Convoy QP 3

Convoy QP 3 — was one of Arctic convoys of World War II which sailed between the United Kingdom, United States, or Iceland to what was then the USSR.

Description

This small oceanic slow-speed special convoy sailed from Arkhangelsk (U.S.S.R.) on November 27, 1941. It docked at Seyðisfjörður in (Iceland) and reached its final destination— Kirkwall, Scotland — on December 3,1941.

Convoy makeup

Cargo ships

• British cargo ships
  • Empire Baffin (6978/1941) - reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Harpalion (5486/1932) — reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Hartlebury (5082/1934) — reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Orient City (5095/1940) — reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Queen City (4814/1924) — reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
  • Temple Arch (5138/1940) — reached Kirkwall on 13 December 1941
• Soviet cargo ships
  • Arkos (2343/1918) - returned to Arkhangelsk on 29 November 1941
  • Andre Marti (2352/1918) - reached Kirkwall on 9 December 1941
  • Kuzbass (3109/1914) - returned to Arkhangelsk on 29 November 1941
  • Revolutionary (2900/1936) - reached Kirkwall on 9 December 1941

Escort

• Cruisers and destroyers
  • HMS Bedouin — destroyer. Was laid down: in January 1937. Made up an escort since 28 November to 2 December 1941.
  • HMS Intrepid — destroyer. Was laid down: 13 January 1936. Made up an escort since 28 November to 2 December 1941.
  • HMS Kenya — cruiser. Made up an escort since 28 November to 3 December 1941.
• Escorts:
  • HMS Bramble — Was launched in 1938. Made up an escort since 27 to 28 November 1941.
  • HMS Gossamer — Was laid down: 2 November 1936. Made up an escort since 27 November to 10 December 1941. Right down to 10 December escorted 2 Soviet cargo ships (Andre Marti and Revolutionary) to Kirkwall.
  • HMS Hussar — Was laid down: 28 August 1933. Made up an escort since 27 November to 9 December 1941.
  • HMS Seagull — Was laid down: 15 February 1937. Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941.
  • HMS Speedy — Was laid down: 1 December 1937. Made up an escort since 27 to 28 November 1941.
• Shakespearian-class trawler[1]
  • HMT Hamlet - Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941. Escorted British cargo ships from Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall.
  • HMT Macbeth - Made up an escort since 9 December to 12 December 1941. Escorted British cargo ships from Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall.

References

1. MS Trawlers-Shakespearian class