Convoy PQ 14

Convoy PQ 14 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in April 1942, reaching Murmansk after air and U-boat attacks that sank one ship, and ice damage that saw 16 vessels returned to port. Seven ships arrived safely.

Ships

PQ 14 consisted of 24 ships, led by Commodore E Rees in Empire Howard. The Close escort comprised two minesweepers, and four trawlers, joined later by an Ocean escort comprising the cruiser Edinburgh, R. Adm. SS Bonham–Carter commanding, plus four destroyers and four corvettes.

Action

PQ 14 sailed from Iceland on 8 April 1942 with its close escort. On 9 April, SSW of Jan Mayen Island, the convoy was joined by Edinburgh and the Ocean Escort Group. On the night of 10/11 April, south-west of Jan Mayen, the convoy encountered heavy ice. The convoy was thrown into disarray and many ships were damaged. Eventually 16 ships and 2 of the escorts were forced to turn back through damage or being unable to rejoin the convoy. The remaining eight ships, with the Edinburgh and the 12 escorts pressed on to Murmansk.

Over the next few days PQ 14 had no interference from German forces, though its reciprocal, Convoy QP 10, was under persistent attack during this period. On 15 April, east of Bear Island, the convoy was sighted by German aircraft, and a number of air and U-boat attacks were made over the next three days. On 16 April Empire Howard was hit by a torpedo from RN minesweepers stationed at Kola. Also on 18 a strong NW gale developed, putting an end to further air attacks. A force of German destroyers stationed at Kirkenes attempted to sortie to make an attack, but was also forced back by the weather.

On 19 April the seven remaining ships entered Kola Inlet, and arrived at Murmansk.

Aftermath

Despite the safe arrival of the ships of PQ 14, the return of so many ships with ice damage created a shortfall in Lend-lease deliveries to the Soviets, and ensured that the Allies would have to run larger convoys during the hazardous summer months to catch up.

Ship list

RFA Aldersdale Andre Marti Arcos Atheltemplar Briarwood British Corporal Cape Corso City of Joliet Dan-y-Bryn El Mirlo Empire Bard edit] Notes References Clay Blair : Hitler's U-Boat War Vol I (1996) ISBN 0-304-35260-8 Paul Kemp : Convoy! Drama in Arctic Waters (1993) ISBN 1-85409-130-1 Bernard Schofield : (1964) The Russian Convoys BT Batsford ISBN (none) PQ 14 at Convoyweb Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу Convoy PQ 11 Convoy PQ 6 Look at other dictionaries: Convoy PQ 17 — Part of World War II, Atlantic Campaign Escorts and merchant ships at Hv …   Wikipedia Convoy SC 94 — was the 94th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to Liverpool.[1] Ships departed Sydney on 31 July 1942[2] and were met by Mid Ocean Escort Force Group C 1 consisting …   Wikipedia Convoy SC 42 — Convoy Part of World War II Date 9 12 September 1941 Location North Atlantic Result German victory …   Wikipedia Convoy SC-42 — was the 42nd of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. [Hague 2000 p.133] Sixty five ships departed Sydney on 30 August 1941; [Hague 2000 p.135] and a week later were met… …   Wikipedia Convoy PQ 18 — under attack Convoy PQ 18 was one of the Arctic convoys sent from Britain to aid the Soviet Union in the war against Nazi Germany. The convoy departed Loch Ewe, Scotland on 2 September 1942 and arrived in Arkhangelsk on 21 September 1942.… …   Wikipedia Convoy PQ 16 — was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in May 1942, reaching the Soviet northern ports after five days of air attacks that left eight ships sunk and two damaged.… …   Wikipedia Convoy PQ-18 — was one of the Arctic convoys sent from Great Britain to aid the Soviet Union in the war against Nazi Germany. The convoy departed Loch Ewe, Scotland on 2 September 1942 and arrived in Arkhangelsk on 21 September 1942. Following the disastrous… …   Wikipedia Convoy HX 72 — Convoy Part of World War II Date 20 22 September 1940 Location Western Approaches Result Germa …   Wikipedia Convoy PQ 15 — was an Arctic convoy sent from Iceland by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in late April 1942, reaching the Soviet northern ports after air attacks that sank three ships. Twenty two ships arrived safely.… …   Wikipedia Convoy HX 90 — Convoy Part of World War II Date 1 3 December 1940 Location Western Approaches Result German v …   Wikipedia Convoy SC 26 — Part of World War II Date 2 5 April 1941 Location North Atlantic Result German victory …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”