Convoy battles

MB-50

11 Oct 1943 - 11 Oct 1943

The Convoy9 ships
First sightingOn 11 Oct 1943 by U-532
Escorts

When leaving Colombo on 9 October: Indian minesweeper HMIS Carnatic (J 199) (T/Lt J.U. Webb, RINVR) and as local escort the Indian armed trawler HMIS Baroda (T 249) (Lt S.D. Kala, RIN) until 10 October
Joined as reinforcement on 13 October: British destroyer HMS Relentless (H 85) (LtCdr R.A. Fell, RN)


U-boats

U-532 * (Junker)

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


The battle

On 9 Oct, 1943, the convoy MB-50 left Colombo consisting of nine merchant ships in four columns, escorted by a minesweeper and an armed trawler. At 16.30 hours on 11 October, the Jalabala in station #11 was torpedoed and sunk by U-532 about 12 miles west-southwest of Tellicherry, India. HMIS Carnatic was the only escort and dropped depth charges in a counter attack, but soon rejoined the convoy without picking up the survivors in anticipation of another attack. On 13 October, the convoy was joined by HMS Relentless and one merchant ship that had missed the departure and arrived at its destination Bombay the next day.

Article compiled by Rainer Kolbicz

Ships hit from convoy MB-50


Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat.Map
11 Oct 1943U-532Ottoheinrich Junker Jalabala3,610inA
 3,610

1 ship sunk (3,610 tons).


This was the only convoy on route MB hit by U-boats in the war.


Return to convoy information - convoy battles page.