Convoy battles

STL-8

24 Dec 1943 - 24 Dec 1943

The Convoy13 ships
First sightingOn 24 Dec 1943 by U-515
Escorts

When leaving Freetown on 20 December:
British sloops HMS Lowestoft (U 59) (Cdr L.H. Phillips, RN), HMS Wellington (U 65) (Cdr G.A. Thring, DSO, RN) and HMS Weston (U 72) (LtCdr E. Gleave, RNR)
British armed trawlers HMS Arran (T 06) (T/Lt W.G.N. Aplin, RNR) and HMS Butser (T 219) (T/Lt J.D. Drummond, RNVR)

Joined on 23 December:
HMS Duncton (T 220) (Lt J.N. Burgess, RANVR) and HMS Southern Pride (K 249) (T/Lt G.B. Angus, DSC, RNVR)


U-boats
U-515* (Henke)

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


The battle
On 20 Dec, 1943, the coastal convoy STL-8 left Freetown with 12 merchant ships and HM BYMS-2017 (J 817) bound to several West African ports. There were warnings about U-boat activities along its route, but the convoy arrived safely at its destination Lagos on 28 December. However, the Dumana had lost contact with the convoy together with HMS Arran and HMS Southern Pride and was sunk by U-515 on 24 December.

Ships hit from convoy STL-8


Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat.Map
24 Dec 1943U-515Werner Henke Dumana8,427brA
 8,427

1 ship sunk (8,427 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.


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


Return to convoy information - convoy battles page.