Convoy HX 49
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Convoy HX 49
| partof = World War II
| date = 21/22 June 1940
| place = Atlantic Ocean
|result=German tactical victory
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|navy}} Germany
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|United Kingdom|navy}} United Kingdom
| commander1 = V.Adm. Karl Dönitz
| commander2 = V.Adm. L D Mackinnon
| strength1 = 3 U-boats
| strength2 = 50 merchant ships
2 escorts
| casualties1 = no losses
| casualties2 = 3 ships sunk
1 ship sunk after dispersal
}}
{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}
Convoy HX 49 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was the 49th of the numbered series of merchant convoys run by the Allies from Halifax to Liverpool. The convoy was attacked by German U-boats, losing three of its 50 ships sunk.Hague, p.126 Another ship was lost after dispersal.
Background
HX 49 was formed of two sections sailing from the Americas.
The main body, of 26 ships, departed Halifax on 9 June 1940 with ships gathered from the US eastern seaboard; it was led by convoy commodore vice-admiral LD Mackinnon RN in the steamship Eurybates. It was accompanied by its ocean escort, the Armed Merchant Cruiser Ausonia, and a local escort of two RCN destroyers.Hague, Arnold; [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html HX 49] at convoyweb.org.uk
On 13 June the convoy was joined by BHX 49, 24 ships from the Caribbean and South America, that had gathered at Bermuda, departing there on 8 June escorted by the AMC Ragputana and a local escort.Hague, Arnold; [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/bhx/index.html BHX 49] at convoyweb.org.uk
Ranged against HX 49 were U-boats of the German Navy's U-boat Arm, on patrol in Britain's South West Approaches. The UBW had five U-boats in area when contact was made on 21 June 1940.[https://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/search.php U-boats on patrol, 21 June 1940] at uboat.net
Action
On 20 June HX 49's Western Approaches escort arrived; the sloops {{HMS|Sandwich|L12|2}}, from escorting the outbound OB 169, and {{HMS|Fowey|L15|2}}, from OA 169.
During the crossing two ships had dropped out of convoy; both arrived safely. A third, Moordrecht, was detached for a port in neutral Spain: She was found by {{GS|U-48|1939|2}} on 20 June and torpedoed, without examination.[https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/371.html Moordrecht] at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020
The following evening {{GS|U-47|1938|2}} found HX 49 about 50 miles south of Cape Clear Island. Her commander, rising star Gunther Prien, took her into the middle of the convoy and sank the tanker San Fernando. The U-boat then had to crash-dive to avoid being run down by a freighter, but the attack caused the convoy to scatter.[https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/376.html San Fernando] at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020
Later that night two more ships were found and sunk; Randsfjord by {{GS|U-30|1936|2}}[https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/379.html Randsfjord] at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020 and Eli Knudsen by {{GS|U-32|1937|2}}.[https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/381.html Eli Knudsen] at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020
At daybreak on 22 June the two sloops began to gather the ships back together, and HX 49 continued without further loss. The main body arrived in Liverpool on 24 June.
Ships lost
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Merchant ships lost | ||||
| scope="col" width="150px" |Name
! scope="col" width="150px" |Flag ! scope="col" width="30px" |Tonnage (GRT) ! scope="col" width="100px" |Date sunk ! scope="col" width="300px" |Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moordrecht | {{flagcountry|Netherlands}} | 7,493 | 20 June | detached 18 June for landfall in Corunna. Torpedoed by U-48; 25 dead, 4 survivors |
| San Fernando | {{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}} | 13,056 | 21 June | torpedoed by U-47; 49 survivors, picked up by Fowey and Sandwich |
| Randsfjord | {{flagcountry|Norway}} | 3,999 | 22 June | torpedoed by U-30; 4 dead, 29 survivors, picked up by Port Hobart |
| Eli Knudsen | {{flagcountry|Norway}} | 9,026 | 22 June | torpedoed by U-32; 37 survivors, picked up by Sandwich |
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- Blair, Clay (1996) Hitler's U-boat War Vol I Cassell {{ISBN|0-304-35260-8}}
- Arnold Hague (2000) The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 {{ISBN|1-86176-147-3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Convoy HX 049}}