Convoy battles

HX-79

Homeward from Halifax (North Atlantic)

19 Oct 1940 - 20 Oct 1940

The Convoy49 ships
First sightingOn 19 Oct 1940 by U-47
EscortsFrom 19th September Escort Group (LCdr. Russell) with:
Destroyers HMS Whitehall and HMS Sturdy
Corvettes HMS Hibiscus, HMS Heliotrope, HMS Coreopsis and HMS Arabis
A/S Trawlers HMS Lady Elsa, HMS
Blackfly, HMS Angle
Minesweeper HMS Jason
Submarine O-14

U-boats
U-28, U-46*, U-47*, U-48*, U-100*

* U-boats that fired torpedo or used the deck gun


The battle
After sighting the convoy by U-47 BdU ordered some boats against the HX-72 from the just finished battle against SC-7. U-47 stay in touch with the convoy and brought up the other boats. In the face of the strong escort the boats sank during the night 19/20th October 12 ships for a total of 75,069 tons.

Article compiled by Tom Linclau


Ships hit from convoy HX-79

DateU-boatCommanderName of ship GRT  Nat.
19 Oct 1940 U-38  Heinrich Liebe Bilderdijk 6.856 nl
19 Oct 1940 U-38  Heinrich Liebe Matheran 7.653 br
19 Oct 1940 U-46  Engelbert Endrass Ruperra 4.548 br
19 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien Shirak (d.) 6.023 br
19 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien Uganda 4.966 br
19 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien Wandby 4.947 br
20 Oct 1940 U-100  Joachim Schepke Caprella 8.230 br
20 Oct 1940 U-100  Joachim Schepke Loch LomondS 5.452 br
20 Oct 1940 U-100  Joachim Schepke Sitala 6.218 br
20 Oct 1940 U-46  Engelbert Endrass JanusS 9.965 sw
20 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien Athelmonarch (d.) 8.995 br
20 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien La Estancia 5.185 br
20 Oct 1940 U-47  Günther Prien Whitford Point 5.026 br
20 Oct 1940 U-48  Heinrich Bleichrodt ShirakS 6.023 br

 (d.) = the ship was damaged in that attack.
Convoy info: S = straggler, D = dispersed, R = Romper

12 ships sunk for a total of 75.069 tons from convoy HX-79

Convoy battles

The Convoys