Convoy PQ 6 - Arctic Convoys, warsailors.com (original) (raw)

* "Convoys to Russia 1941-1945", Bob Ruegg / Arnold Hague, lists the British El Mirlo in station 23 of this convoy, but this ship was in another part of the world at the time - see my text for Mirlo as well as this posting to my Ship Forum.

** Zamalek returned to Iceland, date unknown (note that she's listed in Convoy SC 58).

Commodore was in Elona, Vice Commodore in Empire Mavis (see also Convoy SC 55).

Escorts: Local, Dec. 8-Dec. 12: Trawlers Hugh Walpole, Cape Argona and Stella Capella
Replaced on Dec. 12 by: Cruiser Edinburgh and destroyers Echo and Escapade to Archangel.

Minesweepers Hazard and Speedy were shceduled to meet the convoy, but on Dec. 17 they encountered the German destroyers Z 23, Z 24, Z 25 and Z 27, which mistook them for Russian destroyers, and an action resulted only in 4 hits on Speedy, which was damaged and forced to return. Leda was then sailed to replace her, and met the convoy together with Hazard on Dec. 19, escorting it to Murmansk with arrival the next day.

At this time, 5 ships had to spend the winter in Russian waters, due to delays in unloading, El Oceano operating under Russian control for a while. She made an independent voyage to Iceland (arrived Febr. 18-1942), after having broken away from the escort when returning to Murmansk for a homeward convoy, causing great anxiety to the British command at Murmansk.

2 ships, Elona and Explorer, returned with Convoy QP 8 on March 1-1942, while Mirlo returned with QP 4, Dekabrist with QP 5.

Related external link:
Russian Convoy Series