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 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 U-403. She sank with the loss of most of her crew, including Commodore Rees. On the same day U-376 fired on Edinburgh, but scored no hits.
On 17 April the convoy was joined by three Soviet destroyers, and on 18 April by four 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.
Ships in the convoy[1]
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFA Aldersdale (X34) (1937) |  United Kingdom |
8,402 | |
| HMS Amazon (D39) |  Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| Andre Marti (1918) |  Soviet Union |
2,352 | Returned Iceland thence UK |
| Arcos (1918) | Soviet Union |
2,343 | Returned |
| Atheltemplar (1930) |  United Kingdom |
8,992 | |
| HMS Beagle (H30) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Bedouin (F67) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Belvoir | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 13 Apr | |
| HMS Beverley | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| Botavon (1912) | United Kingdom |
5,848 | Detached & returned with ice damage |
| Briarwood (1930) | United Kingdom |
4,019 | At Reykjavik 21 Mar To 8 Apr Vice-Commodore’s Ship |
| British Corporal (1922) | United Kingdom |
6,972 | Returned with ice damage |
| HMS Bulldog (H91) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Campanula | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Chiltern | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 12 Apr | |
| City Of Joliet (1920) |  United States |
6,167 | Returned |
| Dan-Y-Bryn (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,117 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr |
| HMS Duke of York (17) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Duncton (T220) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 13 Apr ASW trawler | |
| Empire Bard (1942) | United Kingdom |
3,114 | |
| Empire Howard (1941) | United Kingdom |
6,985 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr, Sunk by U-403 Capt E Rees DSC Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| HMS Escapade (H17) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Eskimo (F75) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| Exterminator (1924) |  Panama |
6,115 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar, Sailed 8 Apr Detached 12 Apr |
| HMS Faulknor (H62) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Foresight (H68) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Forester (H74) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| Francis Scott Key (1941) | United States |
7,191 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr Sailed then returned |
| HMS Gossamer | Royal Navy |
Escort 18 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Harrier | Royal Navy |
Escort 18 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Hebe (J24) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 13 Apr | |
| Hegira (1919) | United States |
7,588 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr Returned Akureyri |
| Hopemount (1929) | United Kingdom |
7,434 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr |
| HMS Hussar (J82) | Royal Navy |
Escort 18 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| Ironclad (1919) | United States |
5,685 | Arrived Reykjavik 31 Mar, Sailed 8 Apr Detached to convoy QP10 |
| HMS Kent (54) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 20 Apr | |
| HMS King George V (41) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Battleship | |
| HMS Ledbury (L90) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Lord Austin (FY220) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 19 Apr ASW trawler | |
| HMS Lord Middleton (FY219) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 19 Apr ASW trawler | |
| HMS Matchless (G52) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| HMS Middleton (L74) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr | |
| Minotaur (1918) | United States |
4,554 | Returned |
| Mormacrio (1919) | United States |
5,940 | Returned |
| HMS Niger (J73) | Royal Navy |
Escort 18 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Nigeria (60) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Light cruiser | |
| HMS Norfolk (78) | Royal Navy |
Escort 10 Apr - 17 Apr<Heavy cruiser | |
| HMS Northern Wave (FY153) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 12 Apr T/Lt. William Godfrey Pardoe-Matthews, RNR picks up 28 survivors from Empire Howard torpedoed and sunk by U-403 north-west of North Cape in position 73°48′N 21°50′E / 73.800°N 21.833°E | |
| HMS Offa (G29) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Destroyer | |
| HMS Onslow (G17) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Destroyer | |
| HMS Oxlip | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr Corvette | |
| Pieter De Hoogh (1941) |  Netherlands |
7,168 | Returned |
| HMS Saxifrage (K04) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| Seattle Spirit (1919) | United States |
5,627 | Returned |
| HMS Snowflake | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 19 Apr | |
| HMS Somali (F33) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Destroyer | |
| HMS Speedy (J17) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 13 Apr Returned Iceland damaged by ice | |
| Sukhona (1918) | Soviet Union |
3,124 | Returned |
| Trehata (1928) | United Kingdom |
4,817 | Passage Loch Ewe to Iceland In UR 17 |
| HMS Victorious (R38) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 18 Apr Aircraft carrier | |
| West Cheswald (1919) | United States |
5,711 | At Reykjavik 31 Mar To 8 Apr |
| West Gotomska (1918) | United States |
5,728 | Ice Damage, Detached to QP10 |
| HMS Wheatland | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 Apr - 13 Apr Destroyer | |
| HMS Wilton (L128) | Royal Navy |
Escort 08 Apr - 12 Apr | |
| Yaka (1920) | United States |
5,432 | Bombed, Beached At Murmansk 15 May 1942 |
Notes
- ↑ "Convoy PQ.14". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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