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
Date2–8 November 1942
Location
Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany

Canada Canada
 Greece
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Panama
United Kingdom
 United States

 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

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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   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

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  1. ^ Hague, p.113
  2. ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen, pp.168 & 169
  3. ^ "Convoy TAG.18". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  4. ^ "MV Astrell – Norwegian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  5. ^ "SS Chr J Kampmann – Canadian Steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  6. ^ "SS Gypsum Empress – British Steam merchant". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ^ "MV Leda – Panamanian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  8. ^ "SS Meton – American Steam tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  9. ^ "MV Thorshavet – Norwegian Motor tanker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 24 October 2013.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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