Convoy PQ 11


Convoy PQ 11 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II.
It sailed in February 1942 and arrived in Murmansk without loss.

Voyage

PQ 11 sailed from Loch Ewe, Scotland on 7 February 1942 to Kirkness, Iceland arriving on 14 February, before continuing on to Murmansk for 22 February. The convoy was undetected by German aircraft or U-boats in the continuous darkness of the polar night, and arrived safely at Murmansk, the Soviet Union's only ice-free Arctic port.

Ships

PQ 11 consisted of 13 merchant ships; eight British, two Soviet, one American, one of Panamanian and one of Honduran registry.
The convoy was escorted by two destroyers, and, two corvettes and four ASW Trawlers. These were supported by the cruiser Nigeria.
The convoy was joined in the last stage of the voyage by two Soviet destroyers and five Royal Navy minesweepers based at Murmansk.

Ships in the convoy

NameFlagTonnage Notes
AiredaleEscort 14 Feb - 17 Feb
Ashkhabad Soviet Union5,284
Barrwhin 4,998
HMT Blackfly Escort 14 Feb - 17 Feb
Anti-submarine trawler
HMT Cape ArgonaEscort 14 Feb - 17 Feb
Anti-submarine trawler
HMT Cape MariatoEscort 14 Feb - 17 Feb
Anti-submarine trawler
City Of Flint 4,963
Daldorch 5,571
Empire Baffin 6,978Arrived Murmansk 24 Feb
Empire Magpie 6,211Vice-Commodore’s Ship
HMT GromkiEscort 22 Feb - 22 Feb
Anti-submarine trawler
HMT GrozniEscort 22 Feb - 22 Feb
Anti-submarine trawler
HMS HarrierEscort 22 Feb - 22 Feb
Hartlebury 5,082
HMS HazardEscort 22 Feb - 22 Feb
HMS Hussar Escort 14 Feb
Kingswood 5,080Commodore’s Ship
Lowther Castle 5,171
Makawao Honduras3,253
Marylyn 4,555
HMS Middleton Escort 14 Feb - 17 Feb
HMS Niger Escort 14 Feb - 22 Feb
HMS Nigeria Escort 22 Feb - 23 Feb
North King Panama4,934
HMS Oxlip Escort 17 Feb - 22 Feb
HMS Salamander Escort 22 Feb - 22 Feb
Stepan Khalturin Soviet Union2,498
HMS SweetbriarEscort 14 Feb - 22 Feb