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convoy ON 92

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Convoy ON 92

| image_size = 300px

| image = USS Gleaves (DD-423) underway on 18 June 1941 (513043).jpg

| caption = USS Gleaves, 18 June 1941

| partof = the Battle of the Atlantic of World War II

| date = 6–21 May 1942

| place = North Atlantic

| result = German victory

| combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}

| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|UK}}
{{flagcountry|US|1912}}
{{flagcountry|CAN|1921}}

| commander1 = BdU:{{flagdeco|Nazi Germany|naval}} Karl Dönitz

| commander2 = Comm: {{flagdeco|UK|naval}} R Gill
SOE: {{flagdeco|USA|naval}} J Heffernan

| strength1 = 9 submarines

| strength2 = 1 destroyer
4 corvettes
1 cutter
46 merchant ships

| casualties1 = None

| casualties2 = 9 killed
7 merchant ships sunk
1 merchant ship damaged

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}

}}

Convoy ON 92 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the Second World War. It was the 92nd of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The ships departed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942Hague, p. 158 and were joined on 7 May{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html|title=ON convoys|publisher=Andrew Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=2013-11-08}} by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3.

The convoy was discovered by Wolfpack Hecht on 11 May; seven ships were sunk before the U-boats lost contact with the convoy on 13 May.Rohwer & Hummelchen, p. 139 Surviving ships reached Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 May.

{{toclimit|2}}

Prelude

ON 92 was a west-bound convoy of 42 ships, either in ballast or carrying trade goods, and sailed from Liverpool on 6 May 1942 bound for ports in North America. The convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill in Southern Princess.

It was escorted by mid-ocean escort group A-3, comprising the United States Navy destroyer {{USS|Gleaves|DD-423|2}} (Capt. J Heffernan as Senior Officer Escort), the United States Coast Guard cutter {{USCGC|Spencer|WPG-36|2}}, and four Royal Canadian Navy corvettes {{HMCS|Algoma||2}}, {{HMCS|Arvida||2}}, {{HMCS|Bittersweet||2}} and {{HMCS|Shediac||2}}. The convoy was supported by a rescue ship, the North Sea packet {{SS|Bury||2}}.Milner, p.113 Two of the merchant ships were equipped as CAM ships, with a catapult-launched Hurricane fighter as temporary air cover. Heffernan had a background in destroyers and anti-submarine warfare but was inexperienced in convoy protection, as was his group. Only Bittersweet had the new 10 cm radar, and only the rescue ship Bury had HF/DF.Blair p.599Edwards p.62

ON 92's passage was barred by the patrol group "Hecht", comprising six Type VII U-boats. Of these two commanders were experienced Knight's Cross holders, while the others were on their first Atlantic patrol.

Action

After making rendezvous with its ocean escort ON 92 proceeded west, following along the great circle route to reduce distance. However German intelligence (B-Dienst) was aware of its passage, and U-boat Command (BdU) was able to send group "Hecht" in pursuit.

On the morning of 11 May {{GS|U-569||2}} made contact and began to shadow. Its transmissions were detected by Bury, which was confirmed by the Admiralty that afternoon but Heffernan made no response until 1700, when he led Gleaves and Spencer in a wide sweep around the convoy. At 1749 Gleaves sighted a U-boat {{convert|17|mi}} ahead and both proceeded to attack, continuing until after midnight.Edwards p.65 Meanwhile two more U-boats were in contact, {{GS|U-94|1940|2}} and {{GS|U-124|1940|2}}, both commanded by Knights Cross holders. After sunset the commodore ordered evasive maneuvers, but without success, and at 2300 U-124 attacked, sinking Empire Dell and damaging Llanover.Edwards p.66 A second attack by U-124 hit Mount Parnes and Cristales, while U-94 hit Cocles. Algoma sighted one and counter-attacked but with no success. At this point Gleaves and Spencer rejoined the convoy and no more attacks developed. Arvida and Shediac were able to pick up survivors, with Bury.Edwards p.67

On 12 May the three U-boats in contact were joined by three more "Hecht" boats, {{GS|U-96|1940|2}}, {{GS|U-406||2}} and {{GS|U-590||2}}, and all six continued to shadow. At 1300 Heffernan again detached Gleaves and Spencer in a sweep around the convoy; at 1943 Spencer sighted two U-boats {{convert|27|mi}} northwest of the convoy, and engaged with gunfire, while at the same time Gleaves made a sonar contact {{convert|18|mi}} southeast and again began an anti-submarine hunt.

At 2253 the U-boats around the convoy attacked again, U-94 hitting Batna. She was counter-attacked by Bittersweet, but escaped. Both ships with both firing star shell, which brought Gleaves and Spencer back to the convoy. At 0310 on 13 May U-94 had a final success, hitting Tolken, but was driven off by defensive gunfire from the merchant. At this point foul weather closed in and the pack lost contact.

No further attacks developed and on 13 May Bury, with 178 survivors on board, was detached to St Johns, escorted by Arvida.Edwards p.68 The convoy was joined by units of Western Local Escort Force on 17 May and made port at Halifax on 21 May.

Aftermath

ON 92 lost seven ships of a total of 42 that set out. The Admiralty and Western Approaches Command (WAC) were unimpressed with Heffernan's performance, particularly as he described it in his report as a success, commenting "all escorts are entitled to credit for a highly satisfactory performance." WAC disagreed, feeling the group had "failed lamentably" in its defence of ON 92. The commodores report sums up the episode by commenting "Gleaves was never there when ON 92 was attacked." After this Heffernan was moved to other duties, with leadership of A-3 being passed to USCG commander P Heineman of the cutter {{USCGC|Campbell|WPG-32|2}}.

BdU had reason to be pleased with the sinking of seven merchant ships from the convoy, although this was the only successful attack on any North Atlantic convoy in the month of May. It was also noticeable that the only success fell to the two experienced commanders; the other four "Hecht" skippers achieved nothing.Blair p.601

In pop culture

In 2005 Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton wrote the song "Wolfpack" as the fourth track of their album Primo Victoria, providing a fictitious account of convoy ON 92.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Ships in the convoy

=Merchant ships=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" width="180px" |Name{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ON/index.html|title=Convoy ON.92|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=7 November 2013}}

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

! scope="col" width="30px" |Tonnage (GRT)

! scope="col" width="380px" |Notes

align="left"|Achilles (1906)

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

|align="right"|1,815

|align="left"|Bound for St John's, Newfoundland

align="left"|Alex (1914)

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

|align="right"|3,932

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Batna (1928)

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

|align="right"|4,399

|align="left"|Sunk By {{GS|U-94|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1639.html|title=Batna – British Steam Merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=21 December 2019}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 1 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury

align="left"|Belinda (1939)

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

|align="right"|8,325

|align="left"|Bound for Corpus Christi, Texas

align="left"|British Power (1936)

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

|align="right"|8,451

|align="left"|Bound for Houston

align="left"|Bury (1911)

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

|align="right"|1,686

|align="left"|Convoy rescue ship bound for Halifax. Carrying equipment for High-frequency direction finding

align="left"|Carras (1918)

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

|align="right"|5,234

|align="left"|Bound for Father Point, Quebec

align="left"|Chagres (1919)

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

|align="right"|5,545

|align="left"|Bound for Boston

align="left"|Clearpool (1935)

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

|align="right"|5,404

|align="left"|Bound for Father Point, Quebec

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Cocle (1920)

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

|align="right"|5,630

|align="left"|Sunk By {{GS|U-94|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1632.html|title=Cocle – Panamanian steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} on 12 May {{convert|740|nmi|km}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 5 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland.

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Cristales (1926)

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

|align="right"|5,389

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-124|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1631.html|title=Cristales – British steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} on 12 May SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead. Abandoned and sunk by gunfire from HMCS Shediac. Survivors picked up by Shediac and USCGC Spencer and landed at Boston.

align="left"|Dean Emery (1919)

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

|align="right"|6,664

|align="left"|Bound for Beaumont, Texas

align="left"|Dimitrios Chandris (1910)

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

|align="right"|4,643

|align="left"|Returned

align="left"|Dorcasia (1938)

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

|align="right"|8,053

|align="left"|Bound for Houston

align="left"|Dorington Court (1939)

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

|align="right"|5,281

|align="left"|Bound for New York City

align="left"|Elisabeth Lensen (1910)

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

|align="right"|4,212

|align="left"|Bound for Father Point, Quebec

align="left"|{{SS|Empire Antelope2}} (1919)

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

|align="right"|4,945

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax. Ship's Master is Vice-Commodore

align="left"|{{SS|Empire Chamois2}} (1918)

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

|align="right"|5,684

|align="left"|Bound for Baltimore

align="left"|{{SS|Empire Clive2}} (1941)

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

|align="right"|7,069

|align="left"|CAM Ship. Bound for Halifax

{{no2}}

|align="left"|{{SS|Empire Dell

2}} (1941)

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

|align="right"|7,065

|align="left"|CAM ship. Sunk by {{GS|U-124|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1634.html|title=Empire Dell – British Catapult armed merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} on 12 May. 2 dead. Survivors picked up by HMCS Shediac and Bury, and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland

align="left"|Empire Wolfe (1941)

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

|align="right"|2,888

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

align="left"|Errington Court (1925)

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

|align="right"|4,913

|align="left"|Bound for River Clyde

align="left"|Evanger (1920)

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

|align="right"|3,869

|align="left"|

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Fort Binger (1919)

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

|align="right"|5,671

|align="left"|With torpedo damage (uxb), in the port bow, from {{GS|U-588

2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3583.html|title=Fort Binger – British steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} on 18 May. 1 dead. Fog closed in, so U-boat lost contact and the Fort Binger docked for repairs in Yarmouth before making it to Halifax{{cite web|url=https://ericwiberg.com/2017/01/ss-fort-binger-torpedoed-damaged-by-u-588vogel-17-may-1942free-french-crew-tried-to-ram-fought-sub-off|title=SS Fort Binger torpedoed, damaged by U-588/Vogel 17 May 1942,Free French crew tried to ram, fought sub off

|date=4 January 2017

|publisher=ericwilberg.com|accessdate=9 April 2023}}

align="left"|Gazcon (1932)

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

|align="right"|4,224

|align="left"|

align="left"|Grey Lag (1910)

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

|align="right"|3,312

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

align="left"|Ivan Topic (1920)

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

|align="right"|4,943

|align="left"|Bound for New York City

align="left"|Juno (1908)

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

|align="right"|1,763

|align="left"|Bound for New York City

align="left"|Langleebrook (1930)

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

|align="right"|4,246

|align="left"|Bound for New York City

align="left"|Lisbeth (1922)

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

|align="right"|2,732

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Llanover (1928)

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

|align="right"|4,959

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-124|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1629.html|title=Llanover – British steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland on 12 May. 0 Dead. Scuttled by HMCS Arvida. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Mount Parnes (1917)

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

|align="right"|4,371

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-124|1940|2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1627.html|title=Mount Parnes – Greek steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} on 12 May {{convert|650|nmi|km}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland. 0 dead.

align="left"|Mount Rhodope (1919)

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

|align="right"|5,182

|align="left"|Bound for Montreal

align="left"|Mount Taurus (1920)

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

|align="right"|6,696

|align="left"|Bound for Montreal

align="left"|Portsea (1938)

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

|align="right"|1,583

|align="left"|Bound for Pictou

align="left"|{{SS|Ragnhild|1941|2}} (1941)

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

|align="right"|2,866

|align="left"|Bound for Father Point, Quebec

align="left"|San Ambrosio (1935)

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

|align="right"|7,410

|align="left"|

align="left"|Selvik (1920)

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

|align="right"|1,557

|align="left"|

align="left"|Selvistan (1924)

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

|align="right"|5,136

|align="left"|Bound for Halifax

align="left"|Solarium (1936)

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

|align="right"|6,239

|align="left"|Bound for Baton Rouge

align="left"|Southern Princess (1915)

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

|align="right"|2,156

|align="left"|Bound for Boston. Capt R Gill CBE Rd RNR (Commodore)

align="left"|Spokane (1929)

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

|align="right"|2,882

|align="left"|Bound for Charleston, South Carolina

align="left"|Suecia (1912)

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

|align="right"|4,966

|align="left"|Returned

align="left"|Titanian (1924)

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

|align="right"|4,880

|align="left"|Bound for Father Point, Quebec

{{no2}}

|align="left"|Tolken (1922)

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

|align="right"|4,471

|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-94|1940|2

}{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1640.html|title=Tolken – Swedish steam merchant|publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=7 November 2013}} {{convert|675|nmi|km}} SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland On 13 May. 0 dead. Survivors picked up by Bury and landed at St. John's, Newfoundland

|-

|align="left"|Zypenberg (1920)

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

|align="right"|4,973

|align="left"|Bound for New York City

|-

|}

=Convoy escorts=

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

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

! width="200px" |Type

! width="80px" |Joined

! width="80px" |Left

align="left"|{{USS|Gleaves|DD-423|6}}

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

|align="left"|{{sclass|Gleaves|destroyer}}

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|18 May 1942

align="left"|{{USCGC|Spencer|WPG-36|6}}

|align="left"|United States Coast Guard

|align="left"|{{sclass2|Treasury|cutter

United States Coast Guard Cutter}}

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|18 May 1942

align="left"|{{HMCS|Algoma|K127|6}}

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

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

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|18 May 1942

align="left"|{{HMCS|Arvida|K113|6}}

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

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

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|14 May 1942

align="left"|HMCS Bittersweet

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

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

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|18 May 1942

align="left"|{{HMCS|Shediac|K110|6}}

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

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

|align="right"|7 May 1942

|align="left"|16 May 1942

U-boats

The convoy was attacked by Wolfpack Hecht, which consisted of U-boats, namely:

  • {{GS|U-94|1940|2}} (Type VIIC) : 3 ships sunk
  • {{GS|U-96|1940|2}} (Type VIIC) : no success
  • {{GS|U-116|1941|2}} Type XB : supply boat
  • {{GS|U-124|1940|2}} Type IXB : 4 ships sunk
  • {{GS|U-406||2}} (Type VIIC) : no success
  • {{GS|U-569||2}} (Type VIIC) : no success
  • {{GS|U-578||2}} (Type VIIC) : no success
  • {{GS|U-590||2}} (Type VIIC) : no success

References

{{reflist|30em}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Blair |first1=Clay |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939-1942 |date=1996 |isbn=0-304-35260-8|author-link=Clay Blair}}
  • {{cite book |last=Edwards |first=Bernard |date=1996 |title=Donitz and the Wolf Packs |isbn=1-86019-927-5}}
  • {{cite book |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 |year=2000 |isbn=1-86176-147-3}}
  • {{cite book |last=Milner |first=Marc |date=1985 |title=North Atlantic Run: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle for the Convoys |publisher=University of Toronto |location=Toronto |isbn=0-8020-2544-7}}
  • {{cite book| title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945 |last1=Rohwer |first1=J. |author-link1=Jürgen Rohwer |last2=Hummelchen |first2=G. |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1992 |isbn=1-55750-105-X}}

External links

  • [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=92!~onzmain ON 92 at convoyweb]
  • [http://uboat.net/ops/convoys/convoys.php?convoy=ONS-92 ONS 92 at uboat.net]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Convoy ON 092}}

ON092

Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Canada