Convoy OG 69


Convoy OG 69 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 69th of the numbered OG convoys Outbound from the British Isles to Gibraltar. The convoy departed Liverpool on 20 July 1941 and was found on 25 July by Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors of Kampfgeschwader 40. Nine ships were sunk by submarine attacks continuing through 30 July.

Submarines

The convoy was initially located by German Naval signals intelligence, then visual confirmation was provided by a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 aircraft. A total of 10 boats were directed to intercept the convoy - eight U-boats from Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine and two submarines from Fascist Italy's Regia Marina.
NameTypeFirst contactShips sunkShips damagedNotes
IXC26 July 1940none
VIIC26/27 July 1940Kelwin
IXC26/27 July 1940Erato, Inga I,
VIIC26/27 July 1940Hawkinge, Lapland, Norita
VIICnonenone
VIIC27 July 1940Wrotham
VIICnonenone
VIICnonenone
Barbarigo?22 July 1940none
Pietro Calvinonenone

Ships in the convoy

Allied merchant ships

A total of 28 merchant vessels joined the convoy in Liverpool, with some being sunk after detaching from the convoy to head to other destinations.
NameFlagTonnage Notes
Adjutant 1,931Bound for Gibraltar
Afghanistan 6,992Bound for Cape Town
Arabistan 5,874Bound for Cape Town
Charlbury 4,836Bound for Rio de Janeiro
City of Lyons 7,063Bound for Cape Town
Como 1,295Bound for Lisbon
Dayrose 4,113In ballast
Empire Dawn 7,241Bound for Cape Town
Empire Voice 6,828Bound for Cape Town
Erato 1,335Sunk by on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors, including the ship's Master, were picked up by HMS Begonia and landed in Gibraltar
Capt C M Ford Rd RNR
Hawkinge 2,475Sunk by on 27 Jul. There were 15 dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Sunflower and HMS Vanoc
Inga I Norway1,304Torpedoed, broke in two, and sunk by on 27 Jul. There were 9 dead. The survivors were picked up by one of the escorts and landed in Gibraltar
Kellwyn 1,459Sunk by on 27 Jul. There were 14 dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMT St.Nectan
Lapland 1,330Sunk by on 28 Jul. There were no dead. Survivors were picked up by HMS Rhododendron.
Larchbank 5,151Bound for Cape Town
Norita Sweden1,516Sunk by on 28 Jul. There were 2 dead
Pelayo 1,345Bound for Gibraltar
Rhineland 1,381Bound for Lisbon
Romney 5,840Bound for Alexandria
Ruth I Norway3,531Bound for Cadiz
Shahristan 7,30968 Passengers. Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by on 30 Jul SE of the Azores, after detaching from the convoy
Sheaf Crown 4,868Bound for Huelva
Shuna 1,575Returned
Sitoebondo Netherlands7,049Bound for Cape Town. Sunk by on 30 Jul after detaching from the convoy. There were 19 dead.
Thistlegorm 4,898Bound for Cape Town
Tintern Abbey 2,471
Wrotham 1,884Torpedoed, and sank in 30 seconds, by on 27 Jul. There were no dead. The 9 survivors were picked up by HMS Fleur de Lys and HMS Rhododendron and landed in Gibraltar
Yorkwood 5,401Bound for Cape Town

Convoy escorts

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.
NameFlagTypeJoinedLeft
21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
20 Jul 194128 Jul 1941
sloop19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Dianella 21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
HMT Drangey ASW trawler20 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Fleur De Lys 27 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS GoodwinArmed boarding vessel19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Jasmine 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS Kingcup 21 Jul 194126 Jul 1941
HMT Lady Hogarth ASW trawler27 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMT Lady Shirley ASW trawler27 Jul 194131 Jul 1941
HMS Larkspur 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMT Paynter ASW trawler19 Jul 194120 Jul 1941
HMS Pimpernel 20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
20 Jul 194130 Jul 1941
HMT St NectanASW trawler20 Jul 194101 Aug 1941
HMS Sunflower 21 Jul 194127 Jul 1941