Convoy SL 78 was the 78th of the numbered series of World War II SL convoys of merchant ships from Sierra Leone to Liverpool. Ships carrying commodities bound for the British Isles from South America, Africa, and the Indian Ocean traveled independently to Freetown to be convoyed for the last leg of their voyage. Twenty-five merchant ships departed Freetown on 18 June 1941.Hague, pp.138&142 U-boats sank eight ships before the convoy reached Liverpool on 12 July.Blair, pp.302&303
Ships in the convoy Allied merchant ships A total of 26 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Sierra Leone or later in the voyage.
NameFlagTonnage (GRT)NotesAliakmon (1913)4,521Arundo (1930)5,163Atle Jarl (1919)1,173Baron Napier (1930)3,559Batna (1928)4,399Blackheath (1936)4,637Collision with corvette escort on 11 JulyCamerata (1931)4,875Criton (1927)4,564Captured from the Vichy French by HMS Cilicia on 19 June, and being sailed back to Europe from West Africa. Intercepted by two Vichy French warships, Air France IV and Edith Germaine, near Freetown on 21 June and sunk by their gunfire. (see also Commander Bernard Peter de Neumann GM RN, second time sunk in the space of one month)Empire Ability (1931)7,603Sunk by Esneh (1919)1,931George J Goulandris (1913)4,345Sunk by W of Canary IslandsKalypso Vergotti (1918)5,686Straggler was sunk by . All 36 crew lostKeilehaven (1919)2,968Leonidas N Condylis (1912)3,923Mary Slessor (1930)5,027Convoy Vice commodore's shipMichael Jebsen (1927)2,323Did Not Reform With ConvoyOberon (1911)1,996Sunk by P.L.M.22 (1921)5,646Sunk by Parthenon (1908)3,189Rio Azul (1921)4,088Sunk by post-dispersal from this convoyRiver Lugar (1937)5,423Sunk by Rolf Jarl (1920)1,917Sobo (1937)5,353Convoy commodore's ship – Vice-Admiral G T C P Swabey CB DSOSt Anselm (1919)5,614Sunk by Stad Arnhem (1920)3,819Joined Convoy HX 135 after dispersalVenus (1907)1,855
Convoy escorts A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.
NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft09 Jul 194111 Jul 1941HMS Armeria (K187)18 Jun 194128 Jun 1941HMS Asphodel (K56)18 Jun 194128 Jun 1941HMS Aster (K188)18 Jun 194128 Jun 194109 Jul 194112 Jul 1941 sloop18 Jun 194128 Jun 1941HMS Burdock (K126)18 Jun 194128 Jun 194109 Jul 194112 Jul 194109 Jul 194112 Jul 1941HMS Esperance Bay (F67)Armed merchant cruiser and troopship18 Jun 194127 Jun 1941HMS Fleur De Lys (K122)30 Jun 194130 Jun 1941HMS Jasmine (K23)09 Jul 194112 Jul 194109 Jul 194112 Jul 194109 Jul 194112 Jul 1941HMS PegasusFighter catapult ship09 Jul 194112 Jul 1941HMS Pimpernel (K71)09 Jul 194112 Jul 1941HMS Rhododendron (K78)09 Jul 194112 Jul 1941 heavy cruiser26 Jun 194127 Jun 1941Modified W-class destroyer09 Jul 194112 Jul 1941
References
Bibliography
External links SL.78 at convoyweb