Convoy OG 69

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. Nine ships were sunk by submarine attacks continuing through 30 July.[2]

Convoy OG.69
Part of World War II
Date19 July – 1 August 1941
Location
North 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
9 ships sunk

Submarines

The convoy was initially located by German Naval signals intelligence (B-Dienst), then visual confirmation was provided by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 aircraft. A total of 10 boats were directed to intercept the convoy – eight U-boats from Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine and two submarines from Fascist Italy's Regia Marina.

NameTypeFirst contactShips sunkShips damagedNotes
U-68IXC26 July 1940none 
U-79VIIC26/27 July 1940Kelwin 
U-126IXC26/27 July 1940Erato, Inga I, 
U-203VIIC26/27 July 1940Hawkinge, Lapland, Norita 
U-331VIICnonenone 
U-561VIIC27 July 1940Wrotham 
U-562VIICnonenone 
U-564VIICnonenone 
BarbarigoMarcello-class submarine?22 July 1940none[2]
Pietro CalviCalvi-class submarinenonenone[2]

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

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 for Gibraltar
Afghanistan (1940)  United Kingdom 6,992 Bound for Cape Town
Arabistan (1929)  United Kingdom 5,874 Bound for Cape Town
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
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[4] 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)
Hawkinge (1924)  United Kingdom 2,475 Sunk by U-203[5] 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[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 by U-79[7] on 27 Jul. There were 14 dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMT St.Nectan
Lapland (1936)  United Kingdom 1,330 Sunk by U-203[8] 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
Norita (1924)  Sweden 1,516 Sunk by U-203[9] on 28 Jul. There were 2 dead
Pelayo (1927)  United Kingdom 1,345 Bound for Gibraltar
Rhineland (1922)  United Kingdom 1,381 Bound for Lisbon
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[10] 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[11] on 30 Jul after detaching from the convoy. There were 19 dead.
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[12] 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

Convoy escorts

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.[3]

Name Flag Type Joined Left
HMS Alisma (K185)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 1941 26 Jul 1941
HMS Begonia (K66)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 1941 28 Jul 1941
HMS Black Swan (L57)  Royal Navy Black Swan-class sloop 19 Jul 1941 20 Jul 1941
HMS Dianella (K07)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 1941 26 Jul 1941
HMT Drangey (FY195)  Royal Navy ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) trawler 20 Jul 1941 20 Jul 1941
HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 27 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMS Goodwin  Royal Navy Armed boarding vessel 19 Jul 1941 20 Jul 1941
HMS Jasmine (K23)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMS Kingcup (K33)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 1941 26 Jul 1941
HMT Lady Hogarth (FY489)[13]  Royal Navy ASW trawler 27 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMT Lady Shirley (FY464)[14]  Royal Navy ASW trawler 27 Jul 1941 31 Jul 1941
HMS Larkspur (K82)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMT Paynter (FY242)  Royal Navy ASW trawler 19 Jul 1941 20 Jul 1941
HMS Pimpernel (K71)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMS Rhododendron (K78)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 20 Jul 1941 30 Jul 1941
HMT St Nectan  Royal Navy ASW trawler 20 Jul 1941 01 Aug 1941
HMS Sunflower (K41)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 Jul 1941 27 Jul 1941
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See also

References
  1. Hague, pp.175&176
  2. Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.74
  3. "Convoy OG.69". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. "Erato – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. "Hawkinge – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. "Inga I – Norwegian steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. "Kellwyn – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. "Lapland – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  9. "Norita – Swedish steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. "Shahristan – British Steam Merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  11. "Sitoebondo – Dutch steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  12. "Wrotham – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  13. Lady Hogarth
  14. Lady Shirley

Bibliography
  • Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
  • Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
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