Convoy PQ 15

The Convoy PQ 15 was an Allied Nordmeergeleitzug, which was compiled in April 1942 in Scotland Oban and essential war goods brought into the Soviet Murmansk. By German submarine and air attacks, the Allies lost three ships totaling 15,808 GRT. Additionally went with the allied ships assurance through their own fault the Polish submarine P.551/Jastrzab and the destroyer HMS Punjabi lost.

Composition and assurance

The Convoy PQ 15 was composed of 25 cargo ships. On April 10, 1942 they left the Scottish Oban and drove over Iceland towards Murmansk. Commodore of the convoy was Captain HJ Anchor, who had embarked on the Botavon. Until the 5th of May, the Western Local Escort took over with the UJ- trawler HMS Cape Palliser, HMS Chiltern, HMS Northern Pride, HMS Vizalma and the minesweepers HMS Bramble, HMS Leda and the HMS Seagull Nahschutz the convoy. On April 28th in addition the Ocean Escort took over with the destroyers HMS Somali, HMS Matchless, HMS Boadicea, HMS Venomous, HMS Badsworth, KNM St. Albans, the Flakschiff HMS Ulster Queen, the catapult ship HMS Empire Morn, the submarine HMS Sturgeon and the minesweeper HMS Bramble backup to Murmansk. Other Nahsicherung the cruiser HMS Nigeria and HMS London and two destroyers inserted into the convoy. For remote backup in case of attack German capital ships in the convoy crossed between Iceland and Norway, the battleship HMS King George V, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious and the destroyer HMS Belvoir, HMS Escapade, HMS Faulknor, HMS Hursley, HMS Inglefield, HMS Lamerton, HMS Marne, HMS Martin, HMS Middleton and HMS Oribi. In addition, the U.S. TF 99 Compatible with the battleship USS Washington, the cruisers USS Wichita, USS Tuscaloosa and the destroyers USS Madison, USS Plunkett, USS Wainwright and USS Wilson the British. From 4 May came to Nahsicherung the Eastern Local Escort added with the destroyers Gremjaschtschi, Sokruschitelny, two Soviet patrol boats and three British minesweepers.

Course

Before the Germans attacked first, the Allied ships assurance decimated by two incidents themselves, the Polish submarine P.551/Jastrzab ( Lage71.512.533333 ), which should take the Nahsicherung in the flank of the convoy, went far away from his assigned position. Therefore, it held the Norwegian destroyer St. Albans KNM and the minesweeper HMS Seagull for a German U- boat and sank it. In the remote backup group, the HMS King George V collided with the destroyer HMS Punjabi ( Lage66 -8), which sank immediately. By detonating bombs was water damaged it and the USS Washington. On May 2 attacked aircraft of I. / KG 26 on the Norwegian Bardufoss ( Lage69.05583318.540278 ) from the convoy with torpedoes and sank the freighter Botavon ( 5848 GRT convoy commodore †) and Cape Corso ( 3807 BRT). You still damaged the Jutland ( 6153 BRT), which was sunk on May 3 from U 251. On May 7, 1942 reached 22 cargo ships Murmansk ( Lage69.0933.39 ). Three freight ships totaling 15,808 GRT were sunk.