Convoy TAG 5 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 5th of the numbered TAG Convoys from Trinidad and Aruba to Guantánamo.[1] The convoy was found on 13 September 1942 by U-558. Kapitänleutnant Günther Krech (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross) destroyed three ships from the convoy in two approaches aboard U-558.[2]
Ships in the convoy
| Name[3] | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alar (1939) |  Norway
|
9,430 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Altair (1920) |  United States
|
6,933 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Beaconoil (1919) |  United Kingdom
|
6,893 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base; probably this convoy |
| Cottica (1927) |  Netherlands
|
3,989 | |
| Empire Kangaroo (1919) | United Kingdom
|
6,219 | |
| Empire Lugard (1941) | United Kingdom
|
7,241 | Sunk by U-558[4] |
| Examiner (1942) | United States
|
6,736 | |
| Gulftide (1937) | United States
|
7,140 | |
| HMCS Halifax |  Royal Canadian Navy
|
Escort 12 Sep – 14 Sep | |
| Henry D Whiton (1921) | United States
|
4,548 | |
| Hoegh Silverdawn (1940) | Norway
|
7,715 | |
| Leonatus (1938) |  Panama
|
2,242 | |
| Macabi (1921) | Panama
|
2,802 | |
| Peter Hurll (1930) | Panama
|
10,871 | |
| Saintonge (1936) | United Kingdom
|
9,386 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Suriname (1930) | Netherlands
|
7,915 | Sunk by U-558[5] |
| USS PC-481 | United States Navy
|
Escort 12 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| USS PC-574 | United States Navy
|
Escort 12 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| USS Spry | United States Navy
|
Escort 12 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| USS Upshur | United States Navy
|
Escort 12 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| USS YMS-24 | United States Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| USS YMS-56 | United States Navy
|
Escort 13 Sep – 16 Sep | |
| Vilja (1928) | Norway
|
6,672 | Torpedoed by U-558[6] and abandoned, but reboarded and safely arrived in Trinidad damaged. Later declared a total loss. |
| West Kyska (1918) | United States
|
5,552 | Did not sail |
References
- ^ Hague, p.113
- ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.164
- ^ "Convoy". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "MV Empire Lugard – British Motor merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "SS Suriname – Dutch Steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "MV Vilja – Norwegian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
Bibliography
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
- Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
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