Convoy SL-125

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Convoy SL-125 was the 125th of the numbered series of World War II convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound to the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean traveled independently to Freetown, Sierra Leone to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage.[1] Forty-two ships departed Freetown on 16 October 1942;[2] with a weak escort of four Flower class corvettes lead by Petunia.[3]

U-409 found and reported the convoy on 27 October.[4] U-509 torpedoed the 7591-ton British freighter Pacific Star and the 6148-ton British freighter Stentor that evening, the 5283-ton British freighter Nagpore on 28 October, and the 4772-ton British freighter Britanny and the 7131-ton British freighter Corinaldo on 29 October.[5] Eighty-five merchant sailors were lost with 1500 tons of copper, 10178 tons of meat, 6000 tons of West African produce, and 12632 tons of general cargo.[6]

U-409 torpedoed the 7519-ton British freighter Bullmouth and the 6373-ton British freighter Silverwillow during coordinated attacks on 30 October, while U-659 torpedoed the 6405-ton British freighter Tasmania, U-510 torpedoed 5178-ton British freighter Hopecastle, and U-604 torpedoed the 11898-ton British cargo liner President Doumer and the 3642-ton British freighter Baron Vernon.[7] Three-hundred-twenty-two merchant sailors and passengers were lost with 5500 tons of iron ore, 14500 tons of general cargo and 8500 tons of food and iron.[8]

The convoy reached Liverpool on 9 November.[9] It suffered the greatest loss of any SL convoy;[10] but it's timing focused available U-boats in the area away from the Operation Torch convoys for the allied invasion of North Africa on 8 November 1942.[11]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hague 2000 p.138
  2. ^ Hague 2000 p.142
  3. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.172
  4. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.172
  5. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.172
  6. ^ Hague 2000 p.146
  7. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.172
  8. ^ Hague 2000 p.146
  9. ^ Hague 2000 p.142
  10. ^ Hague 2000 pp.141-143
  11. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.172

[edit] References

  • Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-019-3. 
  • Rohwer, J. and Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X. 
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