SC-107
Sydney CB to UK (North Atlantic)30 Oct 1942 - 5 Nov 1942
The Convoy | 42 ships |
First sighting | On 30 Oct 1942 by U-522 |
Escorts | The Canadian Escort Group C4 (Lt-Cdr Piers) consisting of the destroyer Restigouche and the 4 corvettes Algoma, Amherst, Arvida and Celandine (RN). In the convoy there is the rescue ship Stockport equipped with HF/DF. |
U-boats | The wolfpack Veilchen of 13 boats U-71 (Oblt von Roithberg) *, U-84 (Kptlt Uphoff) *, U-89 (Korvkpt Lohmann) *, U-132 (Kptlt Vogelsang) *, U-381 (Kptlt Graf von Pückler und Limburg), U-402 (Korvkpt Freiherr von Forstner) *, U-437 (Kptlt Schulz), U-438 (Kptlt Franzius) *, U-442 (Korvkpt Hesse) *, U-454 (Kptlt Hackländer), U-571 (Kptlt Möhlmann), U-658 (Kptlt Senkel), U-704 (Kptlt Kessler) Stationed South of Newfoundland on the beginning of the operations: U-520 (Kptlt Schwartzkopff), U-521 (Oblt Bargsten) *, U-522 (Kptlt Schneider) * * U-boats that fired torpedo or used the deck gun |
The battle | The patrol line Veilchen is formed on Oct 24th and stationed East of Newfoundland with the purpose to intercept eastbound convoys. So when U-437 reports the westbound ON-140 on the 28th, no action is taken. On the 30th U-522 detects the convoy. All U-boats of the patrol line plus U-520 and U-521 try to close in fast. The many radio signals of the U-boats leave the Allied Command no doubts : the convoy is in imminent danger. The British destroyer Walker and the Canadian destroyer Columbia of the Western Local Escort remains temporarily with the convoy and air escort is provided. U-520 and U-658 fall victim to air patrols that day. An attack of the U-522 on the Columbia has no success. On the next day U-522 and U-521, the 2 boats near the convoy are driven off by the escort and air patrols, but on Nov 1st U-381 sights the convoy again. The Western Local Escort Destroyers are short on fuel and return to port. The convoy enters now the 'black pit ' and with only 5 escorts to deal with a complete wolf pack, the situation looks desperate to the escort commander. However, he manages during the first part of the night to keep the U-boats at bay. The destroyer makes large sweeps at the rear of the convoy and prevents any U-boat to close in or catch up with the convoy. The Celandine makes offensive sweeps towards HF/DF contacts. After midnight, the escorts are overwhelmed by the U-boats, who attack in quick succession. U-402 is the first to reach the convoy and torpedoes one ship, which is later finished of by U-84. U-381 misses the Restigouche. U-402 and U-522 attack two times, both simultaneously, with an interval of three hours. U-402 sinks 3 ships and damages one, who is finished off by U-438 and U-522 sinks 2 ships and damages one, who is finished off by U-521. U-442 misses the convoy. By day on the 2nd, the corvette Moosejaw joins the escort. U-132, U-402 and U-522 keep contact with the roughed-up convoy. U-522 makes a daylight submerged attack in the late afternoon and sinks another ship. In the evening a thick fog comes up. The U-boats loose contact and no attacks are made. But also the convoy is scattered when the convoy commodore tries to elude the U-boats with several course changes. The destroyer Vanessa is detached from convoy HX-212 and reinforces the escort of SC-107. When dawn comes up, U-71, U-84, U-381, U-402, U-438, U-521, U-522, U-571 and U-704 make contact in turns but cannot exploit the favourable situation. The escort keep the U-boats at bay. Only U-521 sinks one tanker in two approaches. U-438 has misses on stragglers. After dark, U-89 attacks and sinks the commodore ship. U-132 sinks 2 ships and damages one, finished off by U-442 later. One of its victims is an ammunition ship. Half an hour after being torpedoed the ship disappears in a tremendous explosion, which leaves many ships in the convoy to believe that they themselves have been torpedoed. But ironically the only victim of this explosion might have been U-132 itself. This U-boat goes missing after the operations. Further attacks by U-71, U-438 and U-442 have no success. Some ships leave the convoy for Iceland: the rescue ship and 2 tugs overcrowded with survivors, one tanker and 2 corvettes. From Iceland 3 USN escorts arrive in the evening: the destroyers Schenck and Leary and the cutter Ingham. They are too late however to prevent U-89 from sinking another ship. On the 5th Nov the convoy leaves the 'black pit' and Liberators of Sqdn. 120 RAF drive off U-84, U-381, U-442, U-454, U-521, U-522 and U-571. The planes are guided by HF/DF bearings from the Restigouche. U-89 is damaged by one of the aircraft. |
Article compiled by Tom Linclau
Ships hit from convoy SC-107
48 convoys on route SC were hit by U-boats in the war. Read more about them.