Convoy QP 15

The convoy initially consisted of 31 merchant ships, most of which had arrived with Convoy PQ 18 and were returning empty. The convoy commodore was Captain W C. Meek RNR in Temple Arch, the vice-convoy commodore was in DanY-Bryn, Copeland was a rescue ship and Empire Morn was a CAM ship.{{sfn|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=47}} The close escort comprised four {{sclass|Halcyon|minesweeper}}s {{HMS|Britomart|J22|6}}, {{HMS|Halcyon|J42|2}}, {{HMS|Hazard|J02|2}} and {{HMS|Sharpshooter|J68|2}}. From 18 to 20 November the {{sclass|Leningrad|destroyer leader}} {{ship|Soviet destroyer leader|Baku||2}} and the {{sclass|Gnevny|destroyer}} {{ship|Soviet destroyer|Sokrushitelny|1937|2}} accompanied the convoy. The ocean escort from 17 to 30 November comprised the {{sclass|Flower|corvette}}s {{HMS|Bergamot|K189|6}}, {{HMS|Bluebell|K80|2}}, {{HMS|Bryony|K192|2}} and {{HMS|Camellia|K31|2}} and the Halcyon-class minesweeper {{HMS|Salamander|J86|6}}.{{sfn|Ruegg|Hague|1993|pp=46–47}}

From 20 to 26 November the destroyers {{HMS|Faulknor|H62|6}}, {{HMS|Intrepid|D10|2}}, {{HMS|Icarus|D03|2}} and {{HMS|Impulsive||2}} escorted the convoy, {{HMS|Echo|H23|6}} from 20 to 22 November, with {{HMS|Musketeer|G86|6}} and {{HMS|Orwell|G98|2}} from 23 to 30 November. The Hunt-class destroyers {{HMS|Ledbury|L90|6}} and {{HMS|Middleton|L74|2}} participated in the escort from 22 to 30 November and {{HMS|Oakley|L98|6}} from 23 to 30 November. The escort was supplemented by the AA cruiser {{MV|Ulster Queen|1929|6}} from 17 to 24 November, when it left to refuel. Distant cover was provided by {{HMS|London|69|6}} and {{HMS|Suffolk|55|2}} screened by the destroyers {{HMS|Forester|H74|6}}, {{HMS|Obdurate|G39|2}} and {{HMS|Onslaught|G04|2}} to the west of Bear Island. Submarine patrols were mounted off Altenfjord by {{HMS|Trespasser|P312|6}}, {{HMS|Seadog|P216|6}}, {{ship|French submarine|Junon|1935|2}} and {{HNoMS|Uredd|P41|6}} to oppose a sortie by German surface vessels.{{sfn|Ruegg|Hague|1993|pp=46–47}}

Convoy QP 15 was opposed by a patrol line of the Wolfpack {{lang|de|gruppe Boreas}} (god of the north wind) comprising ten U-boats in the Norwegian Sea, and by the {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}}, though much of the latter was grounded by the foul weather.{{sfn|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=47}}

The convoy set out from Archangel on 17 November 1942, accompanied by the local escort of four minesweepers, and were joined the following day by two Soviet destroyers. Two ships grounded after leaving harbour, and had to be left behind. They were refloated and returned to port. On 20 November the convoy was joined by its ocean escort of five destroyers. Also on 20 November a gale sprang up and scattered the convoy and damaged several ships, including the two Soviet destroyers. The Soviet destroyer Baku was badly damaged but managed to limp back to port. A large wave hit Sokrushitelny and broke her back, severing her stern. Three Soviet destroyers were sent to assist and manage to rescue 187 crewmen from the Sokrushitelny, which sank on 22 November.{{sfn|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|2005|pp=213–214}} On 23 November, the U-boat {{GS|U-625||2}} attacked and sank the British freighter Goolistan. Later in the day, {{GS|U-601||2}} fired a spread of torpedoes at the Soviet freighter Kuznetz Lesov, one of which struck and sank her; both ships were lost with all hands. The convoy arrived at Loch Ewe on 30 November 1942.{{sfn|Ruegg|Hague|1993|pp=46–47}}

{{reflist|20em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945: Its Organisation, Defence and Operation |year=2000 |publisher=Chatham |location=London |isbn=978-1-55125-033-5}}
• {{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=Wolfpacks: Boreas |url=https://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/240.html |year=2024 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=U-boat.net}}
• {{cite book |last2=Hümmelchen |first2=Gerhard |first1=Jürgen |last1=Rohwer |title=Chronology of the War at Sea: 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|year=2005 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |edition=3rd rev. |isbn=978-1-59114-119-8}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ruegg |first1=R. |last2=Hague |first2=A. |title=Convoys to Russia: Allied Convoys and Naval Surface Operations in Arctic Waters 1941–1945 |year=1993 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=World Ship Society |location=Kendal |edition=2nd rev. enl. |isbn=0-905617-66-5}}
• {{cite book |first=Richard |last=Woodman |year=2004 |orig-year=1994 |title=Arctic Convoys 1941–1945 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |isbn=978-0-7195-5752-1}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939–42 |volume=I |year=1996 |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=0-304-35260-8}}
• {{cite book |first=Paul |last=Kemp |title=Convoy! Drama in Arctic Waters |year=1993 |publisher=Arms and Armour Press |location=London |isbn=1-85409-130-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/convoydramainarc0000kemp_k9q5 |via=Archive Foundation}}
• {{cite book |last=Walling |first=Michael G. |title=Forgotten Sacrifice: The Arctic Convoys of World War II |date=20 October 2012 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-84908-718-6}}

{{Arctic convoys}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Convoy QP 15}}

QP 15

Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Germany

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