Convoys ONS.20/ON.206

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Convoys ONS.20/ON.206
Part of World War II
Date 15-18 October 1943
Location North Atlantic
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Germany
Commanders
ONS 20 :
Comm:
Escort :Cdr HR Paramor

ON 206 :
Comm :
Escort :Cdr RA Currie

 Admiral Karl Dönitz
Strength
ONS 20:
52 ships
6 escorts

ON 206 :
62 ships
5 escorts
Support group B7 :
7 warships

 Schlieffen:
14 U-boats
Casualties and losses
1 ship sunk 6 U-boats destroyed

ONS 20 and ON 206 were North Atlantic convoys of the ONS/ON series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. They were the subject of a major U-boat attack in October 1943, the third battle in the German Navy’s Kriegsmarine KM’s autumn offensive.

Contents

[edit] Background

Despite the losses suffered by Rossbach and poor results achieved during its attack on SC 143. Still believing their new weapons and tactics gave them an advantage, BdU(Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote, Commander of the Submarines) re-organized the boats then in the North Atlantic into patrol line Schlieffen with the intention of intercepting the expected west-bound convoys. These were ONS 20 and ON 206.

[edit] Protagonists

ONS 20 departed Liverpool on 9 October 1943. Composed of 52 ships it was bound for Halifax, and was escorted by B-4 escort group, which comprised 6 destroyer escorts led by HMS Bentinck (Cdr HR Paramor as Senior Officer Escort).

ON 206 departed Liverpool on 11 October 1943; Composed of 62 ships, mainly in ballast, it was bound for New York and was escorted by B-6 escort group, comprising 2 destroyers, Fame (Cdr RA Currie SOE) and Vanquisher, the frigate Deveron, and 3 corvettes.

Also in the vicinity was Escort group B-7, in the role of a support group; it comprised 2 destroyers, Duncan (Cdr P Gretton) and Vidette, and 4 corvettes.

Group Schlieffen comprised a number of U-boats from group Rossbach, re-inforced by new-comers from bases in France and Germany. It had already come under attack whilst re-fueling by aircraft from USS Card; one boat was damaged and forced to retire, and 2 boats (U-402 and U-603 ) had been sunk. Another 2 boats had collided, and one of these was also forced to return to base for repair. At the time of the attack on convoys Schlieffen consisted of 14 boats, with a mix of experience and type.

When Allied intelligence learned of the position of Schlieffen, Western Approaches Command decided to seek battle, increasing the defence by joining the two convoys and their escorts, and sending B-7 as reinforcement.

[edit] Action

On 15 October 1943 the convoys were sighted by U-844, and group Schlieffen was direct to converge on the position.

By evening a number of boats were in position and commenced the attack, which became one of the most calamitous of the entire campaign for the U-boat Arm (U-Bootwaffe,UBW).

During the night of 15/16 October the U-boats attacked but were repelled; U-844 was damaged by Duncan and Vanquisher and driven off.

Later on 16 October U-844 was attacked and sunk by two Liberators, from RAF 86 and 59 squadrons; one Liberator was shot down, but the crew rescued by the corvette Pink. Also on 16th U-964 was sunk by a Liberator of RAF 86; her survivors were later picked up by U-231. Early that day U-470 was damaged by a Sunderland of RCAF 422 sqdn; the Sunderland was also damaged, ditching later near the ships of ONS 20 and its crew rescued by HMS Drury. Later, U-470 was attacked again, by 2 Liberators from RAF 120 and another from RAF 59, and sunk; 2 of her crew only were picked up by Duncan. The only success for the Schlieffen boats that day was when U-426 sank the freighter Essex Lance, which was straggling from ONS 20.

During the night of 16/17 October the attack was renewed, but repelled with no success; U-540 was attacked and damaged by a Liberator of 59 sqdn; later that day she was attacked again and sunk by 2 Liberators from RAFs 59 and 120. Also on 17 October U-841 was sunk by Byard of B-4 group.

During the night of 17th/18th the shadower U-631 was sunk by Sunflower of B-7 group. At this point the convoys made a drastic alteration in course, in order to shake off any shadowers; this was successful in that BdU received two conflicting reports from U-91 and U-413, leading to Schlieffen being sent in the wrong direction.

After pursuit was shaking off, Schlieffen was unable to re-gain contact, and in view of the losses sustained BdU ordered the group to retire.

On 20 October, with no further attack developing, B-7 Group detatched from the convoys to join ON 207, which was following; ONS 20 was handed over to its Western Local Escort Group on 22 October, and arrived at Halifax without further loss on 26 October 1943. ON 206 met its Local Escort Group on 24 October and arrived at New York on 27 October 1943.

[edit] Conclusion

BdU regarded this operation as a setback, but remained confident that their new weapons and tactics would achieve success. However the loss of 6 U-boats for the sinking of just one ship was a major defeat for the UbW and seen as a victory for the Allies.

[edit] Tables

Allied ships sunk

Date Name Nationality Casualties Tonnage Sunk by…
16 October 1943 Essex Lance British none 6625 GRT U-426




Axis submarines destroyed

Date Number Type Captain Casualties Sunk by…
16 Oct 1943 U-470 VIIC O/L Grave 46 Sund “S” 422 sqdnRCAF
Lib “E” 120 sqdn
Lib “Z” 120 sqdn
Lib “C” 59 sqdn
16 Oct U-964 VIIC O/L Hummerjohann 47 Lib “Y” 86 sqdn
16 Oct U-844 IXC O/L Moller 53 Lib “L” 86 sqdn
Lib “S” 59 sqdn
( attacked 15/16 by Duncan, Vanquisher)
17 Oct U-540 IXC K/L Kasch 55 Lib “S” 59 sqdn
Lib “O” 58 sqdn
Lib “H” 120 sqdn
17 Oct U-631 VIIC O/L Kruger 53 HMS Sunflower
17 Oct U-841 IXC K/L Bender 26 HMS Byard
(attacked by aircraft)

.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Peter Gretton : Convoy Escort Commander (1964) ISBN (none)
  • Arnold Hague : The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945 (2000) ISBN (Canada) 1 55125 033 0 : ISBN (UK) 1 86176 147 3
  • Jak P M Showell U-Boat Warfare: The Evolution of the Wolf-Pack (2002) ISBN 0-7110-2887-7