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Action off Cape Bougaroun

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The action off Cape Bougaroun (Cap Bougaroûn) [Attack on Convoy KMF 25A], was a Luftwaffe operation against an Allied naval convoy off the coast of Algeria during World War II. The convoy of American, British, Greek and Dutch ships was attacked on 6 November 1943 by 25 German bombers and torpedo-bombers.

Action off Cape Bougaroun
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of World War II

Map of Cape Bougaroun, to the east of Algiers
Date6 November 1943
Location
Mediterranean Sea off Cape Bougaroun, Algeria
37°10′N 6°0′E / 37.167°N 6.000°E / 37.167; 6.000
Result German victory
Belligerents
 United States
 United Kingdom
Kingdom of Greece Greece
Netherlands Netherlands		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
United States Charles C. Hartman
Strength
1 cruiser
10 destroyers
4 destroyer escorts
26 merchant ships		 25 aircraft
Casualties and losses
4 killed
1 destroyer sunk
2 merchant ships sunk
1 destroyer damaged
2 merchant ships damaged		 ~10 killed
7 aircraft shot down

Six Allied vessels were sunk or damaged and seven German aircraft were shot down. The Germans had achieved a tactical victory, though the Allied fighter escorts and warships were praised for shooting down so many bombers. At least 1,400 men and women were killed but the rescue effort led to the saving of over 6,000 passengers and crew.

Background

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Task Group 60.2

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Before the routine convoying of transatlantic convoys to Bizerta (now Bizerte) in Tunisia, US convoy escorts occasionally supplemented British convoy escorts in the Mediterranean. Task Group 60.2 (Captain Charles C. Hartman USN) escorted Convoy UGF 10 across the Atlantic to Oran and then escorted several convoys in the Mediterranean. On 3 September 1943, the convoy being escorted was attacked by the Luftwaffe, which failed to hit merchant ships but torpedoed the destroyer USS Kendrick in the stern, the destroyer making its own way to port. The task group escorted two more convoys and was then assigned to escort Convoy KMF 25A, a troop convoy from Britain.[1]

Luftwaffe

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Hs 293 glide bombs

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Main article: Henschel Hs 293
 
Example of a Hs 293 rocket-boosted glide-bomb

Kampfgeschwader 26 began operations over the Mediterranean as a torpedo-bomber unit in early 1941. II./KG 26 was equipped with He 111 torpedo-bombers and III./KG 26 flew Junkers Ju 88 torpedo-bombers and practiced Zangenangriffe (pincer-attacks) when a Staffel of torpedo-bombers swarmed targets, to prevent them from maneuvering as they could to evade torpedoes dropped from one direction.[2] A specialist Luftwaffe unit, Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100) had been transferred from Italy to a base near Marseilles in July 1943, having received more than fifty Dornier Do 217 Sonderkampfflugzeuge (special combat aircraft).[3]

II./KG 100 received Dornier Do 217 E 5 aircraft, equipped for the Hs 293 a wireless guided glide-bomb, accelerated by a rocket motor and Dornier Do 217 K 2 bombers, adapted to use the Fritz X guided bomb, equipped III./KG 100.[3] Both Gruppen went into action in July 1943 against shipping in the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. On 25 August 1943 twelve Do 217E‑5s of II./KG 100, escorted by seven Ju 88C‑6s, attacked the sloops HMS Egret and HMS Bideford and the frigate HMS Waveney. One man killed and 16 injured on Bideford. Two days later, Egret was hit by an Hs 293 from II./KG 100 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) west of Vigo and sunk with 198 men killed; the Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan was severely damaged.[4]

Convoy KMF 25A and escorts

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Convoy KMF 25A consisted of 26 merchant ships and troop transports escorted by 15 warships, from Liverpool to Alexandria via Palermo and Naples.[5] Task Group 60.2 (TG 60.2) comprised the British light cruiser HMS Colombo, the destroyers USS Mervine, Davison, Parker, Laub, Beatty, Tillman, McLanahan, the destroyer escorts USS Frederick C. Davis and Herbert C. Jones and the Hunt-class destroyers HMS Croome, Haydon, Tetcott and the Greek HS Kanaris and HS Themistoklis. On 27 October 1943, Convoy KMF 25A sailed from Britain.[6]

Prelude

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Voyage

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After passing Gibraltar, the ships were escorted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in relays. The convoy sailed in columns of seven to nine ships each from Mers-El-Kebir to Naples but formed three columns to pass through the Tunisian War Channel (the Sicilian Narrows). Laub sailed 5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) ahead of the fleet on radar watch. Mervine led the warships in a circular course around the three columns. Beatty and Tillman were astern and Mervine was 2,000 yd (1,800 m) ahead, under an overcast sky with the cloud base at 1,000 ft (300 m). On 6 November, Haydon detected an aircraft to the north soon after noon but this was transmitting Allied Identification friend or foe (IFF).[1]

On 26 November, Ju 88s on reconnaissance reported a convoy of 15–25 vessels, including a troopship, off the North African coast. The convoy was protected by a Beaufighter, a Wellington and several single-engined fighters. Convoy KMF 26 was an eastbound troop convoy of 22 merchant vessels and 15 escorts from the Clyde carrying mainly United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) personnel to Alexandria, via Gibraltar.[7][a] Twenty-two He 177s of II./Kampfgeschwader 40 (Gruppenkommandeur Major Rudolf Mons), took off from Bordeaux-Mérignac, each carrying two Hs 293 glide-bombs. One He 177 crashed on take-off due to an engine failure and caught fire, four of the crew being killed. The rest of the He 177s were followed by 18 Heinkel He 111s from II./KG 26 and 15 Junkers Ju 88s from III./KG 26. Night was falling when the bombers sighted the convoy off Béjaïa, in Algeria.[8]

Action

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Ju 88s over the Mediterranean in 1943

The convoy went to action stations at 17:36 and about 17:45, the convoy was 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) north of Philippeville off Cap Bougaroûn in Algeria (37°05′16″N, 6°28′03″E) when Laub detected six aircraft to the north but these were also transmitting Allied IFF. Hartman signaled the destroyers to make smoke and prepare for action. The passengers were also ordered to go below deck and remain there until the threat was over. At 18:00 Tillman, on the port side of the convoy, detected a contact to the north-west at 8,000 yd (7,300 m), sighted aircraft soon afterwards and opened fire.[9]

As the He 177s attacked, Spitfire VBs from the Free French Groupe de Chasse 1/7, P-39 Airacobras of the 350th Fighter Group (USAAF) and Beaufighter VIFs from 153 Squadron RAF and the 414th Night Fighter Squadron (USAAF) arrived.[10] As the German bombers came within range, the escorts and the merchant ships opened fire. Seconds later, the Germans began glide bombing, the Hs 293 booster rockets looking orangey-red. The bombers concentrated on Tillman which escaped damage by rapid maneuveres and accurate anti-aircraft fire. A He 177 dropped a glide-bomb about 1,000 yd (910 m) off the beam and the automatic weapons on the port side fired at the bomb. When the projectile was 600 yd (550 m) away the bomb was hit and it fell into a steep dive, crashing 150 yd (140 m) off the port side.[11]

 
USS Beatty, photographed off New York in January 1943

A second bomber dropped a glide-bomb to port as Tillman was steered back to its place in the convoy screen. Tillman turned towards the bomb and the automatic weapons fired at the bomb as the main guns engaged the bomber. The bomb passed over the bows, turned around and hit the water about 150 yd (140 m) to starboard as the bomber was hit by the 5-inch guns and exploded. A glide-bomb from a third He 177 hit the sea 500 yd (460 m) to starboard. Concussion from the bomb-explosions damaged the fire-control radar and when torpedo-bombers flew low to the port of the convoy, the gunners resorted to aiming by sight. Torpedoes were dropped by a wave of the torpedo-bombers, Tillman combed the tracks and at 18:18 two torpedoes were seen to pass down the starboard side, one exploding in the wake, concussion damaging the hull at the stern.[11]

 
SS Monterey in the 1930s

Beatty (Commander William Outerson) on the starboard side of the convoy detected two aircraft showing Allied IFF at 18:05 16,000 yd (15,000 m) astern but one was seen to be a Ju 88 and Outerson inferred that the IFF was being transmitted by German aircraft. The smoke screen obscured some of the view, two Ju 88s appeared out of it, were engaged by the anti-aircraft armament and turned away. Thirty seconds after the Ju 88s had sheered off, a torpedo hit the after engine room, which broke the ship's back, caused a power-cut throughout the ship and flooded the engine-room.[12] One officer and six men were wounded and Beatty slowly began to sink at 27°12'N, 06°16'E, 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) west-north-west of Philippeville.[13]

All hands were called on deck but when the ship did not settle, they assisted damage-control parties and began throwing overboard anything that moved. Beatty began slowly to settle at about 21:00, Laub took off some of the crew and began to rig a towline but it became clear that Beatty could not be saved. At 22:30 as the list reached 45° the remaining crew members abandoned ship, it broke into two parts and sank.[12] About three torpedo-bombers got through the fighters and the escort screen and hit Santa Elena 9,135 GRT (William C. Renaut), at 37°12'N, 06°16E, that sank some hours later at 37°13′N 6°21′E / 37.217°N 6.350°E / 37.217; 6.350. Santa Elena, carrying 1,965 Canadian troops and nurses was also hit; four crewmen were killed and the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving.[14] The Dutch troopship MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, with 2,924 troops on board, was severely damaged but had no fatalities.[15]

Aftermath

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HMS Colombo in July 1943

Hartman ordered the commander of Destroyer Squadron 16, Captain C. J. Cater, to oversee the rescue operation with five of the destroyers as Monterey and Ruyz took off passengers from the damaged troopships, in a heavy swell.[16] Destroyer Division 32 (Commander J. C. Sowell) comrpising USS Champlin, Boyle, Nields and Ordronaux sailed from Algiers but were too late to assist the damaged ships.[17] Tugs from Philippeville were sent to assist and took the damaged liners in tow to Philippeville. Santa Elena sank just short in the outer harbor and Marnixx grounded as attempts were being made to beach it.[16]

Rear Admiral Carleton F. Bryant endorsed Hartman's after action report but was critical of the British organisation of the convoy, writing that the convoy commodore and the escort commander should have been from the same service. Bryant criticised the slow speed of the convoy and should have been at the speed of the slowest ship, not the 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) that it was moving. Once in the Mediterranean, the convoy should have been divided into a fast group and a slow group to benefit from the 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)-speed of some of the ships; Monterey capable of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) should not have been limited to 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) and the air cover should not have been withdrawn at dusk.[18]

Casualties

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About 300 people were killed by the bombing of Rohna; most of the lifeboats were destroyed or damaged and many of the life-rafts were found to be unusable. Rohna sank within an hour; in the growing darkness and swelling sea the rescuers had great difficulty, leading to the deaths of 1,015 American servicemen, 120 British and Indian crew members, eleven gunners and three Red Cross workers were killed.[10] Four crew were killed in Santa Elena and the American armed guard on board freed several men who were trapped below, 2,163 people surviving. MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, with 2,924 troops on board, was severely damaged but with no fatalities.[15] The rescue operation saved 6,228 people, including the crew of Beatty.[19] The US Navy Armed Guard gunners on board the US ships claimed five aircraft shot down and one probable.[20] Later examination of German records by Gross (2006) showed that three He 111 torpedo-bombers of I./KG 26 and four Ju 88 torpedo-bombers from III./KG 26 were shot down, including Hauptmann Eberhard Peukert, the commander (Staffelkapitän) of 8.Staffel.[21] Two He 177s of 4.Staffel/KG 40 and two of 6.Staffel/KG 40, a He 177 of 6.Staffel ditched off Montpellier and one He 177 was written off after crashing on landing.[22]

Allied order of battle

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Freighters and troopships (data taken from Arnold Hague Convoy Database unless indicated)[23]
Ship Year Flag GRT Notes
SS Almanzora 1915   United Kingdom 15,551 Troopship[24]
USS Andromeda 1943   United States Navy 6,556 Andromeda-class attack cargo ship, Oran to Bizerta
USS Anne Arundel 1941   United States 7,796
MV Aorangi 1924   United Kingdom 17,491 Troopship to Algiers[25]
SS Argentina 1929   United States 20,614 WSA troopship, 4,770 soldiers[26]
Aronda 1941   United Kingdom 9,031 Troopship[27] Oran to Augusta
USS Dorothea L. Dix 1940   United States 6,736
USS Edmund B. Alexander 1905   United States 21,329 Troopship
Hai Lee 1934   Norway 3,616 Troopship to Philippeville[28]
SS Hawaiian Shipper 1941   United States 7,775
USNS Henry Gibbins 1943   United States 12,097
USAT James Parker 1939   United States 10,021 2,095 troops
MS John Ericsson 1928   United States 16,552 5,336 troops to Naples
MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde 1930   Netherlands 19,355 2,924 troops, sunk by torpedo-bombers
SS Monterey 1932   United States 18,017 Ocean Steamship Co., liner, WSA troopship, 3,966 troops[29]
USS Oberon 1942   United States Navy 7,371 Arcturus-class attack cargo ship, Oran to Bizerta
Ruys 1937   Netherlands 14,155 Troopship, via Gibraltar, Algiers and Philippeville[30]
Santa Elena 1933   United States 9,135 WSA transport, 1,848 troops, 101 nurses, sunk, 4 killed[31][b]
SS Santa Paula 1932   United States 9,135 WSA
SS Santa Rosa 1932   United Kingdom 9,135 WSA United States Marine Corps transport[32]
Sloterdijk 1940   Netherlands 9,340 HAL British government charter[33]
MV Staffordshire 1929   United Kingdom 10,683 Troopship, 1,823 troops[34]
SS Strathmore 1935   United Kingdom 23,428 Troopship, 5,336 troops[35]
Tegelberg 1937   Netherlands 14,150 Ministry of War Transport charter, troopship[30]
USAT Thomas H. Barry 1930   United States 11,350
USS Thurston 1942   United Kingdom 6,509

Convoy escorts

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Task Group 60.2 (data taken from Arnold Hague Convoy Database unless indicated)[23]
Ship Flag Type Notes
HMS Colombo   Royal Navy Cruiser Escort, 4–8 November
HMS Croome   Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6 November
HMS Haydon   Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
HMS Tetcott   Royal Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
HS Kanaris   Hellenic Navy Destroyer Escort 6–11 November
HS Themistoklis   Hellenic Navy Destroyer Escort, 6–11 November
USS Beatty   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November, torpedo-hit, sank 23:05[13]
USS Boyle   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 11 November
USS Champlin   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 11 November
USS Davison   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 8 November
USS Frederick C. Davis   United States Navy Destroyer escort Escort, 5–8 November, joined from Mers El Kébir[36]
USS Herbert C. Jones   United States Navy Destroyer escort Escort, 5–7 November, joined from Mers El Kébir[36]
USS Laub   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USS McLanahan   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 8 November
USS Mervine   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USS Nields   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USS Ordronaux   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USS Parker   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November
USS Tillman   United States Navy Destroyer Escort, 27 October – 6 November, minor damage[11]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Americans were destined for India, to join the Tenth Air Force and the China Burma India theater.[7]
  2. ^ 7 November, foundered off Philippeville, 2,163 survivors[31]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Morison 1956, p. 261.
  2. ^ Forsyth 2021, p. 207.
  3. ^ a b Hinsley 1984, pp. 338–339.
  4. ^ Forsyth 2021, p. 198.
  5. ^ Hague 2000, p. 173; Morison 1956, p. 261.
  6. ^ Hague 2000, p. 173.
  7. ^ a b Forsyth 2018, p. 56.
  8. ^ Forsyth 2018, pp. 56–57.
  9. ^ Morison 1956, pp. 261–262.
  10. ^ a b Forsyth 2018, p. 58.
  11. ^ a b c Morison 1956, p. 262.
  12. ^ a b Morison 1956, p. 263.
  13. ^ a b Brown 1995, p. 100.
  14. ^ Hague 2000, p. 174.
  15. ^ a b Jordan 2006, pp. 281, 552, 394, 585.
  16. ^ a b Morison 1956, pp. 263–264.
  17. ^ Roscoe 1953, p. 3335.
  18. ^ Roscoe 1953, p. 335.
  19. ^ Morison 1956, p. -264.
  20. ^ Shores & Massimello 2018, p. 303.
  21. ^ Goss 2006, p. 153.
  22. ^ Forsyth 2018, p. 59.
  23. ^ a b Kindell 2005.
  24. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 178, 518.
  25. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 194, 518.
  26. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 405, 590.
  27. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 98, 518.
  28. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 301, 567.
  29. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 404, 593.
  30. ^ a b Jordan 2006, pp. 277, 556.
  31. ^ a b Jordan 2006, pp. 394, 585.
  32. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 396, 595.
  33. ^ Jordan 2006, p. 285.
  34. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 92, 522.
  35. ^ Jordan 2006, pp. 170, 522.
  36. ^ a b Roscoe 1953, p. 334.

References

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  • Brown, David (1995) [1990]. Warship Losses of World War Two (2nd rev. ed.). London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 978-1-85409-278-6.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2018). Holmes, Tony (ed.). Heinkel He 177 Units of World War 2. Combat Aircraft No. 123. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-47-282041-9.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2021). Luftwaffe Special Weapons 1942–45 (ebook ed.). Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-4728-3983-1.
  • Goss, Chris (2006). Sea Eagles: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942–1945. Luftwaffe Colours. Vol. II. Burgess Hill: Classic Colours (Ian Allen). ISBN 978-1-903223-56-7.
  • Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945: Its Organisation, Defence and Operation. London: Chatham. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
  • Hinsley, Harry; Thomas, E. E.; Ransom, C. F. G.; Knight, R. C. (1984). British Intelligence in the Second World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations (Part I). History of the Second World War Military Series. London: HMSO. ISBN 0-11-630935-0.
  • Jordan, Roger W. (2006) [1999]. The World's Merchant Fleets 1939: The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships (2nd ed.). London: Chatham/Lionel Leventhal. ISBN 978-1-86176-293-1.
  • Kindell, Don (2005). "KMF Convoy Series: KMF 25A". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (1956). The Atlantic Battle Won: May 1943 – May 1945. History of United States Naval operations in World War II. Vol. X. Boston: Little, Brown and Company Inc. OCLC 1018166599.
  • Roscoe, Theodore (1953). United States Destroyer Operations in World War II. Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-726-7 – via Archive Foundation.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni (2018). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome, 14 May 1943 – 5 June 1944. Vol. IV. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.

Further reading

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  • Bragadin, Marc'Antonio (1957). The Italian Navy in World War II. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-405-13031-7 – via Archive Foundation.
  • Jackson, Carlton (2001) [1997]. Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK: Red River Books. ISBN 0-8061-3418-6. First published as Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of HMT Rohna, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
  • Molony, C. J. C.; Flynn, F. C.; Davies, H. L.; Gleave, T. P. (2004) [1973]. The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy, 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom, Military Series. Vol. V (Facs. pbk. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-1-84574-069-6.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (2005) [1972]. Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (3rd rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-257-7.
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