Convoy QP 14

QP 14 was an Arctic convoy of the QP series which ran during World War II. It was one of a series of convoys run to return Allied ships from Soviet northern ports to home ports in Britain. It sailed in September 1942 from Archangel in Russia to Loch Ewe in Scotland.

Convoy QP.14
Part of the Second World War

HMS Somali sunk
Date13–26 September 1942
Location
Arctic Ocean
Belligerents
Germany United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz JCK Dowding (Comm.)
Strength
7 U-boats 17 merchant ships
65 escorts
Casualties and losses
6 ships sunk

Ships

The convoy initially consisted of 20 merchant ships, most of which had arrived with PQ 17. The convoy commodore was Capt. JCK Dowding, in Ocean Voice. The close escort comprised two destroyers, four corvettes, three ASW minesweepers, and four ASW trawlers, supplemented by three AA cruisers. Most of these had also arrived with PQ 17. Senior Officer for the escort was Capt. JHF Crombie, in the minesweeper Bramble. The convoy was joined at sea by the ocean escort from PQ 18, comprising the cruiser Scylla, the escort carrier Avenger, and 16 destroyers. These were supported by a cruiser cover force, of three cruisers and eight destroyers, and a distant cover force of two battleships, a cruiser, and four destroyers.[1][2] This was a substantial force, though weakened by its five day battle protecting PQ 18. QP 14 was opposed by a patrol line of seven boats (an ad hoc group formed from the U-boats that attacked PQ 18) in the Norwegian Sea, and by German air forces, though these were also depleted from their attack on PQ 18.

Voyage

QP 14 departed Archangel on 13 September, the day after the attack on PQ 18 started. It was accompanied by a local escort of four ASW minesweepers, which departed after two days. On 16 September QP 14 passed PQ 18 and the ocean escort began to transfer, leaving in groups to avoid drawing attention.

QP 14 remained undetected until 20 September, when Leda was attacked and sunk by U-435. A search for the U-boat found nothing. That afternoon the two submarines detached from the convoy in an attempt to strike at the shadowing U-boats, which were travelling on the surface to maintain speed. In poor weather P 614 detected U-408 and fired four torpedoes at her, but the U-boat was warned by a premature explosion and escaped.[3] That night the convoy was attacked again; Silver Sword was sunk by U-255, and the destroyer Somali was torpedoed by U-703. She was taken in tow, but foundered four days later, before she could be brought to port.

On 22 September U-435 penetrated the escort screen and torpedoed three ships, one of them, Ocean Voice, carrying the convoy commodore, leaving him adrift for the second time (his ship in PQ 17 had been sunk also). The oiler Gray Ranger was also hit, and could not be saved; she was scuttled later that day.[2]

On 23 September the pursuing U-253 was attacked and sunk by a Liberator of Coastal Command, flying escort for the convoy.[4]

QP 14 arrived at Loch Ewe on 26 September.[1]


Ships in the convoy

Merchant ships
Merchant ships in Convoy QP 14[5]
Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Notes
Alcoa Banner (1919)  United States 5,035
Bellingham (1920)  United States 5,345 Sunk by U-435[6] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. No dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin
Benjamin Harrison (1942)  United States 2,191
RFA Black Ranger (A163)  Royal Fleet Auxiliary 3,417 Oiler
Deer Lodge (1919)  United States 6,187
Empire Tide (1941)  United Kingdom 6,978 CAM ship. 23 Passengers
RFA Grey Ranger (1941)  Royal Fleet Auxiliary 3,313 Oiler. Sunk by U-435[7] on 22 Sep W of Jan Mayen Island. 6 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin
Harmatris (1932)  United Kingdom 5,395
Minotaur (1918)  United States 4,554
Ocean Freedom (1942)  United Kingdom 7,173 8 Passengers. Ship's Master is vice-commodore
Ocean Voice (1941)  United Kingdom 7,174 5 Naval staff officers. 25 Soviet passengers. Sunk by U-435[8] on 22 Sep. No dead. Survivors picked up by both HMS Seagull (J85), and landed at Scapa Flow, and Zamalek, and landed at Glasgow. Capt J C K Dowding CBE DSO Rd RNR (Commodore)
RFA Oligarch (1918)  Royal Fleet Auxiliary 6,894 Oiler
Rathlin (1936)  United Kingdom 1,600 Rescue ship. Routed via Seidisfjord 23 Sep for stores
Samuel Chase (1942)  United States 7,191
Silver Sword (1919)  United States 4,937 Sunk by U-255[9] on 20 Sep. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek and landed at Glasgow.
Tobruk (1942)  Poland 7,048
Troubador (1920)  Panama 6,428
West Nilus (1920)  United States 5,495
Winston-Salem (1920)  United States 6,223 Position Unknown, Lloyd's Confirm Slg
Zamalek (1921)  United Kingdom 1,567 Rescue Ship, 61 Survivors, 4 Passengers

Escorts
Escorts for Convoy QP 14[5]
Name Flag Ship Type Duration Notes
HMS Alynbank  Royal Navy Anti-aircraft cruiser ? – 17 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Amazon (D39)  Royal Navy Destroyer 15 – 22 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Anson (79)  Royal Navy Battleship 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Ashanti (F51)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Avenger (D14)  Royal Navy Escort carrier 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Ayrshire (FY225)  Royal Navy ASW trawler 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Blankney (L30)  Royal Navy Destroyer 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Bramble (J11)  Royal Navy ASW minesweeper 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Bramham (L51)  Royal Navy Destroyer 23 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Britomart (J22)  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 Sep. Eastern Local Escort
HMS Bulldog (H91)  Royal Navy Destroyer 14 – 22 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Cowdray (L52)  Royal Navy Destroyer ? – 20 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Cumberland (57)  Royal Navy Cruiser 14 – 22 Sep. Operation Gearbox II
(Spitzbergen re-supply mission)
HMS Dianella (K07)  Royal Navy Corvette 13 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Duke of York (17)  Royal Navy Battleship 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Echo (H23)  Royal Navy Destroyer 14 – 22 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Eclipse (H08)  Royal Navy Destroyer 14 – 22 Sep. Operation Gearbox II
(Spitzbergen re-supply mission)
HMS Eskimo (F75)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Faulknor (H62)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Fury (H76)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Halcyon (J42)  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 Sep. Eastern Local Escort
HMS Hazard  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 Sep. Eastern Local Escort
HMS Impulsive (D11)  Royal Navy Destroyer ? – 25 Sep. Western Local Escort
HMS Intrepid (D10)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Jamaica (44)  Royal Navy Cruiser 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Keppel (D84)  Royal Navy Destroyer 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS La Malouine (K46)  Royal Navy Corvette 13 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Leda (J93)  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 – 20 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
Sunk by U-435[10] on 20 Sep SW of Spitzbergen. Survivors picked up by Rathlin and Zamalek. Cdr A H Wynne-Edwards RN
HMS London (69)  Royal Navy Cruiser 14 – 22 Sep. Cruiser Cover Force
HMS Lord Austin (FY220)  Royal Navy ASW trawler 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMT Lord Middleton (FY219)  Royal Navy ASW trawler 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Lotus (K130)  Royal Navy Corvette 13 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Mackay  Royal Navy Destroyer 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Marne (G35)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Meteor (G73)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Middleton (L74)  Royal Navy Destroyer 13 – 25 Sep. Escort
HMS Milne (G14)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 22 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Montrose (D01)  Royal Navy Destroyer 19 – 22 Sep. Distant Cover Force
HMS Norfolk (78)  Royal Navy Cruiser 14 – 22 Sep. Cruiser Cover Force
HMT Northern Gem (FY194)  Royal Navy ASW trawler 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Oakley (L98)  Royal Navy Destroyer ? – 20 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Offa (G29)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Onslaught (G04)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Onslow (G17)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Opportune (G80)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS P614  Royal Navy Submarine 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS P615  Royal Navy Submarine 17 – 21 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Palomares  Royal Navy Anti-aircraft cruiser 13 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Poppy (K213)  Royal Navy Corvette 13 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Pozarica  Royal Navy Anti-aircraft cruiser 23 – 26 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Salamander (J86)  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 Sep. Eastern Local Escort
HMS Scylla (98)  Royal Navy Cruiser 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Seagull (J85)  Royal Navy ASW Minesweeper 13 – 25 Sep. Convoy Close Escort
HMS Sheffield (C24)  Royal Navy Cruiser 14 – 22 Sep. Operation Gearbox II
(Spitzbergen re-supply mission)
HMS Somali (F33)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
Torpedoed by U-703[11] on 20 Sep. Crippled, the majority of the crew were rescued by HMS Lord Middleton (FY219), leaving a skeleton crew aboard. HMS Ashanti (G51) took the vessel in tow, but the line parted, she folded in half, capsized and sank. Only 35 of the skeleton crew survived.
HMS Suffolk (55)  Royal Navy Cruiser 14 – 22 Sep. Cruiser Cover Force
HMS Tartar (F43)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 25 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Venomous (D75)  Royal Navy Destroyer 14 – 22 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Wheatland  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Wilton (L128)  Royal Navy Destroyer 17 – 20 Sep. Ocean Escort
HMS Windsor (D42)  Royal Navy Destroyer ? – 20 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
HMS Worcester (D96)  Royal Navy Destroyer ? - 25 Sep. Force P
(Spitzbergen re-fueling mission)
Western Local Escort

Axis forces

U-boats
Name Type Navy Contact Notes
U-251VIICKriegsmarineno contact 
U-253VIICKMno contactdestroyed by Liberator[1][4]
U-255VIICKM20 Sept.sank Silver Sword on 20/21 Sept.
U-403VIICKMno contact 
U-435VIICKM20-22 Sept.sank HMS Leda on 20 Sept.
sank Bellingham, Ocean Voice, Gray Ranger, on 22 Sept.
U-592VIICKMno contact 
U-703VIICKM20 Sept.torpedoed HMS Somali on 20/21 Sept.
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References
  1. Ruegg, Hague pp44-45
  2. Kemp p108-110
  3. Smith p183
  4. Smith pp188-9
  5. "Convoy QP.14". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Bellingham - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Grey Ranger - British fleet oiler". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ocean Voice - British steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Silver Sword - American steam merchant". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Leda (J93) - British fleet minesweeper". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Somali (F33) - British Destroyer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

Bibliography
  • Blair, Clay. Hitler's U-Boat War Vol I. (1996) ISBN 0-304-35260-8.
  • Kemp, Paul. Convoy! Drama in Arctic Waters (1993) ISBN 1-85409-130-1.
  • R Ruegg, A Hague (1992) Convoys to Russia ISBN 0 905617 66 5
  • P Smith (1975) Arctic Victory ISBN 0 7183 0074 2

Further reading
  • Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 978-1-86176-147-7.
  • Hinsley, F. H. (1994) [1993]. British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations. History of the Second World War (2nd rev. abr. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-630961-7.
  • Richards, Denis; St G. Saunders, H. (1975) [1954]. Royal Air Force 1939–1945: The Fight Avails. History of the Second World War, Military Series. II (pbk. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-771593-6. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  • Roskill, S. W. (1962) [1956]. The Period of Balance. History of the Second World War: The War at Sea 1939–1945. II (3rd impr. ed.). London: HMSO. OCLC 174453986. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  • The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force (repr. Public Record Office War Histories ed.). Richmond, Surrey: Air Ministry. 2001 [1948]. ISBN 978-1-903365-30-4. Air 41/10.
  • Woodman, Richard (2004) [1994]. Arctic Convoys 1941–1945. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5752-1.
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