Convoy HX 49 was a

North Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe and ...

convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

of the HX series which ran during the

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 ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It was the 49th of the numbered series of merchant convoys run by the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

from Halifax to

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

. The convoy was attacked by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

s, losing three of its 50 ships sunk. Another ship was lost after dispersal.

Background

HX 49 was formed of two sections sailing from the Americas. The main body, of 26 ships, departed Halifax on 9 June 1940 with ships gathered from the US eastern seaboard; it was led by

convoy commodore Convoy commodore also known as commodore, convoys was the title of a civilian put in charge of the good order of the merchant ships in the British convoys used during World War II. Usually the convoy commodore was a retired naval officer or a seni ...

vice-admiral LD Mackinnon RN in the steamship ''Eurybates''. It was accompanied by its ocean escort, the

Armed Merchant Cruiser An armed merchantman is a merchant ship equipped with guns, usually for defensive purposes, either by design or after the fact. In the days of sail, piracy and privateers, many merchantmen would be routinely armed, especially those engaging in lo ...

''Ausonia'', and a local escort of two RCN destroyers. On 13 June the convoy was joined by BHX 49, 24 ships from the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

, that had gathered at

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

, departing there on 8 June escorted by the AMC ''Ragputana'' and a local escort. Ranged against HX 49 were U-boats of the German Navy's

U-boat Arm The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the an ...

, on patrol in Britain's South West Approaches. The UBW had five U-boats in area when contact was made on 21 June 1940.U-boats on patrol, 21 June 1940
at uboat.net

Action

On 20 June HX 49's Western Approaches escort arrived; the sloops , from escorting the outbound OB 169, and , from OA 169. During the crossing two ships had dropped out of convoy; both arrived safely. A third, ''Moordrecht'', was detached for a port in neutral Spain: She was found by on 20 June and torpedoed, without examination.
at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020 The following evening found HX 49 about 50 miles south of

Cape Clear Island Clear Island or Cape Clear Island (officially known by its Irish name: Cléire, and sometimes also called Oileán Chléire) is an island off the south-west coast of County Cork in Ireland. It is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland and ha ...

. Her commander, rising star

Gunther Prien Gundaharius or Gundahar (died 437), better known by his legendary names Gunther ( gmh, Gunther) or Gunnar ( non, Gunnarr), was a historical king of Burgundy in the early 5th century. Gundahar is attested as ruling his people shortly after they ...

, took her into the middle of the convoy and sank the tanker ''San Fernando''. The U-boat then had to crash-dive to avoid being run down by a freighter, but the attack caused the convoy to scatter.''San Fernando''
at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020 Later that night two more ships were found and sunk; ''Randsfjord'' by
at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020 and ''Eli Knudsen'' by .
at www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2020 At daybreak on 22 June the two sloops began to gather the ships back together, and HX 49 continued without further loss. The main body arrived in Liverpool on 24 June.

Ships lost

References

Bibliography

* Blair, Clay (1996) ''Hitler's U-boat War'' Vol I Cassell * Arnold Hague (2000) ''The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Convoy HX 049 HX049 Conflicts in 1940 Naval battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom Naval battles of World War II involving Germany Naval battles of World War II involving Canada