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Convoy HX 231

{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Convoy HX.231

| partof = the Second World War

| image = File:North Atlantic Ocean laea relief location map.jpg

| caption=North Atlantic Ocean map

| image_size = 250px

| date = 25 March – 10 April 1943

| place = North Atlantic Ocean

| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|naval}} Germany

| combatant2 = {{flag|Canada|naval-1911}}
{{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} United Kingdom

| commander1 = Karl Dönitz

| commander2 = Charles Ramsay (Commodore)

| strength1 = 11 U-boats

| strength2 = 67 merchant ships
19 escorts

| casualties1 = 2 U-boats sunk

| casualties2 = 6 ships sunk

}}

{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}

Convoy HX 231 was the 231st of the numbered series of Second World War HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 25 March 1943 and were met on 31 March by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-7. The convoy was found on 4 April and attacked by eleven U-boats of the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th U-boat flotillas, from Brest, La Rochelle, St Nazaire and Lorient, respectively. These U-boats formed wolfpack {{lang|de|Löwenherz'}} (Lionheart). The U-boats sank six ships before losing contact on 7 April. Two U-boats, {{GS|U-632||2}} and {{GS|U-635||2}}, were sunk. The convoy reached Liverpool on 10 April.

{{toclimit|2}}

{{clear}}

Ships in the convoy

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" width="150px" |Name{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=231!~hxmain|title=Convoy HX.231|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|access-date=22 November 2021}}

! scope="col" width="150px" |Flag

! scope="col" width="25px" |(GRT)

! scope="col" width="400px" |Notes

align="left"|HMS Alisma

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette

align="left"|Amastra (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,031

|align="left"|

align="left"|Ancylus (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,017

|align="left"|

align="left"|Aruba (1929)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|3,979

|align="left"|Arrived with rudder damage

align="left"|Asbjorn (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|4,387

|align="left"|

align="left"|Athelregent (1930)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,881

|align="left"|

align="left"|Athos (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|8,267

|align="left"|

align="left"|Atlantida (1924)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Honduras}}

|align="right"|4,191

|align="left"|

align="left"|Beaverhill (1928)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|10,041

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{SS|Blitar2}} (1923)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|7,065

|align="left"|Romped and sunk by {{GS|U-632

2}} on 6 April after attack the previous day by {{GS|U-2292}}, 26 dead{{Cite web |url= https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2852.html |title=Blitar – Dutch Steam Merchant |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|British Ardour (1928)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,124

|align="left"|Escort Oiler. Sunk by {{GS|U-706

2}} on 5 April, no casualties{{Cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2848.html |title=British Ardour – British Steam Tanker |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|British Confidence (1936)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,494

|align="left"|

align="left"|HMS Buxton (H96)

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 27–31 March, Destroyer

align="left"|{{HMCS|Chicoutimi|K156|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 27–31 March, Corvette

align="left"|City of Lyons (1926)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,063

|align="left"|

align="left"|Clan Cameron (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,243

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMS|Eclipse|H08|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 6–8 April Destroyer

align="left"|Eli Whitney (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,181

|align="left"|

align="left"|Empire Chief (1897)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,040

|align="left"|Tanker carrying fuel oil

align="left"|Empire Coleridge (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,798

|align="left"|Tanker carrying petrol. Fitted with AND

align="left"|Empire Dickens (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,819

|align="left"|Tanker carrying petrol

align="left"|Empire Marvell (1941)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,812

|align="left"|Tanker carrying petrol & paraffin

align="left"|Erin (1932)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|5,841

|align="left"|

align="left"|Esso Dover (1921)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|8,880

|align="left"|

align="left"|F J Wolfe (1932)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|12,190

|align="left"|Escort Oiler. Returned

align="left"|Fort Finlay (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,134

|align="left"|

align="left"|Fort Jemseg (1943)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,134

|align="left"|

align="left"|Fort Thompson (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,134

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMS|Fury|H76|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 6–8 April, Destroyer

align="left"|Geo W McKnight (1933)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|12,502

|align="left"|

align="left"|Georgian (1920)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|5,825

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMS|Icarus|D03|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 6–8 April Destroyer

align="left"|{{HMS|Inglefield|D02|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 6–8 April Destroyer

align="left"|Jamaica Planter (1936)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|4,098

|align="left"|Vice-Commodore

align="left"|Joel R Poinsett (1943)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left"|

align="left"|Katy (1931)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|6,825

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMCS|Kenora|J281|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 25–28 March Minesweeper

align="left"|Kent (1918)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,697

|align="left"|

align="left"|Lady Rodney (1929)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,194

|align="left"|Halifax to St John's, Newfoundland

align="left"|Laurelwood (1929)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,347

|align="left"|

align="left"|Lochmonar (1924)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,412

|align="left"|Returned

align="left"|HMS Loosestrife

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 31 March – 9 April Corvette; landed 72 Survivors from Waroonga at Londonderry Port on 9 April 1943

align="left"|Manchester Port (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,071

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMCS|Milltown|J317|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 27–31 March, Minesweeper

align="left"|Mobilgas (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|9,925

|align="left"|

align="left"|Mosdale (1939)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|3,022

|align="left"|

align="left"|Narvik

|align="left"|

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 9–10 April

align="left"|Nassa (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|8,134

|align="left"|Fitted with Noah Webster (1943)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left"|Returned

align="left"|Norheim (1941)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|9,816

|align="left"|

align="left"|Norvinn (1930)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Panama}}

|align="right"|6,322

|align="left"|

align="left"|Ocean Volunteer (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,174

|align="left"|

align="left"|Ornefjell (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|1,334

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

align="left"|Pandorian (1941)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|4,159

|align="left"|

align="left"|Pierre Soule (1943)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,191

|align="left"|

align="left"|HMS Pink

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 29 March – 9 April, Corvette

align="left"|Pleiades (1939)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|3,600

|align="left"|

align="left"|Port Sydney (1914)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,129

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMCS|Quesnel|K133|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 25–31 March, Corvette

align="left"|Raphael Semmes (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|6,165

|align="left"|

align="left"|Reinholt (1939)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|4,799

|align="left"|

align="left"|Salland (1920)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|6,447

|align="left"|

align="left"|Saluta (1906)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|6,261

|align="left"|Returned

align="left"|San Adolfo (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,365

|align="left"|

align="left"|San Ambrosio (1935)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|7,410

|align="left"|

align="left"|Santa Maria (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|6,507

|align="left"|

align="left"|{{HMCS|Saskatoon|K158|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 25–28 March, Corvette

align="left"|Scebeli (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|3,025

|align="left"|Detached and independent 1 April

align="left"|Shillong (1939)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|5,529

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-630

2}} on 5 April, after being damaged by {{GS|U-6352}} in an earlier attack, 71 dead{{Cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2847.html |title=Shillong – British Motor Merchant |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|Slemmestad (1928)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}

|align="right"|4,258

|align="left"|

align="left"|HMS Snowflake

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 31 March – 9 April, corvette, landed 54 Survivors from British Ardour at Londonderry Port

align="left"|Sovac (1938)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|6,724

|align="left"|

align="left"|Stephen C Foster (1943)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,106

|align="left"|

align="left"|Sunoil (1927)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|9,005

|align="left"|Straggler zig-zagging on 4 April due to engine trouble. Sunk by {{GS|U-530

2}} on 5 April, after being damaged by {{GS|U-5632}} in an earlier attack; lost with all 69 hands{{Cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2849.html |title=Sunoil – American Motor Tanker |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|{{HMS|Tay|K232|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 31 March – 9 April, Frigate

align="left"|Thomas Sumter (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,177

|align="left"|Romped

align="left"|Tjibadak (1929)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|7,083

|align="left"|

align="left"|Torr Head (1937)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|5,021

|align="left"|

align="left"|Tulsa (1919)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|5,083

|align="left"|

align="left"|Tyndareus (1916)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|11,361

|align="left"|Admiral Sir Charles Ramsey (Commodore)

align="left"|{{USS|Merak|AF-21|6}}

|align="left"|{{naval|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|6,982

|align="left"|Stores and passenger ship. 138 passengers

align="left"|Vaalaren (1936)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Sweden}}

|align="right"|3,406

|align="left"|Romped 4 April, sunk by {{GS|U-229

2}} on 5 April, lost with all 38 hands{{Cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2851.html |title=Vaalaren – Swedish Motor Merchant |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|{{HMS|Vidette|D48|6}}

|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}

|align="right"|

|align="left"|Escort 31 March – 9 April, Destroyer

align="left"|Waroonga (1914)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}

|align="right"|9,365

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-630

2}} on 5 April, after being damaged by {{GS|U-6352}} in an earlier attack. 19 dead{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2851.html |title=Waroonga – British Steam Merchant |publisher=uboat.net |access-date=12 December 2023}}
align="left"|William Mulholland (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left"|

align="left"|William Whipple (1942)

|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,181

|align="left"|

References

{{reflist|20em}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last=Gretton |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Gretton |title=Crisis Convoy |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1974 |place=Annapolis, MD |isbn=0-87021-925-1}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 |year=2000 |isbn=1-86176-147-3 |ref ={{sfnRef|Hague}}}}
  • {{cite book |first1=Jürgen |last1=Rohwer |first2=Gerhard |last2=Hümmelchen |title=Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |year=2005 |orig-year=1972 |publisher=Chatham |location=London |edition=3rd rev. |isbn=978-1-86176-257-3}}

External links

  • {{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=231!~hxmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HX.231 |work=HX Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb}}

HX231

Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Canada