Convoy HX 106 was the 106th of the numbered series of Allied HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England. Forty-one ships departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 30 January 1941, eastbound to Liverpool, England. The use of convoys was a standard tactic throughout the Battle of the Atlantic as a defence against U-boats and German commerce raiders.
On 8 February 1941 the two German battleships, and , found the convoy. The German squadron was under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. The captain of Scharnhorst offered to draw off the escorting Royal Navy battleship , so that Gneisenau could sink the merchant ships. This strategy, if successful, would have entailed little risk to Scharnhorst as she was faster than Ramillies, and her newer guns outranged the 1915 era guns of the British ship. However, Lutjens strictly followed Hitler's directive not to engage enemy capital ships, and withdrew.
Later, two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by the submarine , including Arthur F. Corwin loaded with 14,500 tons of aviation fuel. She went down on 13 February, taking all 59 crew with her.
Ships in the convoy Allied merchant ships A total of 41 merchant vessels joined the convoy, either in Halifax or later in the voyage.
NameFlagTonnage (GRT)NotesAbercos (1920)6,076StraggledArthur F Corwin (1938)10,516Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41Sunk by Athelbeach (1931)6,568Joined ex-BHX 106Botavon (1912)5,848Straggled 10 Feb 41Vice-CommodoreBritish Fortune (1930)4,696Joined ex-BHX 106Capsa (1931)8,229Joined ex-BHX 106Cardium (1931)8,236Joined ex-BHX 106Chama (1938)8,077Joined ex-BHX 106Charlton Hall (1940)5,200Straggled 10 Feb 41Clea (1938)8,028Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41 Sunk by Cliona (1931)8,375Contractor (1930)6,004Joined ex-BHX 106 (1918)5,815Joined ex-BHX 106Edward F Johnson (1937)10,452Joined ex-BHX 106Esturia (1914)6,968Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41Evanger (1920)3,869Ganges (1930)6,246Joined ex-BHX 106Garonne (1921)7,113Joined ex-BHX 106Geo W McKnight (1933)12,502Joined ex-BHX 106Harpagus (1940)5,173Hopemount (1929)7,434Straggled 3 Feb 41Horda (1920)4,301Straggled 10 Feb 41Kheti (1927)2,734Joined ex-BHX 106Laguna (1923)6,466Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41Leiesten (1930)6,118Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 FebLodestone (1938)4,877Joined ex-BHX 106, Straggled 10 Feb 41Mactra (1936)6,193Joined ex-BHX 106Malmanger (1920)7,078Joined ex-BHX 106Miralda (1936)8,013Joined ex-BHX 106Mirza (1929)7,991Joined ex-BHX 106Nurtureton (1929)6,272Oilfield (1938)8,516Joined ex-BHX 106Opalia (1938)6,195Joined ex-BHX 106R J Cullen (1919)6,993San Eliseo (1939)8,042Joined ex-BHX 106San Fabian (1922)13,031Silveray (1925)4,535Joined ex-BHX 106Temple Arch (1940)5,138Joined ex-BHX 106. Straggled 10 FebTopdalsfjord (1921)4,271Capt W H Poole Rd RNR (Commodore)Torborg (1921)6,042Joined ex-BHX 106Trelissick (1919)5,265Joined ex-BHX 106
Convoy escorts A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.
NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft12 Feb 194115 Feb 194130 Jan 194131 Jan 194115 Feb 194117 Feb 194112 Feb 194117 Feb 1941Admiralty-type destroyer leader12 Feb 194115 Feb 1941HMS/HMT Northern PrideASW (anti-submarine warfare) trawler15 Feb 194118 Feb 194130 Jan 194110 Feb 1941Admiralty S-class destroyer12 Feb 194114 Feb 1941Admiralty S-class destroyer12 Feb 194117 Feb 194112 Feb 194118 Feb 1941ASW trawler15 Feb 194118 Feb 1941
References