View source for Convoy HX 237

{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Convoy HX 237
| partof            = [[World War II]]
| date              = 9–13 May 1943
| place             = [[North Atlantic]]
| result            = Inconclusive
| combatant1        = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|naval}} [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| combatant2        = {{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} [[United Kingdom]]<br>{{flag|Canada|naval-1911}}
| commander1        = [[Admiral]] [[Karl Dönitz]]
| commander2        = Comm: R Gill<br/>C-2 Group: EH Chavasse
| strength1         = 19 U-boats
| strength2         = 47 ships <br/>5 escorts
| casualties1       = 3 U-boats destroyed <br>144 dead
| casualties2       = 3 ships sunk <br/>(21,389 [[tonnage|GRT]]) <br/> 58 dead
}}
{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}

'''HX 237''' was a [[North Atlantic]] [[convoy]] of the [[HX convoys|HX series]] which ran during the [[Battle of the Atlantic]] in [[World War II]]. It was one of several convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of May 1943.

==Background==
HX 237 was an east bound convoy of 47 ships, plus local contingents, which sailed from [[New York City|New York]] on 1 May 1943 bound for [[Liverpool]] and carrying war materials. Convoy commodore was Capt. R Gill RNR in ''Pacific Enterprise''.
[[Mid-Ocean Escort Force]] group C2 joined the convoy from [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]] on 7 May. Escort group C2 was led by Cdr EH Chavasse in destroyer [[HMS Broadway (H90)|''Broadway'']]; other ships of this group were frigate [[HMS Lagan (K259)|''Lagan'']] and three corvettes. These were joined on the same day by a Support Group, SG 5, comprising [[escort carrier]] [[HMS Biter (D97)|''Biter'']] and four destroyers.

Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were  the patrol lines ''Rhein'', ''Elbe'' and ''Drossel'', though although in the event only ''Rhein'' and ''Drossel'', comprising 19 U-boats, engaged HX 237.<ref>Blair p327</ref>

==Action==
First contact was made on 9 May by [[German submarine U-359|''U-359'']], which called up other boats from ''Rhein'' and commenced shadowing. ''U-359'' was attacked by an escort, and lost contact, but the following day, 10 May, contact was regained by [[German submarine U-454|''U-454'']]. She also was driven off, by aircraft from ''Biter'', but by evening a number of U-boats from both groups were in contact and began their attack. These were unable to penetrate the escort screen, though three ships that had become separated were sunk; the [[Liberty ship]] ''Fort Concord'', sunk by [[German submarine U-403|''U-403'']] and [[German submarine U-456|''U-456'']] in the early hours of 11 May; the Norwegian tanker ''Sandanger'', sunk by [[German submarine U-221|''U-221'']] on 12 May, and Norwegian freighter ''Brand'', sunk by [[German submarine U-603|''U-603'']] on the night of 12/13 May.<ref>Blair p328</ref>

On 12 May [[German submarine U-89 (1941)|''U-89'']] was sighted by a [[Fairey Swordfish|Swordfish]] from ''Biter'' and destroyed by ''Broadway''
and ''Lagan''.<ref name=Kemp>Kemp p116</ref><ref>Neistle p44</ref> Later the same day HX 237 came within range of [[Coastal Command]] aircraft, and ''Biter'' and her group detached to go to the aid of [[Convoy SC 129|SC 129]], which was coming under attack 200 miles to the south-west.
That night ''U-456'' was attacked by a [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Liberator]] flying at long range. The aircraft used [[Mark 24 Mine|FIDO]], a new and secret homing torpedo, on the rapidly diving U-boat; she was damaged, but was able to surface and drive off the aircraft with anti-aircraft fire. The Liberator was able to summon help, however, and the next morning the destroyer [[HMS Opportune (G80)|''Opportune'']] found ''U-456'' and attacked. The U-boat crash-dived, but was not seen again; it was later presumed she had been fatally damaged by the aircraft attack, the first instance of a U-boat being sunk by FIDO.<ref name=Kemp/><ref>Neistle p67</ref>

On 13 May [[German submarine U-753|''U-753'']] was found and attacked by a [[Short Sunderland|Sunderland]], but the U-boat chose not to dive to escape, driving off the aircraft with flak. The Sunderland commenced circling and summoned help, which came in the form of ''Lagan'' and ''Drumheller''. As ''U-753'' dived away the Sunderland attacked with depth charges, followed by depth charges from the two ships. Nothing more was heard from ''U-753'' and post-war analysis credited the aircraft and two ships with her destruction.<ref name=Kemp/><ref>Neistle p87</ref>

With these losses, and little success in breaching the convoy's defences, [[BdU]] called off the attack.

HX 237 continued without further interference and arrived at Liverpool on 17 May 1943.

==Ships in the convoy==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" width="150px"  |Name<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html|title=Convoy HX.237|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=22 October 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" width="180px"  |Flag
! scope="col" width="30px"   |Tonnage [[gross register tons|(GRT)]]
! scope="col" width="350px"  |Notes
|-
|align="left"|''Aedanus Burke'' (1943)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left"|Returned
|-
|align="left"|''Alcoa Trader'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|4,986
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Avristan'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|7,266
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Belgian Gulf'' (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Panama}}
|align="right"|8,237
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Biter|D97|6}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 13 May<br>Escort carrier
|-
|align="left"|''Braga'' (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|1,671
|align="left"|Uk For Iceland
|-
|align="left"|[[List of shipwrecks in May 1943#12 May|''Brand'']] (1927)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|4,819
|align="left"|Straggled and sunk by {{GS|U-603||2}} on 12 May
|-
|align="left"|''British Valour'' (1927)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|6,952
|align="left"|Escort Oiler
|-
|align="left"|[[USS Hunt (DD-194)|HMS ''Broadway'']]
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 16 May
|-
|align="left"|{{HMCS|Chambly|K116|6}}
|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 16 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left"|''City Of Dundee'' (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|5,273
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''City Of Eastbourne'' (1923)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|5,563
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Clan Macarthur'' (1936)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|10,528
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Consuelo'' (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|4,847
|align="left"|Vice-Commodore
|-
|align="left"|''Delhi'' (1925)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Sweden}}
|align="right"|4,571
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Dorcasia'' (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|8,053
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Dromore'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|4,096
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left" |{{HMCS|Drumheller|K167|6}}
|align="left" |{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left" |Escort 7 May - 16 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left"|''[[SS Empire Emerald|Empire Emerald]]'' (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|8,032
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Ernebank'' (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|5,388
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Fort Aklavik'' (1943)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|7,132
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1943#11 May|Fort Concord]]'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|7,138
|align="left"|Straggled 7 May, Sunk 11 May by {{GS|U-403||2}} and {{GS|U-456||2}}
|-
|align="left"|''Frontenac'' (1928)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|7,350
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''G C Brovig'' (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,718
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Gdynia'' (1934)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Sweden}}
|align="right"|1,636
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Gulfwing'' (1928)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|10,217
|align="left"|Escort Oiler
|-
|align="left"|''Henry Villard'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Herbrand'' (1935)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,108
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''James Turner'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,177
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''John F Appleby'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,181
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left" |''Joseph Warren'' (1943)
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left" |Fitted With [[Torpedo net|Anti-torpedo Net Device (AND)]]
|-
|align="left"|[[Naval trawler|HMS ''Kirkella'']]
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 16 May - 17 May<br>ASW trawler
|-
|align="left"|''[[List of Empire ships (G)#Empire Grenfell|Kong Sverre]]'' (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|7,238
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Lady Rodney'' (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|8,194
|align="left"|Halifax to St. John's, Newfoundland
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Lagan|K259|6}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 16 May<br>Frigate
|-
|align="left"|''Laurent Meeus'' (1930)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Belgium}}
|align="right"|6,429
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Leerdam'' (1921)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|8,815
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Magdala'' (1931)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|8,248
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left" |{{HMCS|Morden|K170|6}}
|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 16 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left"|''Mormacmar'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|5,453
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Moses Cleaveland'' (1943)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMCS|Noranda|J265|6}}
|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 1 May - 4 May
|-
|align="left"|''Norefjord'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|3,082
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Norholm'' (1941)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,813
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Northern Sun'' (1931)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|8,865
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Obdurate|G39|6}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 9 May - 13 May<br>Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|''Opalia'' (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|6,195
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Opportune|G80|6}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 9 May - 13 May<br>Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|''Pacific Enterprise'' (1927)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|6,736
|align="left"|Capt R Gill CBE Rd RNR (Commodore)
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Pathfinder|G10|6}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 9 May - 13 May<br>Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|[[Flower-class corvette#Royal Navy|HMS ''Primrose'']]
|align="left"|{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 7 May - 16 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left"|''Richard Hovey'' (1943)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left" |Fitted With [[Torpedo net|Anti-torpedo Net Device (AND)]]
|-
|align="left"|''Saint Bertrand'' (1929)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|5,522
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1943#12 May|Sandanger]]'' (1938)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,432
|align="left"|Straggled 8 May and sunk by {{GS|U-221||2}}
|-
|align="left"|''Spinanger'' (1927)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|7,429
|align="left"|Escort Oiler
|-
|align="left"|[[USS Thomas (DD-182)#As HNoMS St. Albans|HNoMS ''St. Albans'']]
|align="left"|{{navy|Norway}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 4 May - 7 May<br>Destroyer
|-
|align="left"|''Stanmore'' (1940)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|4,970
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Stephen A Douglas'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left"|Returned
|-
|align="left"|''Strinda'' (1937)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|10,973
|align="left"|Escort Oiler
|-
|align="left" |{{HMCS|Timmins|K223|6}}
|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 1 May - 6 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left" |{{HMCS|Trail|K174|6}}
|align="left"|{{naval|Canada|1911}}
|align="right"|
|align="left"|Escort 1 May - 7 May<br>Corvette
|-
|align="left"|''Trondheim'' (1939)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|8,258
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left" |{{USS|Yukon|AF-9|6}}
|align="left" |{{navy|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|5,970
|align="left" |Store ship
|-
|align="left"|''Warfield'' (1917)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right"|6,070
|align="left"|
|-
|align="left"|''Wendell Phillips'' (1942)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|7,176
|align="left"|Joined [[Convoy ON 180]] & returned St. John's, Newfoundland
|-
|align="left"|''Winona'' (1919)
|align="left"|{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right"|6,197
|align="left"|Returned to St. John's, Newfoundland
|-
|}

==Aftermath==
HX 237 was seen as a success by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]. Three ships had been lost, but 38 ships arrived safely; another four had been forced to return and two had detached to other destinations.<ref>Hague p</ref>
In return, three U-boats had been destroyed, though two of these were unconfirmed at the time. Several others had been damaged and forced to return to base. The convoy was another in a series of set-backs suffered by the [[U-boat Arm]], collectively known as [[Black May (1943)|Black May]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last1=Blair |first1=Clay |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted 1942-1945|year=1998 |isbn=0-304-35261-6|author-link=Clay Blair}}
* Arnold Hague : ''The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945'' (2000) {{ISBN|1-55125-033-0}} (Canada). {{ISBN|1-86176-147-3}} (UK)
*{{Cite book |last=Kemp |first=Paul |title=U-Boats Destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars |publisher=Arms and Armour |year=1997 |isbn=1-85409-515-3}}
*{{cite book |title=German U-Boat Losses During World War II |first=Axel |last=Niestle |publisher=Greenhill |date=1998 |isbn=1-85367-352-8}}

==External links==
* [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html HX 237 at convoyweb.org]
* [http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx237.html   HX 237 at warsailors.com]
* [http://www.uboat.net/ops/convoys/convoys.php?convoy=HX-237  HX 237 at uboat.net]
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:North Atlantic convoys of World War II|HX237]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Canada]]