Convoy SC-107

Convoy SC-107 was the 107th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. [Hague 2000 p.133] Forty-one ships departed New York City on 24 October 1942; [Hague 2000 p.135] and were found and reported by "U-522" on 30 October as the Western Local Escort Force [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] turned the convoy over to Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group C-4 consisting of the Canadian River class destroyer "Restigouche" with Flower class corvettes "Amherst", "Arvida", "Sherbrooke", "Celandine", "Algoma", "Moosejaw", [Milner 1985 p.290] and the Convoy rescue ship "Stockport". [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170]

"U-520" was sunk near the convoy by a No. 10 Squadron RCAF Digby bomber. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] U-boat Ace "Kapitänleutnant" Siegfried von Forstner's "U-402" torpedoed the 7459-ton British freighter "Empire Sunrise", the 4558-ton British freighter "Dalcroy", the 4945-ton British freighter "Empire Antelope", the 5676-ton British freighter "Empire Leopard", and the 4649-ton Greek freighter "Rinos" after sunset on 1 November while "U-522" torpedoed the 5496-ton British freighter "Hartington", the 5804-ton British freighter "Maratima", and the 5655-ton Greek freighter "Mount Pelion". [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] "Kapitänleutnant" von Forstner would receive the Knight's Cross for "U-402"'s work in this convoy and in Convoy SC-118 on the next patrol. "U-522" torpedoed the 3189-ton Greek freighter "Parthenon" in a daylight attack on 2 November. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] One-hundred-twelve merchant sailors were lost with 7410 tons of zinc concentrate, 8,000 tons of wheat and tanks, 11,809 tons of steel and timber, and 26330 tons of general cargo including trucks and explosives. [Hague 2000 p.137]

The escort was reinforced by the V and W class destroyer "Vanessa" from convoy HX-213. "U-521" torpedoed the 6855-ton American tanker "Hahira" on 3 November. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] "U-89" torpedoed the 5318-ton British convoy commodore's freighter "Jeypore" after sunset on 3 November while "U-132" torpedoed the 6379-ton British freighter "Empire Lynx", the 5507-ton Dutch freighter "Hobbema", and the 6690-ton British freighter "Hatimura". [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] "U-132" is believed to have been destroyed by the kiloton-range detonation of the ammunition cargo of the latter ship. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] Thirty-six merchant sailors were lost with 8985 tons of fuel oil and 21050 tons of explosives and general cargo. [Hague 2000 p.137]

On 4 November "Arvida" and "Celandine" were detached to Iceland with "Stockport" and 2 tugs overcrowded with 240 survivors. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] "U-89" torpedoed 4640-ton British freighter "Daleby" carrying 8500 tons of grain [Hague 2000 p.137] shortly before the convoy escort was reinforced by the USCG Treasury Class Cutter "Ingham" and the Wickes class destroyers "Leary" and "Schenck" from Iceland. [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] No. 120 Squadron RAF B-24 Liberators drove off the remaining U-boats, [Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.170] and the convoy reached Liverpool on 10 November. [Hague 2000 p.135]

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