Convoy HX 126

Convoy HX 126 was the 126th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed Halifax on 10 May 1941[1] and were escorted across the North Atlantic by the armed merchant cruiser Aurania intended to provide protection against merchant raiders. Aurania was poorly equipped to defend the convoy from attacks beginning on 19 May by U-boats of the 1st, 2nd and 7th Flotillas, operating out of Brest, Lorient and St Nazaire, respectively.[2] U-boats sank nine ships prior to arrival of the 12th Escort Group on 21 May. Surviving ships reached Liverpool on 28 May.[1]

Convoy HX.126
Part of World War II
Date10–-28 May 1941
Location
North Sea
Belligerents
Germany United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Karl Dönitz Rear-Admiral F B Watson
Strength
9 U-boats 33 merchant ships
22 escorts (1 during attacks)
Casualties and losses
9 merchant ships sunk

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

A total of 33 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Halifax or later in the voyage.[3]

Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Notes
Athelprincess (1929)  United Kingdom 8,882
Barnby (1940)  United Kingdom 4,813 Straggled and sunk by U-111[4]
Baron Carnegie (1925)  United Kingdom 3,178
Baron Elgin (1933)  United Kingdom 3,942
Bente Maersk (1928)  United Kingdom 5,722
British Freedom (1928)  United Kingdom 6,985 Straggled 20 May
British Security (1937)  United Kingdom 8,470 Sunk by U-556[5]
British Splendour (1931)  United Kingdom 7,138
Cockaponset (1919)  United Kingdom 5,995 Sunk By U-556[6]
Darlington Court (1936)  United Kingdom 4,974 Sunk By U-566[7]
Dorelian (1923)  United Kingdom 6,431
Eemland (1906)  Netherlands 4,188 Straggled 20 May
Elusa (1936)  Netherlands 6,235 Sunk By U-93[8]
Empire Kudu (1919)  United Kingdom 6,622
Gretavale (1928)  United Kingdom 4,586
Hada County (1921)  Norway 4,853
Harpagus (1940)  United Kingdom 5,173 Sunk By U-109.[9] Rescue Ship
Havsten (1930)  Norway 6,161
Hindustan (1940)  United Kingdom 5,245 Rear-Admiral F B Watson DSO (Commodore)
John P Pedersen (1930)  Norway 6,128 Sunk By U-94[10]
Karabagh (1932)  United Kingdom 6,427
Morgenen (1930)  Norway 7,093
Nicoya (1929)  United Kingdom 5,364
Norman Monarch (1937)  United Kingdom 4,718 Sunk By U-94[11]
Regent Panther (1937)  United Kingdom 9,556
Ribera (1940)  United Kingdom 5,559 Straggled 20 May
Rosewood (1931)  United Kingdom 5,989 Iceland
Rothermere (1938)  United Kingdom 5,356 Sunk By U-98[12]
Salando (1920)  Netherlands 5,272 Returned
Tongariro (1925)  United Kingdom 8,720
Toward (1923)  United Kingdom 1,571 Rescue Ship
Westport (1918)  United Kingdom 5,665 Joined Ex Convoy SC 31
Winona County (1919)  United Kingdom 6,159 Returned

Convoy escorts

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.[3] Only one escort was present during the German attacks.

Name Flag Type Joined Left
HMS Arabis (K73)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMS Artifex (F28)  Royal Navy Armed merchant cruiser 10 May 1941 21 May 1941
HMS Burnham (H82)  Royal Navy Town-class destroyer 21 May 1941 22 May 1941
HMS Burwell (H94)  Royal Navy Town-class destroyer 21 May 1941 26 May 1941
HMCS Chambly (K116)  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette n/a n/a
HMS Dianella (K07)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 23 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMS Gladiolus (K34)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 23 May 1941 26 May 1941
HMS Heliotrope (K03)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMS Keppel (D84)  Royal Navy Shakespeare-class destroyer leader 23 May 1941 26 May 1941
HMS Kingcup (K33)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 23 May 1941 28 May 1941
HMT Lady Elsa  Royal Navy ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) trawler 23 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMS Malcolm (D19)  Royal Navy Scott-class destroyer leader 20 May 1941 22 May 1941
HMS Mallow (K81)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMT Northern Gem  Royal Navy ASW trawler n/a n/a
HMT Northern Wave  Royal Navy ASW trawler n/a n/a
HMCS Orillia (K119)  Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette n/a n/a
HMS Sabre (1918)  Royal Navy Admiralty S-class destroyer 23 May 1941 27 May 1941
HMS Scimitar (H21)  Royal Navy Admiralty S-class destroyer 22 May 1941 24 May 1941
HMS Springbank  Royal Navy Seaplane tender/prototype fighter catapult ship 23 May 1941 23 May 1941
HMS Tribune (N76)  Royal Navy T-class submarine 10 May 1941 10 May 1941
HMS Venomous (D75)  Royal Navy Modified W-class destroyer 26 May 1941 28 May 1941
HMS Verbena (K85)  Royal Navy Flower-class corvette 21 May 1941 23 May 1941

References
  1. Hague p.127
  2. Rohwer &Hummelchen, p.62
  3. "Convoy HX.126". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  4. "Barnby – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  5. "British Security – British motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  6. "Cockaponset – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  7. "Darlington Court – British motor merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  8. "Elusa – Dutch motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  9. "Harpagus – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  10. "John P Pedersen – Norwegian motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  11. "Norman Monarch – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  12. "Rothermere – British steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 3 November 2013.

Bibliography
  • Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
  • Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
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