Convoy HX 106
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Convoy HX 106 was the 106th of the numbered series of Allied HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England. Forty-one ships departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 30 January 1941, eastbound to Liverpool, England.[1] The use of convoys was a standard tactic throughout the Battle of the Atlantic as a defence against U-boats and German commerce raiders.
On 8 February 1941 the two German battleships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, appeared over the horizon.[2] The German squadron was under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. The captain of Scharnhorst offered to draw off the escorting Royal Navy battleship HMS Ramillies, so that Gneisenau could sink the merchant ships. This strategy, if successful, would have entailed little risk to Scharnhorst as she was 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) faster than Ramillies, and her newer 11-inch (279 mm) guns outranged the 1915 era 15-inch (381 mm) guns of the British ship. However, Lutjens strictly followed Hitler's directive not to engage enemy capital ships, and withdrew.[2]
Later, two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by the submarine U-96, including MV Arthur F. Corwin loaded with 14,500 tons of aviation spirit. She went down on 13 February taking all 59 crew with her.
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Contents
Ships in the convoy[3]
| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abercos (1920) |  United Kingdom |
6,076 | Straggled |
| Arthur F Corwin (1938) | United Kingdom |
10,516 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 Sunk by U-96[4] |
| Athelbeach (1931) | United Kingdom |
6,568 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Botavon (1912) | United Kingdom |
5,848 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 Vice-Commodore |
| British Fortune (1930) | United Kingdom |
4,696 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMS Burnham (H82) |  Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 15 Feb Destroyer |
|
| Capsa (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,229 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Cardium (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,236 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Chama (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,077 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Charlton Hall (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,200 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Clea (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,028 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 Sunk By U-96[5] |
| Cliona (1931) | United Kingdom |
8,375 | |
| HMCS Collingwood (K180) | Royal Canadian Navy |
Escort 30 - 31 Jan Corvette |
|
| Contractor (1930) | United Kingdom |
6,004 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Dover Hill (1918) | United Kingdom |
5,815 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Edward F Johnson (1937) | United Kingdom |
10,452 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Esturia (1914) | United Kingdom |
6,968 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Evanger (1920) |  Norway |
3,869 | |
| Ganges (1930) | United Kingdom |
6,246 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Garonne (1921) | Norway |
7,113 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Geo W McKnight (1933) | United Kingdom |
12,502 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Harpagus (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,173 | |
| Hopemount (1929) | United Kingdom |
7,434 | Straggled 3 Feb 41 |
| Horda (1920) | Norway |
4,301 | Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Kheti (1927) | United Kingdom |
2,734 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMS Kingcup (K33) | Royal Navy |
Escort 15 Feb - 17 Feb Corvette |
|
| HMS La Malouine (K46) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 17 Feb Corvette |
|
| Laguna (1923) | United Kingdom |
6,466 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Leiesten (1930) | Norway |
6,118 | Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb |
| Lodestone (1938) | United Kingdom |
4,877 | Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 |
| Mactra (1936) | United Kingdom |
6,193 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMS Malcolm (D19) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 15 Feb Destroyer |
|
| Malmanger (1920) | Norway |
7,078 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Miralda (1936) | United Kingdom |
8,013 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Mirza (1929) |  Netherlands |
7,991 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMS Northern Pride (FY105) | Royal Navy |
Escort 15 - 18 Feb ASW trawler |
|
| Nurtureton (1929) | United Kingdom |
6,272 | |
| Oilfield (1938) | United Kingdom |
8,516 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Opalia (1938) | United Kingdom |
6,195 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| R J Cullen (1919) | United Kingdom |
6,993 | |
| HMS Ramillies (07) | Royal Navy |
Escort 30 Jan - 10 Feb battleship |
|
| HMS Saladin (H54) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 14 Feb Destroyer |
|
| San Eliseo (1939) | United Kingdom |
8,042 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| San Fabian (1922) | United Kingdom |
13,031 | |
| HMS Sardonyx (H26) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 17 Feb Destroyer |
|
| Silveray (1925) | United Kingdom |
4,535 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMS Skate (1917) | Royal Navy |
Escort 12 - 18 Feb Destroyer |
|
| Temple Arch (1940) | United Kingdom |
5,138 | Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 Feb |
| Topdalsfjord (1921) | Norway |
4,271 | Capt W H Poole Rd RNR (Commodore) |
| Torborg (1921) | Norway |
6,042 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| Trelissick (1919) | United Kingdom |
5,265 | Joined ex-BHX 106 |
| HMT Vizalma | Royal Navy |
Escort 15 - 18 Feb ASW trawler |
References
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