|
Convoy JW 58 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in March 1944, reaching the Soviet northern ports in early April. All ships arrived safely. JW 58 was attacked by German U-boat and air forces, but suffered no losses. Three U-boats were destroyed in counter-measures, and six aircraft shot down, during these operations. ==Ships== The convoy consisted of 47 merchant ships which departed from Loch Ewe on 27 March 1944. It also included the US cruiser ''Milwaukee'', which was being transferred to the Soviet navy as part of an agreement over the disposal of the surrendered Italian fleet. The convoy was joined from Iceland by three more ships en route from North America. Close escort was provided by a force led by Lt.Cdr Lambton in the destroyer ''Westcott''. The force comprised two other destroyers and three corvettes. The force was supported by two escort carriers, ''Activity'' and ''Tracker'', which travelled with the convoy, and an "Ocean escort" of 17 fleet destroyers led by R.Adm. F. Dalrymple-Hamilton in the cruiser ''Diadem''. In addition, JW 58 was joined by the 2nd Support Group, the RN's most successful anti-submarine warfare group. These were five sloops led by Capt. FJ Walker, in ''Starling''. The convoy was accompanied initially by local escort groups from Britain and Iceland, and joined later by a local escort group from Murmansk. Distant cover was provide by ships of the Home Fleet which were engaged in Operation Tungsten, an air strike against the German battleship ''Tirpitz'' anchored in Alta fjord. These were the battleships ''Duke of York'' and ''Anson'', the carrier ''Victorious'', cruiser ''Belfast'', and six destroyers under the command of V Adm. Bruce Fraser. Ranged against this force were the U-boats of the German arctic flotilla, 16 U-boats forming the patrol lines ''Blitz'', ''Hammer'' and ''Thor''. German surface forces and air forces were much diminished at this stage of the conflict; ''Tirpitz'' was still not operational after damage inflicted by the British X-craft attack (Operation Source), while the German air force was reduced to scouting and shadowing operations. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Convoy JW 58」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|