Convoy JW 51A (15−25 December 1942) was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during the Second World War. Convoy JW 51A was not detected or attacked by German forces and arrived without loss.
Background Convoy JW 51A was the first of the JW–RA convoy series, replacing the previous PQ−QP series which had been suspended during the summer and autumn of 1942. The JW series were organized to sail from Loch Ewe, Scotland, rather than Iceland and sailed with a substantial destroyer escort to guard against surface attacks, as had proved effective with Convoy PQ 18. Ships from the US crossed the Atlantic in HX convoys from New York. Convoy JW 51A was the first outbound Arctic convoy of the 1942–1943 winter season and began the sailing of smaller convoys twice-monthly to reduce the problems of controlling large groups of ships in the gloom of the polar night.
Forces Convoy JW 51A consisted of 16 merchant ships, which departed from Loch Ewe on 15 December 1942. The western escort was provided by the corvettes and , the minesweeper and the armed trawlers and . Three s , and These were supported by a Home Fleet fighting destroyer escort of , , (flag) and .
A cruiser cover force comprising and , and the destroyers , and also followed the convoy to guard against attack by surface units. Distant cover was provided by the Home Fleet heavy cover comprising the battleship , the cruiser and the destroyers , and .
Convoy JW 51A was opposed by the U-boats and , commanded by (Rear Admiral) Otto Klüber in a patrol line in the Norwegian Sea, and the aircraft of Luftflotte 5 based in Norway. A surface force comprising the heavy cruisers and with the destroyers , , , , and were at Altenfjord. reached Narvik on 12 December.
Voyage Convoy JW 51A departed Loch Ewe on 15 December 1942, accompanied by its local escort, of three destroyers, and its close escort. Three days later, on 18 December, it was joined by the ocean escort, while the local escort departed. At the same time the Cruiser Force and the Distant Cover Force from Scapa Flow also put to sea, taking station in the Norwegian Sea. The convoy was not seen by German reconnaissance aircraft, nor by any of the patrolling U-boats, and crossed the Norwegian and Barents Seas without incident. On 25 December Convoy JW 51A arrived safely at Kola Inlet but five ships were sunk in the inlet by mines and attacks by the Luftwaffe. Five ships sailed on to Molotovsk, near Arkhangelsk, escorted by the Soviet destroyers and .
Aftermath Convoy JW 51A was a successful start to the JW convoy series and to the 1942–1943 winter convoy season, with the safe arrival of 16 merchant ships.
Allied order of battle
Allied merchant ships
+Merchant ships NameYearFlagGRTNotesBeauregard19205,97615–25 DecemberBriarwood19304,01915–25 December, Convoy Commodore Charles TurleDynastic19195,77315–25 DecemberEl Almirante19175,24815–25 DecemberEl Oceano19256,76715–25 December Empire Meteor19407,45715–25 December, Vice-Convoy CommodoreGateway City19205,43215–25 DecemberGreylock19217,64015–25 DecemberJLM Curry19427,17615–25 December19186,89415–25 December, OilerOremar 5219196,85415–25 DecemberRichard Basset19427,19115–25 DecemberRichard Bland19427,19115–25 DecemberSan Cipriano19377,96615–25 DecemberWest Gotomska19185,72815–25 DecemberWind Rush19185,58615–25 December
Escort forces + Escorts (in relays) NameFlagTypeNotesWestern local escort15–18 December15–18 December15–18 DecemberClose escort15–25 December15–25 December15–25 DecemberASW trawler15–25 DecemberASW trawler15–25 DecemberOceanic escortFighting destroyer escortB-class destroyer18 December – 4 JanuaryE-class destroyer18 December – 4 JanuaryE-class destroyer18 December – 4 JanuaryF-class destroyer18 December – 4 JanuaryF-class destroyer18 December – 4 January18 December – 4 JanuaryCruiser covering force (Force R)19–24 DecemberFlag, Rear-Admiral Robert Burnett 19–24 DecemberB-class destroyer19–24 DecemberM-class destroyer19–24 DecemberO-class destroyer19–24 DecemberDistant cover (Home Fleet)19–22 December19–22 DecemberM-class destroyer19–22 DecemberQ-class destroyer19–22 DecemberR-class destroyer19–22 DecemberSubmarine patrols off Bear IslandS-class submarineSubmarine patrols off Norwegian fjordsType VIIC U-boatCaptured and in British serviceS-class submarine
German order of battle + ShipFlagTypeNotesSurface force ()
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