Convoy HX 228

Convoy HX 228
Part of World War II
Date 10-11 March 1943
Location North Atlantic
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Germany United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz Comm: JO Dunn
B-3 Group: AA Tait  †
Strength
9 U-boats 60 ships
8 escorts
Casualties and losses
2 U-boats 4 ships (24,175 GRT)
1 warship

HX 228 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was one of 4 convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for seeing the loss of the Escort Group leader Cdr AA "Harry" Tait.

Contents

Prelude

HX 228 was an east bound convoy of 60 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New York on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials.

Mid-Ocean Escort Force group B3 joined the convoy from St Johns. Escort group B3 was led by Cdr AA Tait of HMS Harvester; the other ships of this group were destroyers HMS Escapade, ORP Burza and ORP Garland, and four corvettes; HMS Narcissus and FNFL ships Aconit, Renoncule and Roselys. B3 group was backed by the escort carrier Bogue and 2 destroyers which sailed from Argentia on 5 March.

Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were patrol lines, Wildfang, Burggraf and Neuland, although in the event only a re-configured Neuland, comprising 13 U-boats, engaged HX 228.

In early March the U-boat rakes came in contact with SC 121, which was several days ahead of HX 228, and engaged; the Admiralty diverted HX 228 north-east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the Neuland patrol area.

Action

On 10 March first contact made by U-336, in heavy weather; during the rest of the day 8 others were directed to join. Ironically, at this point the weather forced Bogue and her group to detach, as it was impossible to fly off aircraft in the storm. She sailed for Argentia and took no part in the action.

On the evening of 10/11 March, during a snow squall, the first attacks took place.

U-221 attacked 3 ships, sinking 2 ammunition ships, Tucurinca and Andrea F Luckenbach, and damaging a third, Lawton Edwards. U-221 was vigorously counterattacked, and withdrew to repair damage.

U-444 and U-757 both fired on William C Gorgas; she dropped back and sank later.

U-757 also fired on Brant County which was also carrying ammunition; she caught fire and exploded, and U-757 was damaged as a result. She was forced to return to base; she was later attacked in Bay of Biscay by the RAF, in company of 2 other boats, but all survived.

U-86 and U-406 both claimed hits using FAT torpedoes; Jamaica Provider was damaged during this stage.

On 11 March during the morning Harvester sighted U-444 on the surface and ran in to attack; she opened with gunfire and then rammed U-444, suffering damage to her propellers in the process. It was originally thought that Harvester had sunk U-444 but she was found later on the surface and finished off by Aconit. While in the area Harvester found and picked up survivors; 50 men from William Gorgas and 1 from U-444; while attempting to re-join the convoy her engines failed, and she summoned Aconit for assistance. While Harvester lay helpless, she was sighted and torpedoed by U-432; she sank with 149 on board, including Cdr Tait.

Arriving on the scene Aconit gained Asdic contact on U-432 which was lying motionless at periscope depth, her commander and crew celebrating their victory. Aconit attacked with depth charges, blowing her to the surface and sinking her later with gunfire.

Aconit picked up a number of survivors; 20 from U-432, 48 from Harvester, 12 from William C Gorgas and the one from U-444, to join the 3 previously picked up.

Despite further action that day and during the night of 11/12 March there were no further losses to either side, and on 12 March BdU called off the attack.

HX 228 arrived safely at Liverpool on 15 March 1943.

Conclusion

HX 228 cannot be seen as a victory for either side; HX 228 had lost 4 ships and a warship, with the loss also of Cdr Tait, an effective and well-respected Escort Group commander; while Neuland had lost 2 boats, a potentially ruinous rate of exchange.

Tables

Allied ships sunk

Date Name Nationality Casualties Tonnage Sunk by…
10 March 1943 Tucurinca Brit 1 5412 GRT U-221
10th Andrea F Luckenbach US 21 6565 GRT U-221
11th Brant County Nor 6 5001 GRT U-757
11th William C Gorgas US ?55 7197 GRT U-444, U-757

Allied warships sunk

Date Name Nationality Casualties Type Sunk by…
11 March 1943 Harvester Brit 149 destroyer U-432

U-boats destroyed

Date Number Type Captain Casualties Sunk by…
11 March 1943 U-444 VIIC O/L Langfeld 41 Harvester, Aconit
11th U-432 VIIC K/L Eckhardt 20 Aconit

External links

References