Convoy battles

HX-79

Homeward from Halifax (North Atlantic)

19 Oct 1940 - 20 Oct 1940

The Convoy49 ships
First sightingOn 19 Oct 1940 by U-47
EscortsFrom 19th September Escort Group (LCdr. Russell) with:
Destroyers HMS Whitehall and HMS Sturdy
Corvettes HMS Hibiscus, HMS Heliotrope, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Arabis
A/S Trawlers HMS Lady Elsa, HMS
Blackfly, HMS Angle
Minesweeper HMS Jason
Submarine O-14

U-boats

U-28, U-46*, U-47*, U-48*, U-100*

* U-boats that fired torpedo or used the deck gun


The battle

After sighting the convoy by U-47 BdU ordered some boats against the HX-72 from the just finished battle against SC-7. U-47 stay in touch with the convoy and brought up the other boats. In the face of the strong escort the boats sank during the night 19/20th October 12 ships for a total of 75,069 tons.

Article compiled by Tom Linclau

Ships hit from convoy HX-79


Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat.Map
19 Oct 1940U-38Heinrich Liebe Matheran7,653brA
19 Oct 1940U-38Heinrich Liebe Bilderdijk6,856nlB
19 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien Uganda4,966brC
19 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien Shirak (d.)6,023brD
19 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien Wandby4,947brE
19 Oct 1940U-46Engelbert Endrass Ruperra4,548brF
20 Oct 1940U-100Joachim Schepke Caprella8,230brG
20 Oct 1940U-100Joachim Schepke Sitala6,218brH
20 Oct 1940U-48Heinrich Bleichrodt Shirak6,023brI
20 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien La Estancia5,185brJ
20 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien Whitford Point5,026brK
20 Oct 1940U-47Günther Prien Athelmonarch (d.)8,995brL
20 Oct 1940U-46Engelbert Endrass Janus9,965swM
20 Oct 1940U-100Joachim Schepke Loch Lomond5,452brN
 90,087

12 ships sunk (75,069 tons) and 2 ships damaged (15,018 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.
(d.) means the ship was damaged.


77 convoys on route HX were hit by U-boats in the war. Read more about them.


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