Convoy TAG 18 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the second World War. It was the 18th of the numbered TAG Convoys from Trinidad and Aruba to Guantánamo.[1] The convoy was shadowed from 1 to 4 November by U-160 skippered by Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves) and joined on 5 November by U-129 – skippered by Hans-Ludwig Witt (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross). The two U-boats sank six ships from the convoy.[2]
| Convoy TAG.18 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
.svg){kind=small} Germany |
 Venezuela | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Admiral Karl Dönitz Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen Hans-Ludwig Witt | |||||
| Strength | |||||
| 2 U-boats |
37 merchant ships 8 escorts | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 6 ships sunk | |||||
Ships in the convoy edit
| Name[3] | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acasta (1918) |  Norway
|
5,229 | |
| Anna Knudsen (1931) | Norway
|
9,057 | |
| Ardmore (1913) |  United States
|
7,035 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Astrell (1925) | Norway
|
7,595 | Ex Curaçao. Sunk by U-129[4] on 5 Nov |
| Baron Elphinstone (1937) |  United Kingdom
|
4,635 | |
| Benjamin Bourn (1942) | United States
|
7,176 | |
| Chr J Kampmann (1924) |  Canada
|
2,281 | Sunk by U-160[5] |
| Cities Service Kansas (1920) | United States
|
7,641 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| City Of Lancaster (1924) | United Kingdom
|
3,041 | |
| Clio (1935) |  Netherlands
|
374 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Domino (1919) | United States
|
3,170 | |
| Eagle (1917) | United States
|
6,003 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Edward L Doheny (1913) | United States
|
5,871 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Empire Marvell (1941) | United Kingdom
|
9,812 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Errington Court (1925) | United Kingdom
|
4,913 | |
| Esso Caracas (1913) | Venezuela
|
4,323 | |
| F H Bedford Jr (1930) |  Panama
|
10,844 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Felix Taussig (1917) | United States
|
5,965 | |
| Gulfpride (1927) | United States
|
12,510 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Gypsum Empress (1929) | United Kingdom
|
4,034 | Sunk by U-160[6] |
| Hanley (1920) | United States
|
7,583 | Did Not Sail |
| Jupiter (1928) | Netherlands
|
1,464 | |
| Kaldfonn (1936) | Norway
|
9,931 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Karmt (1938) | Norway
|
4,991 | |
| La Salina (1927) | Venezuela
|
2,402 | |
| Leda (1925) | Panama
|
8,546 | Sunk by U-160,[7] Sank In Tow |
| Leonidas (1928) |  Greece
|
4,573 | |
| Meton (1920) | United States
|
7,027 | Sunk by U-129[8] on 5 Nov |
| Moldova (1911) | Panama
|
4,083 | |
| Nishmaha (1919) | United States
|
6,040 | |
| Pan Gulf (1918) | United States
|
5,599 | |
| Paulsboro (1916) | United States
|
6,699 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Peter Hurll (1930) | Panama
|
10,871 | Curaçao to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base |
| Prins Maurits (1936) | Netherlands
|
1,287 | |
| St Clears (1936) | United Kingdom
|
4,312 | |
| Thorshavet (1938) |  Royal Navy
|
11,015 | Sunk by U-160[9] |
| USCG 6 | .png){kind=small} United States Coast Guard
|
Escort 4 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USCG Colfax (WSC-133) | United States Coast Guard
|
Escort 4 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USCG Rush (WSC-151) | United States Coast Guard
|
Escort 4 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USS Lea (DD-118) | United States Navy
|
Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov Destroyer | |
| USS PCC-469 | United States Navy
|
Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USS PC-495 | United States Navy
|
Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USS PC-559 | United States Navy
|
Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| USS PC-561 | United States Navy
|
Escort 2 Nov – 08 Nov | |
| Vulcanus (1907) | Netherlands
|
1,819 |
References edit
- ^ Hague, p.113
- ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen, pp.168 & 169
- ^ "Convoy TAG.18". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "MV Astrell – Norwegian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "SS Chr J Kampmann – Canadian Steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "SS Gypsum Empress – British Steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "MV Leda – Panamanian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "SS Meton – American Steam tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ "MV Thorshavet – Norwegian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
Bibliography edit
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
- Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.