Convoy PQ-16

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Arctic Convoy PQ16 supported the Allied war effort of World War II In the winter and spring of 1942, Roosevelt and Stalin continually pressed for more convoys to Russia, to deliver War Stores to help them sustain their fight against the Germans, despite the knowledge that the naval forces were stretched to the limit. Finally Stalin sent an urgent message to Winston Churchill in May of 1942 in which he said, "I am fully aware of the difficulties involved and of the sacrifices made by Great Britain in the matter (the Russian convoys). I feel, however, incumbent upon me to approach you with the request to take all possible measures in order to ensure the arrival of the above-mentioned materials in the USSR".

And so it was that Convoy PQ16 was assembled off Iceland when Churchill declared it would be worthwhile even if 50% got through, and in late May 1942 the surviving ships of Convoy PQ16 did arrive, most ships to Murmansk (30th May 1942) and 8 ships to Archangelsk (1st June 1942). The convoy was such a success in terms of the War Stores delivered that the Germans made greater efforts to disrupt the following convoys. The Heavy Lift Ships from Convoy PQ-17 including Empire Elgar stayed at Archangelsk and Molotovsk unloading convoys for over 14 months.

[edit] Ships

This convoy consisted of 36 merchant ships. The close escort consited of the destroyers HMS Garland, HMS Volunteer, HMS Achates, HMS Ashanti and HMS Martin , 4 Flower class corvettes, 1 minesweeper, 4 trawlers. There were two support groups: one comprising of the cruiser HMS Nigeria, and destroyers HMS Onslow, HMS Marne and HMS Oribi and a distant covering force of USS Washington, USS Wichita, HMS Victorious, HMS London and 13 destroyers.

Eight Merchant ships were lost: 6 by air attack, one by submarine U-703 and one by a mine.