Convoy HG-76

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Convoy HG 76
partof=World War II
date=19-23 Dec 1941
place=eastern Atlantic
result=British victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Admiral Karl Dönitz
commander2=Commodore:
Escort Cdr: Capt.FJ Walker
strength1="Seeräuber"
10 U-boats
strength2= 32 Ships
17 Escorts
casualties1=4 U-boats destroyed
casualties2=2 Ships sunk
2 Escorts sunk

HG 76 was an Allied convoy of the HG (Homeward from Gibraltar) series during World War II .

It was notable in seeing the destruction of 4 U-Boats for the loss of 4 ships and is regarded as the first major victory for the Allies in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Background

HG 76 comprised 32 ships homeward bound from Gibraltar, many in ballast, or carrying trade goods.

There was a strong escort, consisting of 36 Escort Group, usually 2 sloops ("Stork" and "Deptford")and 7 corvettes("Convulvulus"," Gardenia", "Marigold", "Penstemon", "Rhodedendron", "Samphire" and "Vetch")under the command of FJ Walker; this force was augmented by the new escort carrier "Audacity", and her 3 escorting destroyers, "Blanckney", "Stanley" and "Exmoor II"plus 5 other warships, the sloops "Fowey" and "Black Swan",And the corvettes"Carnation" and "La Malouine": A total of 17 warships.

Ranged against them was the wolfpack "Seeräuber" ( Sea Robber, or Pirate) of 6 U-boats ("U-67", "U-107", "U-108", "U-131", "U-434" and "U-574"), reinforced later by a further 3 boats.

Action

HG 76 sailed from Gibraltar on 15 December 1941, and was reported almost immediately by German agents across the bay in neutral Spain; these were able to report the convoy’s composition, escort strength and departure time.

HG 76 was also sighted later that day by "U-74", on route to the Mediterranean, but was lost in poor visibility, while BdU was confused by an agents report that the convoy had returned to port.

The Sea Robbers were arrayed in a patrol line south of Cape St Vincent, but HG 76 was able to pass through he line without detection.

Meanwhile one of the boats, "U-127" was detected on a routine ASW sweep by a group of 4 destroyers from Gibraltar; but after a brief but devastating attack "U-127" was destroyed, the credit going to the Australian destroyer HMAS "Nestor".

On 16 Dec HG 76 was sighted by a Fw 200 Condor patrolling from Bordeaux; from this "U-108" gained contact and commenced shadowing whilst the other Sea Robbers closed in.

During the night of the 16th/17th the wolfpack closed in until by morning on the 17th 4 boats were in contact.

However vigorous patrolling by the escorts, and aircraft from "Audacity", led to" U-131" being detected; she was attacked by "Stork", with "Penstemon" and the 3 destroyers in concert. "U-131" was driven to the surface and sunk, though not before shooting down one of the Martlets.

On the night of 17/18th the U-boats attacked again; aggressive counter-measures prevented any hits, while at dawn on the 18th "U-434" was sighted by the destroyers; she was attacked and rammed by "Blankney", which was damaged in the process.

During the rest of the day several of the escorts had to leave; the sloops "Black Swan" , "Fowey", with the corvettes "Carnation" and "La Malouine" returned to Gibraltar to re-fuel, while "Blankney" departed for repairs, escorted by "Exmoor II".

On the night of 18/19 "Stanley" sighted "U-574" astern, shadowing the convoy; she attacked, but was herself torpedoed and sunk."Stork" and" Samphire" followed up the attack and destroyed" U-574", picking up survivors from both. Also during the night "U-108" attacked successfully, torpedoing "Ruckinge", which was abandoned, to be sunk later by "Samphire".

On the 19th the convoy was attacked by a force of Condors; they caused no damage, but 2 were shot down, and another damaged, by Martlets from "Audacity".Also that day the Sea Robbers were joined by 3 more boats from Bordeaux, "U-71", "U-567" (captained by U-boat ace KL Endrass), and "U-751".Were dispatched to join the sea robbers; they were to arrive on the 21st.Over the next 3 daysThe 3 remaining boats from Seeräuber, "U-67", "U-107" and "U-108" continued to shadow, attacking without result.

On 21st the 3 boats from Bordeaux, and the U-boats again prepared to attack.

Walker attempted to draw off the attack by having "Deptford" make a demonstration some way off from the convoy; This was unsuccessful, as some of the merchant ships were confused by the display, and also fired star-shells, revealing their position."U-567" was able to sink "Annavore", while Bigalk, in "U-751" sighted "Audacity", zig-zagging behind the convoy without her escort. He fired, and "Audacity" was sunk, hit by 3 torpedoes."Marigold", "Vetch" and "Samphire" counter-attacked, but without result.

Later that night "Deptford" spotted a U-boat on the surface; she attacked, and dropped depth-charges, with no apparent result; however, post-war analysis revealed that she had sunk "U-567".Following this "Deptford" collided with "Stork", damaging them both.

During 22 Dec "U-71" and "U-751" remained in contact, to be joined by" U-125" (en route to America), while HG 76 was reinforced by the destroyers "Vanquisher" and "Witch".

On 23 Dececember Donitz, shaken by his losses, and the lack of success, called off the attack; "U-67", "U-107", "U-108" and "U-751" returned to bases in France.

Conclusion

Despite the loss of "Audacity" and the 3 other ships, the safe arrival of 30 ships and the destruction of 3 U-boats ( "U-127" was not included, and "U-567" not confirmed until after the war) was judged to be an outstanding victory.It also confirmed Walker as the Royal Navy’ s foremost expert in anti submarine warfare.

By contrast Adm Donitz and the U-boat Arm was shaken by their losses, particularly Endrass, who was the leading U-boat ace at that time.

Tables

Allied ships lost

External links

* [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hg/index.html?hg.php?convoy=76!~hgmain HG 76 at convoyweb]
*http://uboat.net/ops/convoys/convoys.php?convoy=HG-76

References

* Clay Blair : "Hitler’s U-Boat War Vol I (The Hunters 1939-1942)" (1996) ISBN 0-304-35260-8
* Dan van der Vat : "The Atlantic Campaign" (1988) ISBN 0 340 37751 8
* Paul Kemp : "U-Boats Destroyed" ( 1997) ISBN 1 85409 515 3
* Rohwer, J. and Hummelchen, G. "Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945" (1992) ISBN 1-55750-105-X