tim lewin
29-10-2007, 15:17
I thought the string was getting a bit extended; here is a very brief excerpt from Woodman's book.
PQ9 & 10 combined together to make a 10 ship convoy sailing on 2nd February 1941. Escorts under R.A. Wake-Walker in his flagship Nigeria (Cruiser) were destroyers Faulknor and Intrepid, The Norwegian armed whalers Hav and Shika as close escort. Local anti-submarine and minesweeping was provided by Halcyon class based at Kola, Britomart & Sharpshooter. The departure was deelayed by rumours of Tirpitz being at sea but nothing came of this and the convoy made up for lost time arriving at Kola inlet on 10-02-41 without loss.
One can only admire the sheer fortitude of those men (and Russian women) who sailed these timy ships through the storms, snow, ice, dark permanently frozen, permanently wet, shovelling coal into primitive boilers to maintain speed. We should never forget them.
I have a 1943 Janes so we see if there might be an illustration of these Norwegian whalers.
all best
tim
PQ9 & 10 combined together to make a 10 ship convoy sailing on 2nd February 1941. Escorts under R.A. Wake-Walker in his flagship Nigeria (Cruiser) were destroyers Faulknor and Intrepid, The Norwegian armed whalers Hav and Shika as close escort. Local anti-submarine and minesweeping was provided by Halcyon class based at Kola, Britomart & Sharpshooter. The departure was deelayed by rumours of Tirpitz being at sea but nothing came of this and the convoy made up for lost time arriving at Kola inlet on 10-02-41 without loss.
One can only admire the sheer fortitude of those men (and Russian women) who sailed these timy ships through the storms, snow, ice, dark permanently frozen, permanently wet, shovelling coal into primitive boilers to maintain speed. We should never forget them.
I have a 1943 Janes so we see if there might be an illustration of these Norwegian whalers.
all best
tim