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Convoy ONS 18
ONS 18 and ON 202 were North Atlantic convoys of the ONS/ON series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. They were the subject of a major U-boat attack in September 1943, the first battle in the ''Kriegsmarine''s autumn offensive, following the withdrawal from the North Atlantic route after Black May. Background Following the defeats of May 1943, and the devastating losses incurred by the U-boat Arm (''U-Bootwaffe'', or UBW) Admiral Dönitz had withdrawn from attacks on the North Atlantic route while awaiting tactical and technical improvements. Chief among these was the T-5 acoustic torpedo, with which (it was planned) the convoy escorts could be attacked and eliminated, leaving the merchant ships defenceless. By September 1943 these were ready, and U-boat Control (''Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote'', BdU) dispatched a patrol group of 21 boats, code-named ''Leuthen'', to renew the attack on the North Atlantic route. Ships involved In September 1943 B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battle Of The Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of World War II. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade. The campaign peaked from mid-1940 through to the end of 1943. The Battle of the Atlantic pitted U-boats and other warships of the German '' Kriegsmarine'' (Navy) and aircraft of the ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force) against the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, United States Navy, and Allied merchant shipping. Convoys, coming mainly from North America and predominantly going to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, were protected for the most part by the British and Canadian navies and air forces. These forces were aided by ships and aircraft of the United States beginning September 13, 1941. Carney, Robert B., Admiral, USN. "Comment and Discu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is the world's largest island. It is one of three constituent countries that form the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark and the Faroe Islands; the citizens of these countries are all citizens of Denmark and the European Union. Greenland's capital is Nuuk. Though a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe (specifically Norway and Denmark, the colonial powers) for more than a millennium, beginning in 986.The Fate of Greenland's Vikings , by Dale Mackenzie Brown, ''Archaeological Institute of America'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMCS Gatineau (H61)
HMS ''Express'' was an E-class minelaying destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. Although assigned to the Home Fleet upon completion, the ship was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1935–36 during the Abyssinia Crisis. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39, she spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. ''Express'' spent most of the first year of World War II laying minefields in British, Dutch and German waters. She participated in the evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk in May–June 1940, but resumed minelaying afterwards. The ship was one of five British destroyers that inadvertently entered a German minefield off the Dutch coast a few months later, leading to the sinking of two destroyers and ''Express'' having her bow blown off, incapacitating her for over a year of repairs. Two months after returning to duty, ''Express'' escorted the battleship a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Approaches Command
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsible for the safety of British shipping in the Western Approaches. History Admiral Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, who had been Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, also took over responsibility for the Western Approaches from the start of World War II. After the fall of France in June 1940, the main North Atlantic convoy routes were diverted around the north of Ireland through the north-western approaches.History of Derby House (Western Approaches Museum) accessed 1 May 2017 By late 1940, the location of the Combined Operations headquarters at Plymouth was increasingly awkwar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
MV Empire MacAlpine
MV ''Empire MacAlpine'' was a grain ship converted to become the first Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship). The Burntisland Shipbuilding Company, Fife, Scotland, built her under order from the Ministry of War Transport and was delivered on 14 April 1943. As a MAC ship, only her air crew and the necessary maintenance staff were naval personnel. She was operated by William Thomson & Co (the Ben Line). After the war she was converted to a grain carrier. She was scrapped in Hong Kong in 1970. References World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom Bulk carriers Grain ships Empire MacAlpine MV ''Empire MacAlpine'' was a grain ship converted to become the first Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship). The Burntisland Shipbuilding Company, Fife, Scotland, built her under order from the Ministry of War Transport and was delivered ... Empire ships 1942 ships {{UK-mil-ship-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Merchant Aircraft Carrier
A merchant aircraft carrier (also known as a MAC ship, the Admiralty's official 'short name') was a limited-purpose aircraft carrier operated under British and Dutch civilian registry during World War II. MAC ships were adapted by adding a flight deck to a bulk grain ship or oil tanker enabling it to operate anti-submarine aircraft in support of Allied convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. Despite their quasi-military function, MAC ships retained their mercantile status, continued to carry cargo and operated under civilian command. MAC ships entered service from May 1943 when they began to supplement and supplant escort carriers, and remained operational until the end of the war in Europe. Development In 1940, Captain M. S. Slattery RN, Director of Air Material at the Admiralty, proposed a scheme for converting merchant ships into aircraft carriers as a follow-up to the CAM ship project. Slattery proposed fitting a flight deck equipped with two arrester wires and a safe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Corvette Roselys
''Roselys'' (formerly HMS ''Sundew'') was one of the nine s lent by the Royal Navy to the Free French Naval Forces. She served as a naval escort in World War II. Construction The vessel was ordered on 21 September 1939. She was constructed in Aberdeen by J. Lewis and Sons Ltd. Her keel was laid on 4 November 1940. The ship was assigned dock number 155. She was launched on 28 May 1941. The vessel was finally commissioned on 19 September 1941. Other Flower-class ships in Free French service retained their original flower names translated into French. However, the French for sundew, ''rosée du matin'' (literally "morning dew"), was considered unsuitable and the girl's name ''Roselys'' ("Rose-Lilly") was used instead, perhaps with the intention of linking the English Tudor rose with the French ''fleur-de-lys''. War service On 30 January 1942, ''Roselys'' spotted a U-boat about 400 yards from her. She turned towards the U-boat with the intention to ram it. The U-boat attempted to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMS Orchis (K76)
HMS ''Orchis'' was a that served in the Royal Navy during World War II. North Atlantic trade convoy escort In March 1941, ''Orchis'' was the first ship fitted with the very successful 10-cm wavelength Type 271 radar enabling detection of a surfaced submarine at or a submarine periscope at . ''Orchis'' was assigned first to the 4th Escort Group based at GreenockRohwer & Hummelchen (1992), p. 89 and then to Escort Group B3 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force through early 1944.Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992), pp. 170, 185, 188, 198, 212, 227, 228, 234, 235, 239, 241 & 259 ''Orchis'' escorted convoy ONS 18 during the battle around this and ON 202.Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992), pp. 235–236 English Channel ''Orchis'' was then assigned to patrol the English Channel, and sank the on 15 August 1944.Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992), p. 291 ''U-741'' torpedoed ''LST-404'' of convoy FTM-69 while ''Orchis'' was escorting nearby convoy FTC-68. ''Orchis'' gained and held sonar contact on ''U-741'' and fl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMS Narcissus (K74)
HMS ''Narcissus'' was a which served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War from 1941 to the end of the war in 1945. She primarily escorted convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. Construction and armament ''Narcissus'' was constructed at Lewis’s shipyard in Aberdeen in April 1941, with the express purpose of joining the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was to act as a platform, from which attacking German submarines could be detected above or below the surface anytime, and driven away or destroyed. She was equipped with sonar and, eventually, type-271 radar and armed with depth charge rails and throwers. A forward throwing Hedgehog was added at a later date. War service After her crew had been worked up at the training base at Tobermory in August 1941, she joined the Clyde Escort Force at Greenock on the River Clyde. Apart from three annual refits and a rearmament at Govan, Fort William and Troon, she escorted merchant ships continuously for three year ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMS Keppel (D84)
HMS ''Keppel'' was a Thornycroft type flotilla leader built for the Royal Navy at the end of the First World War. She was completed too late to serve in that conflict, but saw extensive service in the inter war years and in World War II. She was an effective convoy escort and U-boat killer, being credited with the destruction of five U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic. She was the second of three ships named for 18th century Admiral Augustus Keppel. Construction ''Keppel'' was one of five ships of this class built as flotilla leaders by J I Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire to their own design.Gardiner and Gray 1985, pp. 82-83. In this she was similar to the Admiralty's destroyer leader type, but built with features specific to Thornycroft's design principles. ''Keppel'' was ordered in April 1918 and laid down in October that year, but the war ended shortly after and work slowed with the advent of peace. ''Keppel'' was launched in April 1920 and moved to the Roya ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMS Escapade (H17)
HMS ''Escapade'' was an E-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. Although assigned to the Home Fleet upon completion in 1934, the ship was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1935–1936 during the Abyssinia Crisis. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 she spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. ''Escapade'' was assigned to convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol duties in the Western Approaches when World War II began in September 1939, but transferred back to the Home Fleet at the end of the year. After participating in the Norwegian Campaign in early 1940, she participated in anti-invasion duty and escorted capital ships to Gibraltar and in Operation Menace. The destroyer returned to the British Isles for continued escort duty, punctuated by Operation Rubble and the hunt for ''Scharnhorst and Gneisenau'' in early 1941. Following a midyear refit she es ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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