What Convoy Was This - 17/09/1942

[FromSeatoSea]

Hi all,

I am attempting to research an Italian / German convoy and have hit a wall!

On the 17/18th September 1942, Wellington bombers located a convoy consisting of 3 MV's and 2 DR's at 33°15'N 23°43'E - the largest MV was estimated at 7-8000 tons, the two others were estimated at 4000 and 3000 tons. It was reported by crews that one of the DR's may have been a small Cruiser.

A force of Wellington bombers armed with 1000 lbs bombs and Torpedos intercepted the convoy and made a series of attacks. Multiple aircraft were damaged by flak and 3 men were wounded seriously.

Crews reported potential hits on the MV's and later, the 7-8000 tons MV was reported to be stationary and low in the water with its centre awash - there were several small boats about the same size as lifeboats located around the ship.

I would like to identify the convoy and ships involved if possible - any help would be gratefully received.

Cheers

 

[diciassette2000]

9/18/1942 Convoy "Monginevro" formed by the motor ships Monginevro which carried 3 tanks and Apuania which instead carried different material. The first departed from Naples and the second from Brindisi and joined in a convoy on the morning of 19 September 1942 with the escort formed by coaches Freccia, Da Noli and Zeno as well as by the torpedo boats Ciclone, Centauro, Pallade and Calliope. The convoy arrived in Benghazi on 20 September.

September 18, 1942 After having loaded 650 tons of ammunition and materials, 2354 tons of petrol and lubricants, 162 vehicles, three tanks and 82 passing soldiers, the Monginevro sails from Taranto (where she arrived from Naples) to Benghazi at 18.50, escorted by the destroyer Antonio Da Noli and the torpedo boats Pallade, Centauro and Ciclone. September 19, 1942 At seven in the morning Monginevro and its escort join a second convoy, formed by the motor ship Apuania escorted by the destroyers Freccia (foreman, frigate captain Minio Paluello) and Nicolò Zeno and by the torpedo boat Calliope, coming from Brindisi. The convoy skirts western Greece, before heading towards Libya; however, he was sighted by British scouts. September 20, 1942 During the night, 90 miles W of Crete, the convoy was attacked by bombers, without suffering any damage. At 9.25 the ships (which also enjoy a large air escort) are also sighted by the British submarine Taku (Lieutenant Jack Gethin Hopkins), which at 9.25 launches – in position 33°30' N and 21°10' E (north of Benghazi) – three torpedoes from 1370 meters away, going deep immediately afterwards. Monginevro sighted two of the torpedoes, Apuania the third; both avoid them with the maneuver. The convoy arrives in Benghazi between 16.40 (Apuania) and 17 (Monginevro).

All the best
Maurizio

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Hi Maurizio,

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it's incredibly detailed.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like the dates line up. The attack I am interested in definitely took place on the night of the 17th September - the convoy details you listed shows that the convoy was formed on the 18th?

Sorry if I am reading it wrong.

Regards

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Hi Maurizio,

Having checked my notes, this convoy is also of great interest to me. The convoy you listed was attacked in the early hours of the 20th September, West of Crete by bombers from 38 Squadron - as noted in your research.

Thanks

 

[diciassette2000]

But then if the clash took place on the evening of 17 September it could be a very small convoy formed by the merchant ship Barletta alone, discouraged by CT Da Recco, which departed on the 17th at 18.00 from Tobruk for Piraeus which, based on the logbooks, appears to be attacked by aircraft nights without consequences. On the other hand, the only (small) convoy that left Tobruk for Benghazi on the 17th at 16.00 (steamer Siculo escorted by Ct Saetta) has never been attacked by anyone.
all the best
Maurizio

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Hi Maurizio,

Hmmm, a tricky one. The Operations Record Book is very reliable when it comes to dates, as is the information contained as it was provided and cross referenced by the crew that participated in the attack. I have attached the entry for the 17/18th September 1942 below for you to read:-

That certainly doesn't seem like a small convoy to me!

Regards

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Now, take a look at this one for the 19/20th September 1942 - The location, date/ time, number of destroyers etc fits perfectly with the convoy you originally mentioned:-

Cheers

 

[jwsleser]

I was waiting for one of our more knowledgeable members to post as the activities of the R.M. and the Italian merchant marine are not my area of research focus.

But then if the clash took place on the evening of 17 September it could be a very small convoy formed by the merchant ship Barletta alone, discouraged by CT Da Recco, which departed on the 17th at 18.00 from Tobruk for Piraeus which, based on the logbooks, appears to be attacked by aircraft nights without consequences. On the other hand, the only (small) convoy that left Tobruk for Benghazi on the 17th at 16.00 (steamer Siculo escorted by Ct Saetta) has never been attacked by anyone.
all the best
Maurizio

I couldn't find any Italian convoy that matched up all the information provided in the aircraft reports. I was looking at the same ships mentioned by Maurizio (Barletta and Da Recco) that left Suda on 16 Sep at 1300. They were attacked by air, but the date given was the evening of 16 Sept.

There was a convoy of three MVs and 2 TP that left Suda on 16 Sept at 1455 for Tobruk, but no statement that it was attacked. It is the only convoy that possibly meets the date/time, number of ships, and location.

Pista! Jeff

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for taking the time to look into it. Its a bit of a mystery isn't it. I looked at my other sources - Casualty reports, post incident reports etc and all have the same date of the 17/18th September.

Do you have any further details on the 3 MV's and 2 TP's that left Suda for Tobruk on the 16th? Perhaps this is the correct convoy but for some reason failed to report the attack?

Regards

 

[jwsleser]

The convoy left Suda at 1455 on 16 Sept. It arrived at 1015 on 18 Sept at Tobruk.

P.fo Fougier
P.fo Nerucci
German P.fo Dora

Tp Sirio
Tp Lupo

Pista! Jeff

 

[FromSeatoSea]

Thanks Jeff, you are a gentleman.

Regards