Convoy HX 228

HX 228 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 a series of four convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for the loss of the Escort Group leader Commander AA "Harry" Tait.
Prelude.
HX 228 was an east bound convoy of 60 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from New York on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials.
The Mid-Ocean Escort Force group B3 joined the convoy from St Johns. The escort group was led by Commander AA Tait of HMS "Harvester"; the other ships of this group were the destroyers HMS "Escapade", ORP "Burza" and ORP "Garland" and the corvettes HMS "Narcissus" and FNFL ships "Aconit", "Renoncule" and "Roselys". The group was backed by the escort carrier and two destroyers which sailed from Argentia on 5 March.
Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were three U-boat patrol lines, "Wildfang", "Burggraf" and "Neuland", although in the event only a re-configured "Neuland", comprising 13 U-boats, engaged HX 228.
In early March the U-boat rakes came into contact with Convoy SC 121, which was several days ahead of HX 228, and engaged it. The Admiralty diverted HX 228 north-east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the "Neuland" patrol area.
Action.
On 10 March the first contact was made by "U-336" in heavy weather. During the rest of the day eight others were directed to join. Ironically, at this point the weather forced "Bogue" and her group to detach, as it was impossible to fly off aircraft in the storm. She sailed for Argentia and took no part in the action.
On the evening of 10/11 March, during a snow squall, the first attacks took place.
"U-221" attacked three ships, sinking two ammunition ships, "Tucurinca" and "Andrea F. Luckenbach", and damaging a third, SS "Lawton B. Evans". "U-221" was vigorously counterattacked, and withdrew to repair damage.
"U-444" and "U-757" both fired on "William C Gorgas", which dropped back and sank later.
"U-757" also fired on "Brant County", which was also carrying ammunition. "Brant County" caught fire and exploded, and "U-757" was damaged as a result. "U-757" was forced to return to base and was later attacked in the company of two other U-boats in the Bay of Biscay by the RAF, but all survived.
"U-86" and "U-406" both claimed hits using the new pattern-running FAT torpedoes. "Jamaica Provider" was damaged during this stage.
During the morning of 11 March, "Harvester" sighted "U-444" on the surface and ran in to attack. She opened with gunfire and then rammed "U-444", suffering damage to her propellers in the process. It was originally thought that "Harvester" had sunk "U-444" but she was found later on the surface and finished off by French corvette "Aconit". While in the area, "Harvester" found and picked up 50 survivors from "William Gorgas" and 1 from "U-444". While attempting to re-join the convoy her engines failed, and she summoned "Aconit" for assistance. While "Harvester" lay helpless, she was sighted and torpedoed by "U-432"; she sank with 149 on board, including Commander Tait.
Arriving on the scene, "Aconit" gained Asdic contact on "U-432" which was lying motionless at periscope depth, her commander and crew celebrating their victory. "Aconit" attacked with depth charges, blowing her to the surface and sinking her later with gunfire.
"Aconit" picked up 20 survivors from "U-432", 48 from "Harvester", 12 from "William C Gorgas", and one from "U-444", to join the three previously picked up.
Despite further action that day and during the night of 11/12 March there were no further losses to either side, and on 12 March Admiral Karl Dönitz, the "Befehlshaber der U-Boote" (Commander in chief of U-boats), called off the attack.
HX 228 arrived safely at Liverpool on 15 March 1943.
Conclusion.
HX 228 cannot be seen as a victory for either side. The convoy had lost four ships and a warship, with the loss also of Commander Tait, an effective and well-respected Escort Group commander. The "Neuland" wolf pack had lost two boats, a potentially ruinous rate of exchange.
Tables.
Allied merchant ships sunk
Allied warships sunk
U-boats destroyed