Convoy HX-228

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Convoy
partof=World War II
date=10-11 March 1943
place=North Atlantic
result=Inconclusive
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Admiral Karl Dönitz
commander2=Comm: JO Dunn B-3 Group: AA Tait

strength1= 9 U-boats
strength2= 60 ships 8 escorts
casualties1= 2 U-boats
casualties2= 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.

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.

The ocean escort was B3 escort group from St Johns, of 4 destroyers and 4 corvettes. It 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 4 corvettes; HMS "Narcissus" and FNFL ships "Aconit", "Renoncule" and "Roselys". B 3 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

External links

* [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=228!~hxmain HX 228 at convoyweb]
* [http://www.uboat.net/ops/convoys/convoys.php?convoy=HX-228 HX 228 at uboatnet]

References

* Clay Blair : "Hitler’s U-Boat War Vol II" (1998) ISBN 0-304-35261-7
* Arnold Hague : "The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945" (2000) ISBN 1 55125 033 0 (Canada). ISBN 1 86176 147 3 (UK)
* Paul Kemp : "U-Boats Destroyed" ( 1997) ISBN 1 85409 515 3
* Axel Neistle : "German U-Boat Losses during World War II" (1998) ISBN 1 85367 352 8
* Stephen Roskill : "The War at Sea 1939-1945 Vol II" (1956) ISBN (none)
* Jak P M Showell "U-Boat Warfare: The Evolution of the Wolf-Pack" (2002) ISBN 0-7110-2887-7