Convoy HX 156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool.Hague 2000 p.127 Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941, and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of , , , and s and .Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.94
The Action
31 October 1941 The sighted the convoy at dawn on 31 October 1941, and torpedoed as the destroyer approached to investigate the Huff-Duff bearing of the sighting report.Morison 1975 p.94 A torpedo struck the port side and detonated the forward magazine. The hull aft of the third stack remained afloat for 5 minutes; and 44 men were rescued from the crew of 159.
Reuben James was the first United States warship sunk during World War II.Silverstone 1968 p.9 U-552 was driven off by the escort; but found the convoy that afternoon.
1 November 1941 Task Unit 4.1.3 handed the convoy off to the British 6th Escort Group on 1 November 1941. U-552 and U-567 made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on 1 November and maintained contact with the convoy through 3 November. launched her Hawker Sea Hurricane to intercept a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft, which it chased off. The Hurricane pilot was rescued by after ditching his aircraft. The convoy reached Liverpool on 5 November.
Ships in the convoy These ships were members of Convoy HX 156. NameFlagTonnage (GRT)NotesAlchiba (1920)4,427IcelandAncylus (1935)8,017Oil tanker. Onward To N RussiaAnna Knudsen (1931)9,057Arabian Prince (1936)1,9604 PassengersAthelvictor (1941)8,410Benmacdhui (1911)6,869Brabant (1938)2,4832 PassengersBralanta (1936)9,608British Governor (1926)6,840Scapa FlowCape Breton (1940)6,044Charlbury (1940)4,836Chepo (1919)5,707Returned, See Convoy HX 158Clan Macquarrie (1913)6,471Comanchee (1936)6,837Delilian (1923)6,423Edam (1921)8,87127 PassengersEidanger (1938)9,432El Capitan (1917)5,255Onward To N RussiaEl Estero (1920)4,219Empire Confidence (1935)5,02312 PassengersEmpire Day (1941)7,242CAM ship (1941)7,047CAM shipEmpire Rainbow (1941)6,942CAM shipEmpire Tern (1919)2,479Gallia (1939)9,974Ganymedes (1917)2,682Gudrun Maersk (1937)2,294Iceland to BelfastK G Meldahl (1938)3,799Kollbjorg (1937)8,259Leiv Eiriksson I (1936)9,952Ex-IcelandLeonatus (1938)2,242Lewant (1930)1,9422 PassengersMaihar (1917)7,5631 PassengerMarkhor (1929)7,917Mergus (1906)1,368Iceland to ClydeMunin (1899)1,285Iceland To ClydeNestor (1913)14,629197 PassengersNorefjord (1920)3,082O A Knudsen (1938)11,007Polar Chief (1897)8,040Prince De Liege (1938)2,588Prins Willem Van Oranje (1938)1,303San Alvaro (1935)7,3854 PassengersSan Arcadio (1935)7,4191 PassengerSan Emiliano (1939)8,0714 PassengersSandanger (1938)9,432Skaraas (1936)9,826Sourabaya (1915)10,10728 PassengersStanlake (1923)1,742Possibly joined this convoySvanholm (1922)1,321Troubadour (1920)5,8086 PassengersEscort 22 – 24 Oct, Destroyer (1939)6,198to Reykjavik, Armed 'Attack cargo ship'Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, DestroyerEscort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, DestroyerEscort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, DestroyerEscort 24 Oct, sunk by on 31 Oct 41 (prior to US declaration of war)Escort 24 Oct – 1 Nov, DestroyerEscort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, DestroyerEscort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, DestroyerEscort 31 Oct – 4 Nov, CorvetteEscort 31 Oct – 5 Nov, CorvetteHNoMS MontbretiaEscort 31 Oct – 5 Nov, Corvette HNoMS EglantineEscort 1 – 5 Nov, Corvette Escort 1 – 4 Nov, Flotilla leaderEscort 1 – 4 Nov, Destroyer Escort 1 – 4 Nov, CorvetteHMT King SolEscort 1 Nov, Trawler
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