Convoy PQ-18

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Convoy PQ-18 was one of the Arctic Convoys sent from Britain to aid the Soviet Union in its war with Nazi Germany. The Covoy departed Loch Ewe, Scotland on 2 September 1942 and arrived in Archangelsk on 21 September 1942.

This convoy followed the disaster of PQ-17 and the British were determined to provide the convoy with air cover. The new escort carrier HMS Avenger had arrived from the USA and formed the core of the protecting force. The convoy was postponed because a large part of the Royal Navy was engaged in Operation Pedestal a vital Malta convoy in August.

A small RAF force was dispatched to Northern Russia as part of the preparations. This consisted of Spitfires and Handley Page Hampden bombers. One of the Hampdens crashed in Norway and plans for the Operation were captured by the Germans

[edit] Ships

The Convoy consited of forty four merchant ships (15 British, 20 American, 7 Russian and 2 Panamanian). The escort was commanded by Rear Admiral Robert Burnett and consisted of the carrier HMS Avenger carrying 10 Hawker Hurricanes and 3 Fairey Swordfish , the cruiser HMS Scylla, and the destroyers HMS Onslow, Onslought, Opportune, Offa, Ashanti, Eskimo, Somali and Tartar. Force B consisted of the destroyers HMS Milne, Marne, Martin, Meteor, Faulknor, Fury, Impulsive and Intrepid. Close escort was provided by destroyers HMS Malcolm and HMS Achates, two anti-aircraft "gunships", 4 Flower class corvettes, 4 A/S trawlers and 3 minesweepers.

Distant cover was provided by the battleships HMS Anson and HMS Duke of York, and cruisers HMS London, Suffolk, Cumberland, Sheffield and Norfolk under the command of Admiral Bruce Fraser.

[edit] Battle

The Luftwaffe provided a formidable opponent with 42 Heinkel He-111 torpedo bombers of KG26 and 35 Junkers Ju-88 dive bombers. Tactics consisted of simultaneous attack by torpedo bombers and dive bombers swamping the defenders. U-Boats began shadowing the convoy and one of them, the U-88 was sunk by HMS Faulknor. The convoy was sighted by a German Blohm + Voss BV 138 flying boat on 12 September and later that day the German torpedo bombers sunk 8 ships. The next day the Germans returned losing 5 Heinkels to Hurricane fighters, 3 Hurricanes were also shot down by friendly fire but their pilots were rescued. Later attacks were beaten off at the cost to the Germans of 20 more planes shot down. The Convoy was attacked by U-boats on its approach to Kola Inlet and three more ships were sunk by U-408. British escorts sunk U-boats U-457 and U-589. Two more merchant men were sunk by air attack in Murmansk harbour.

[edit] References

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