Convoy JW 57

Convoy JW 57

Convoy JW 57 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in February 1944, reaching the Soviet northern ports at the end of the month. All ships arrived safely. For several days JW 57 was attacked by a German U-boat force; one escort vessel was sunk, and two U-boats were destroyed in counter-measures, during this operation.

Contents

Ships

The convoy consisted of 45 merchant ships which departed from Loch Ewe on 20 February 1944. Close escort was provided by a force led by Cdr IJ Tyson in the destroyer Keppel, with three other destroyers and four corvettes. The force was supported by an Ocean escort of 14 destroyers led by V.Adm IG Glennie in the cruiser Black Prince, and the escort carrier Chaser with her escort of two destroyers and two frigates. The convoy was also accompanied initially by a local escort group from Britain, and joined later by a local escort group from Murmansk. There was no capital ship force providing distant cover, as Germany’s only remaining heavy unit in the Arctic, Tirpitz, was still non-operational following the attack by British X-craft (Operation Source), but a cruiser cover force comprising Berwick and Jamaica followed the convoy, to guard against attack by smaller surface units.

JW 57 was opposed by a U-boat force of 14 boats, arranged in two patrol lines code-named Werewolf (10 boats) and Hartmut (4 boats).

Action

JW 57 departed Loch Ewe on 20 February 1944, accompanied by its local escort, the minesweeper Rattlesnake and three others, with two corvettes. The close escort joined the same day.

On 22 February they were met by the Ocean escort, and by Chaser and her group, while the local escort returned.

On 23 February the convoy was sighted by German reconnaissance aircraft, which were attacked by Chaser's Martlets.

On 24 February the U-boats gained contact, but were unsuccessful in their attacks, while Swordfish from Chaser.[1]

On 25 February the U-boats again attacked, and on this day Catalina from Sullom Voe attacked and destroyed Kola safely on 28 February.

Conclusion

All 45 ships arrived safely, despite determined U-boat opposition, and two U-boats had been destroyed. However the loss of Mahratta was keenly felt among men of the escort force, taking the edge off the victory..[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Kemp p171-172
  2. ^ Blair p515
  3. ^ Kemp p172
  4. ^ Kemp (1993) p195

References

v · d · e
1941
Outbound

Dervish · PQ 1 · PQ 2 · PQ 3 · PQ 4 · PQ 5 · PQ 6
Homebound

QP 1 · QP 2 · QP 3
1942
Outbound

PQ 7a · PQ 7b · PQ 8 · PQ 9 · PQ 10 · PQ 11 · PQ 12 · PQ 13 · PQ 14 · PQ 15 · PQ 16 · PQ 17 · PQ 18 · Operation FB · JW 51A · JW 51B
Homebound
QP 4 · QP 5 · QP 6 · QP 7 · QP 8 · QP 9 · QP 10 · QP 11 · QP 12 · QP 13 · QP 14 · QP 15 · RA 51
1943
Outbound

JW 52 · JW 53 · JW 54A · JW 54B · JW 55A · JW 55B
Homebound
RA 52 · RA 53 · RA 54A · RA 54B · RA 55A · RA 55B
1944
Outbound

JW 56A · JW 56B · JW 57 · JW 58 · JW 59 · JW 60 · JW 61 · JW 61A · JW 62 · JW 63
Homebound

RA 56 · RA 57 · RA 58 · RA 59 · RA 59A · RA 60 · RA 61 · RA 61A · RA 62 · RA 63
1945
Outbound

JW 64 · JW 65 · JW 66 · JW 67
Homebound

RA 64 · RA 65 · RA 66 · RA 67

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