. Corvette
HMS Goodwin  Royal Navy Escort 19 Jul – 20 Jul. A converted coastal cargo ship
Hawkinge (1924)  United Kingdom 2,475 Sunk by U-203[13] on 27 Jul. There were 15 dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Sunflower (K41) and HMS Vanoc (H33)
Inga I (1921)  Norway 1,304 Torpedoed, broke in two, and sunk by U-126[14] on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors were picked up by one of the escorts and landed in Gibraltar
HMS Jasmine (K23)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 1 Aug. Corvette
Kellwyn (1920)  United Kingdom 1,459 Sunk by U-79[15] on 27 Jul. There were 14 dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMT St.Nectan
HMS Kingcup (K33)  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jul – 26 Jul. Corvette
Lady Hogarth  Royal Navy Escort 27 Jul – 1 Aug
HMS Lady Shirley  Royal Navy Escort 27 Jul – 31 Jul. ASW trawler
Lapland (1936)  United Kingdom 1,330 Sunk by U-203[16] on 28 Jul. There were no dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Rhododendron (K78).
Larchbank (1925)  United Kingdom 5,151 Bound for Cape Town
HMS Larkspur (K82)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 1 Aug. Corvette
Norita (1924)  Sweden 1,516 Sunk by U-203[17] on 28 Jul. There were 2 dead
HMS Paynter (FY242)  Royal Navy Escort 19 Jul – 20 Jul. ASW trawler
Pelayo (1927)  United Kingdom 1,345 Bound for Gibraltar
HMS Pimpernel (K71)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 1 Aug. Corvette
Rhineland (1922)  United Kingdom 1,381 Bound for Lisbon
HMS Rhododendron (K78)  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 30 Jul. Corvette
Romney (1929)  United Kingdom 5,840 Bound for Alexandria
Ruth I (1900)  Norway 3,531 Bound for Cadiz
Shahristan (1945)  United Kingdom 7,309 68 Passengers. Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by U-371[18] On 30 Jul SE of the Azores, after detaching from the convoy
Sheaf Crown (1929)  United Kingdom 4,868 Bound for Huelva
Shuna (1937)  United Kingdom 1,575 Returned
Sitoebondo (1916)  Netherlands 7,049 Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by U-371[19] on 30 Jul after detaching from the convoy. There were 19 dead.
HMT St Nectan  Royal Navy Escort 20 Jul – 1 Aug. ASW trawler
HMS Sunflower (K41)  Royal Navy Escort 21 Jul – 27 Jul. Corvette
Thistlegorm (1940)  United Kingdom 4,898 Bound for Cape Town
Tintern Abbey (1939)  United Kingdom 2,471
Wrotham (1927)  United Kingdom 1,884 Torpedoed, and sank in 30 seconds, by U-561[20] on 27 Jul. There were no dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMS Fleur de Lys (K122) and HMS Rhododendron (K78) and landed in Gibraltar
Yorkwood (1936)  United Kingdom 5,401 Bound for Cape Town

References

  1. Hague, pp.175&176
  2. 1 2 3 Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.74
  3. "Karl-Friedrich Merten". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. "Wolfgang Kaufmann". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. "Ernst Bauer". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. "Rolf Mützelburg". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. "Freiherr Hans-Diedrich von Tiesenhausen". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. "Robert Bartels". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  9. "Herwig Collmann". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. "Reinhard Suhren". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  11. "Convoy OG.69". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  12. "Erato – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  13. "Hawkinge – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  14. "Inga I – Norwegian steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  15. "Kellwyn – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  16. "Lapland – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  17. "Norita – Swedish steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  18. "Shahristan – British Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  19. "Sitoebondo – Dutch steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  20. "Wrotham – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.

Bibliography

External links

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