Convoy HX 237

HX 237 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. It was one of several convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of May 1943.
Background.
HX 237 was an east bound convoy of 47 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New York on 1 May 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials. Convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill RNR in "Pacific Enterprise".
Mid-Ocean Escort Force group C2 joined the convoy from St Johns on 7 May. Escort group C2 was led by Cdr EH Chavasse in destroyer "Broadway"; other ships of this group were frigate "Lagan" and three corvettes. These were joined on the same day by a Support Group, SG 5, comprising escort carrier "Biter" and four destroyers.
Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were the patrol lines "Rhein", "Elbe" and "Drossel", though although in the event only "Rhein" and "Drossel", comprising 19 U-boats, engaged HX 237.
Action.
First contact was made on 9 May by "U-359", which called up other boats from "Rhein" and commenced shadowing. "U-359" was attacked by an escort, and lost contact, but the following day, 10 May, contact was regained by "U-454". She also was driven off, by aircraft from "Biter", but by evening a number of U-boats from both groups were in contact and began their attack. These were unable to penetrate the escort screen, though three ships that had become separated were sunk; the Liberty ship "Fort Concord", sunk by "U-403" and "U-456" in the early hours of 11 May; the Norwegian tanker "Sandanger", sunk by "U-221" on 12 May, and Norwegian freighter "Brand", sunk by "U-603" on the night of 12/13 May.
On 12 May "U-89" was sighted by a Swordfish from "Biter" and destroyed by "Broadway"
and "Lagan". Later the same day HX 237 came within range of Coastal Command aircraft, and "Biter" and her group detached to go to the aid of SC 129, which was coming under attack 200 miles to the south-west.
That night "U-456" was attacked by a Liberator flying at long range. The aircraft used FIDO, a new and secret homing torpedo, on the rapidly diving U-boat; she was damaged, but was able to surface and drive off the aircraft with anti-aircraft fire. The Liberator was able to summon help, however, and the next morning the destroyer "Opportune" found "U-456" and attacked. The U-boat crash-dived, but was not seen again; it was later presumed she had been fatally damaged by the aircraft attack, the first instance of a U-boat being sunk by FIDO.
On 13 May "U-753" was found and attacked by a Sunderland, but the U-boat chose not to dive to escape, driving off the aircraft with flak. The Sunderland commenced circling and summoned help, which came in the form of "Lagan" and "Drumheller". As "U-753" dived away the Sunderland attacked with depth charges, followed by depth charges from the two ships. Nothing more was heard from "U-753" and post-war analysis credited the aircraft and two ships with her destruction.
With these losses, and little success in breaching the convoy's defences, BdU called off the attack.
HX 237 continued without further interference and arrived at Liverpool on 17 May 1943.
Aftermath.
HX 237 was seen as a success by the Allies. Three ships had been lost, but 38 ships arrived safely; another four had been forced to return and two had detached to other destinations.
In return, three U-boats had been destroyed, though two of these were unconfirmed at the time. Several others had been damaged and forced to return to base. The convoy was another in a series of set-backs suffered by the U-boat Arm, collectively known as Black May.