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Convoy SL 78

{{short description|Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War}}

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

{{Infobox military conflict

|conflict=Convoy SL.78

|partof=World War II

|date=18 June 1941 – 12 July 1941

|place=North Atlantic

|combatant1=25px Germany

|combatant2={{navy|Norway}}
{{navy|UKGBI}}

|commander1=Admiral Karl Dönitz

|commander2=Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSO

|strength1=~4 U-boats

|strength2=26 merchant ships
19 escorts

|casualties2=8 merchants sunk

}}

{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}

File:HMS_Bridgewater_(U01).jpg

Convoy SL 78 was the 78th of the numbered series of World War II SL convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound for the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean traveled independently to Freetown to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage. Twenty-five merchant ships departed Freetown on 18 June 1941.Hague, pp.138&142 U-boats sank eight ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 12 July.Blair, pp.302&303{{toclimit|2}}

Ships in the convoy

=Allied merchant ships=

A total of 26 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Sierra Leone or later in the voyage.{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/convoy2.php?suffix=SL.78&prefix=SL|title=Convoy SL.78|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=12 December 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" width="180px" |Name

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

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

! scope="col" width="300px" |Notes

align="left"|Aliakmon (1913)

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

|align="right"|4,521

|align="left"|

align="left"|Arundo (1930)

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

|align="right"|5,163

|align="left"|

align="left"|Atle Jarl (1919)

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

|align="right"|1,173

|align="left"|

align="left"|Baron Napier (1930)

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

|align="right"|3,559

|align="left"|

align="left"|Batna (1928)

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

|align="right"|4,399

|align="left"|

align="left"|Blackheath (1936)

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

|align="right"|4,637

|align="left"|Collision with corvette escort {{HMS|Arbutus|K86}} on 11 July

align="left"|Camerata (1931)

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

|align="right"|4,875

|align="left"|

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Criton (1927)

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

|align="right"|4,564

|align="left"|Captured from the Vichy French by HMS Cilicia on 19 June, and being sailed back to Europe from West Africa. Intercepted by two Vichy French warships, Air France IV and Edith Germaine, near Freetown on 21 June and sunk by their gunfire.{{cite web|url=http://www.gordonmumford.com/m-navy/pow-2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711113709/http://www.gordonmumford.com/m-navy/pow-2.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 July 2011|title=Merchant Seamen as Prisoners of War – British Merchant Navy Graves in Timbuktu – SS Criton|publisher=Gordon Mumford (MN)|accessdate=31 October 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?101175|title=SS Criton [+1941]|publisher=www.wrecksite.eu|accessdate=31 October 2013}} (see also Commander Bernard Peter de Neumann GM RN, second time sunk in the space of one month)

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Empire Ability (1931)

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

|align="right"|7,603

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-69|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1012.html|title=Empire Ability – British Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}}

align="left"|Esneh (1919)

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

|align="right"|1,931

|align="left"|

{{no2}}

|align="left"|George J Goulandris (1913)

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

|align="right"|4,345

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-66|1941|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1022.html|title=George J Goulandris – Greek Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}} W of Canary Islands

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Kalypso Vergotti (1918)

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

|align="right"|5,686

|align="left"|Straggler was sunk by {{GS|U-66|1941|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1023.html|title=Kalypso Vergotti – Greek Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}} All 36 crew lost

align="left"|Keilehaven (1919)

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

|align="right"|2,968

|align="left"|

align="left"|Leonidas N Condylis (1912)

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

|align="right"|3,923

|align="left"|

align="left"|Mary Slessor (1930)

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

|align="right"|5,027

|align="left"|Convoy Vice commodore's ship

align="left"|Michael Jebsen (1927)

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

|align="right"|2,323

|align="left"|Did Not Reform With Convoy

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Oberon (1911)

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

|align="right"|1,996

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-123|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1009.html|title=Oberon – Dutch Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}}

{{no2}}

|align="left"|P.L.M.22 (1921)

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

|align="right"|5,646

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-123|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1011.html|title=P.L.M.22 – British Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}}

align="left"|Parthenon (1908)

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

|align="right"|3,189

|align="left"|

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Rio Azul (1921)

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

|align="right"|4,088

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-123|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1021.html|title=Rio Azul – British Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}} post-dispersal from this convoy

{{no2}}

|align="left"|River Lugar (1937)

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

|align="right"|5,423

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-69|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1010.html|title=River Lugar – British Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}}

align="left"|Rolf Jarl (1920)

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

|align="right"|1,917

|align="left"|

align="left"|Sobo (1937)

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

|align="right"|5,353

|align="left"|Convoy commodore's ship – Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSO

{{no2}}

|align="left"|St Anselm (1919)

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

|align="right"|5,614

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-66|1941|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1026.html|title=St Anselm – British Steam merchant|publisher=www.uboat.net|accessdate=30 October 2013}}

align="left"|Stad Arnhem (1920)

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

|align="right"|3,819

|align="left"|Joined Convoy HX 135 after dispersal

align="left"|Venus (1907)

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

|align="right"|1,855

|align="left"|

=Convoy escorts=

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" width="150px" |Name

! scope="col" width="180px" |Flag

! width="200px" |Type

! width="80px" |Joined

! width="80px" |Left

align="left"|{{HMS|Arbutus|K86}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|11 Jul 1941

align="left"|HMS Armeria (K187)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|28 Jun 1941

align="left"|HMS Asphodel (K56)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|28 Jun 1941

align="left"|HMS Aster (K188)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|28 Jun 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Begonia|K66}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Bridgewater|L01}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass|Bridgewater|sloop|0}} sloop

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|28 Jun 1941

align="left"|HMS Burdock (K126)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|28 Jun 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Chelsea|I35}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Town|destroyer}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Convolvulus|K45}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|HMS Esperance Bay (F67)

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

|align="left"|Armed merchant cruiser and troopship

|align="right"|18 Jun 1941

|align="right"|27 Jun 1941

align="left"|HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|30 Jun 1941

|align="right"|30 Jun 1941

align="left"|HMS Jasmine (K23)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Larkspur|K82}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|{{HNoMS|Mansfield|G76}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Town|destroyer}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|HMS Pegasus

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

|align="left"|Fighter catapult ship

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|HMS Pimpernel (K71)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|HMS Rhododendron (K78)

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Shropshire|73}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass2|County|cruiser|0}} heavy cruiser

|align="right"|26 Jun 1941

|align="right"|27 Jun 1941

align="left"|{{HMS|Verity|D63}}

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

|align="left"|Modified W-class destroyer

|align="right"|09 Jul 1941

|align="right"|12 Jul 1941

References

{{reflist|30em}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book | last=Blair|first=Clay|title=Hitler's U-boat War:The Hunters 1939–1942|year=1996|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=0-394-58839-8}}
  • {{cite book

| last = Hague

| first = Arnold

| title = The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945

| year = 2000

| publisher = Chatham

| isbn = 1-86176-147-3

| ref = {{sfnRef|Hague}}

}}

External links

  • [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/convoy2.php?suffix=SL.78&prefix=SL SL.78 at convoyweb]

{{DEFAULTSORT:SL-78}}

SL078

C