Convoy QP 15

Convoy QP 15 was one of the Arctic convoys of World War II the last of the QP series from northern Russia to Britain which ran during the Second World War to return Allied ships to home ports. The convoy sailed from the Kola Inlet on 17 November 1942. It was scattered by a storm in which the Soviet destroyer was hit from behind by a big wave and foundered after two days' rescue attempts. The convoy was attacked by U-boats of the (German Navy) that sank two of the merchant ships. The convoy reached its destination at Loch Ewe on 30 November 1942.

Prelude

Convoy and escorts

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. The close escort comprised four s , , and . From 18 to 20 November the and the accompanied the convoy. The ocean escort from 17 to 30 November comprised the s , , and and the ''Halcyon''-class minesweeper .

From 20 to 26 November the destroyers , , and escorted the convoy, from 20 to 22 November, with and from 23 to 30 November. The Hunt-class destroyers and participated in the escort from 22 to 30 November and from 23 to 30 November. The escort was supplemented by the AA cruiser from 17 to 24 November, when it left to refuel. Distant cover was provided by and screened by the destroyers , and to the west of Bear Island. Submarine patrols were mounted off Altenfjord by , , and to oppose a sortie by German surface vessels.

Kriegsmarine

Convoy QP 15 was opposed by a patrol line of the Wolfpack (god of the north wind) comprising ten U-boats in the Norwegian Sea, and by the , though much of the latter was grounded by the foul weather.

Voyage

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. On 23 November, the U-boat attacked and sank the British freighter ''Goolistan''. Later in the day, 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.

Allied order of battle

Merchant ships

Local escort

Ocean escort

Distant escort

Submarine patrols

Rescue flotilla

German order of battle

U-boats

References

Bibliography

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Further reading

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QP 15
Naval battles of World War II involving Germany
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