View source for Convoy OG 71

{{short description|Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Convoy OG.71
|partof=[[World War II]]
|date=13–25 August 1941
|place=[[North Atlantic]]
|result=German victory 
|combatant1=[[File:War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945.svg|25px]] [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
|combatant2=[[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|25px]] [[United Kingdom]]<br>
{{navy|Norway}}
|commander1=[[Admiral]] [[Karl Dönitz]]
|commander2=Vice-Admiral P E Parker DSO
|strength1=8 [[U-boat]]s
|strength2=23 merchant ships<br>13 escorts
|casualties2=10 ships sunk<br>(8 merchants, 2 escorts)<br>360 killed 
|campaignbox={{campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}
}}
'''Convoy OG 71''' was a trade [[convoy]] of merchant ships during the [[second World War]]. It was the 71st of the numbered [[Gibraltar convoys of World War II#OG convoys|OG convoys]] '''O'''utbound from the [[British Isles]] to [[Gibraltar|'''G'''ibraltar]]. The convoy departed [[Liverpool]] on 13 August 1941<ref>Hague, pp. 175–176</ref> and was found on 17 August by a [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200]] ''Condor'' of [[Kampfgeschwader 40]]. Starting on August 19, it became the first convoy of the war to be attacked by a German submarine [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]], when reached by eight [[U-boat]]s from [[1st U-boat Flotilla]], operating out of [[Brest, France|Brest]]. Ten ships comprising a total tonnage of 15,185 tons were sunk before the U-boats lost contact on 23 August.<ref name=rohwer62>{{cite book |last=Rohwer |first=Jürgen |author2=Hummelchen|title=Axis submarine successes of World War Two |location=Annapolis, MD |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1999 |isbn=9781853673405}} p. 78</ref>

== Legacy ==
This convoy was known as "Nightmare Convoy".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lund |first1=Paul |first2=Harry |last2=Ludlam |first3=Tom |last3=Shuttleworth |title=Nightmare Convoy |year=1987 |publisher=Foulsham |isbn=978-0-572-01452-0}}</ref> Eight merchant ships,<ref name=rohwer62/> two naval escorts and over 400 people died, including 152 from the [[Convoy Commodore|commodore]]'s ship, {{SS|Aguila|1916|2}} (146 on August 19 and 6 survivors lost on August 22 when ''[[Empire Oak]]'' sank). The ''Aguila'' losses included the 22 ''"lost Wrens"'' (members of the [[Women's Royal Naval Service]], or WRNS) who had volunteered for duties at [[Gibraltar]]. After this, Wrens were never sent again on [[Ocean liner|passenger liners]] in convoys, but transported on [[Her Majesty's Ship|HM ships]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Mason |first=Ursula |title=Britannia's daughters: the story of the WRNS |location=Barnsley |publisher=Leo Cooper |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-85052-271-6}} page 46.</ref> In their honour, a new {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|0}} [[sloop of war|sloop]], launched in 1942, was named {{HMS|Wren|U28|6}}, while a ''Liverpool''-class [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]], launched in 1951, was named {{ship|RNLB|Aguila Wren|ON 892|2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.scarboroughsmaritimeheritage.org.uk/aaguila.php |last=Markwell |first=June |title=12 Scarborough Wrens sunk by U-boat |work=On the Fourth Watch |publisher=Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre |date=5 May 2005 |access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref>

Of the convoy's surviving merchant ships, five reached Gibraltar while 10 retreated to neutral Portugal.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hague |first=Arnold |year=2000 |title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 |isbn=1-86176-147-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Forde |first=Frank |title=Maritime Arklow |publisher=Glendale Press |location=Dún Laoghaire |year=1988 |isbn=0-907606-51-2}}, page 198.</ref> This was described as the most ''"bitter act of surrender could ever come our way"''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Monsarrat |first=Nicholas |title=Life is a Four Letter Word |year=1970 |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-0-330-02294-1 }}, page 114.</ref>

The two ships from [[Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II|neutral Ireland]] were carrying British coal&mdash;after this incident, the Irish ship owners decided not to sail their vessels in British convoys and by the early months of 1942 the practice had ceased.<ref>{{cite book |last=Forde |first=Frank |title=The Long Watch |publisher=New Island Books |location=Dublin |isbn=1-902602-42-0 |orig-year=1981|year=2000}}, page 87.</ref>

{{toclimit|2}}

==Ships in the convoy==
===Allied merchant ships===
A total of 23 merchant vessels joined the convoy in Liverpool.<ref name=ConvoyDB>{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/OG/index.html|title=Convoy OG.71|publisher=Arnold Hague Convoy Database|access-date=5 November 2013|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103130901/http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/og/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" width="150px" |Name
! scope="col" width="150px" |Flag
! scope="col" width="30px" |Tonnage [[gross register tons|(GRT)]]
! scope="col" width="400px" |Notes
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|{{SS|Aguila|1916|2}} (1916)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|3,255
|align="left"|Passenger ship sunk by {{GS|U-201||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1063.html |title=Aguila – British Steam Passenger Ship |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 19 Aug, with 146 dead<Br>(another 6 survivors died when ''[[Empire Oak]]'' was lost 3 days later)<Br>Convoy Commodore's ship (Vice-Admiral P E Parker DSO)
|-
|align="left"|''Aighai'' (1896)
|align="left"|{{flag|Greece}}
|align="right"|1,406
|align="left"|Retreated to [[Oporto]]
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Aldergrove'' (1918)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,974
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-201||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1069.html |title=Aldergrove – British Steam Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 23 Aug, with 1 dead
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Alva'' (1934)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,584
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-559||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1061.html |title=Alva – British Steam Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 19 Aug
|-
|align="left"|''Cervantes'' (1919)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,810
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon.
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Ciscar'' (1919)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,808
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-201||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1062.html |title=Ciscar – British Steam Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 19 Aug
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Clonlara'' (1926)
|align="left"|{{flag|Ireland}}
|align="right"|1,203
|align="left"|Retreated towards [[Lisbon]].<Br>Sunk by {{GS|U-201||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1065.html |title=Clonlara – Irish Steam Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 22 Aug, with 19 dead
|-
|align="left"|''Copeland'' (1923)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,526
|align="left"|Rescue Ship
|-
|align="left"|''Ebro'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flag|Denmark}}
|align="right"|1,547
|align="left"|Reached [[Gibraltar]].
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''[[Empire Oak]]'' (1941)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|484
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-564||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1064.html |title=Empire Oak – British Steam Tug |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 22 Aug, with 19 dead<br>(including 6 of 6 originally rescued from ''Aguila'' and 9 of 11 rescued from ''Alva'')
|-
|align="left"|''[[List of Empire ships (Si–Sy)#Empire Stream|Empire Stream]]'' (1941)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|2,911
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon. Vice-Commodore's Ship
|-
|align="left"|''Grelhead'' (1915)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|4,274
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon
|-
|align="left"|''Lanarhone'' (1928)
|align="left"|{{flag|Ireland}}
|align="right"|1,221
|align="left"|Arrived in Lisbon, her intended destination. 
|-
|align="left"|''Lapwing'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,348
|align="left"|Reached Gibraltar.
|-
|align="left"|''Lyminge'' (1919)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|2,499
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon.
|-
|align="left"|''Marklyn'' (1918)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|3,090
|align="left"|Reached Gibraltar.
|-
|align="left"|''Meta'' (1930)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,575
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon.
|-
|align="left"|''Petrel'' (1920)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,354
|align="left"|Retreated to [[Oporto]]
|-
|align="left"|''Spero'' (1922)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,589
|align="left"|Reached Gibraltar.
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Spind'' (1917)
|align="left"|{{flag|Norway}}
|align="right"|2,197
|align="left"|Torpedoed and damaged by {{GS|U-564||2}} & finally sunk by {{GS|U-552||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1070.html |title=Spind – Norwegian Steam Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 23 Aug, with no deaths
|-
|align="left"|''Starling'' (1930)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,320
|align="left"|Reached Gibraltar.
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|''Stork'' (1937)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|787
|align="left"|Sunk by {{GS|U-201||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1066.html |title=Stork – British Motor Merchant |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 23 Aug, with 19 dead
|-
|align="left"|''Switzerland'' (1922)
|align="left"|{{flag|UK|civil}}
|align="right"|1,291
|align="left"|Retreated to Lisbon.
|-
|}

===Convoy escorts===
A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.<ref name=ConvoyDB/>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" width="150px"  |Name
! scope="col" width="180px"  |Flag
! width="200px"       |Type
! width="80px"        |Joined
! width="200px"        |Left
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|{{HNoMS|Bath|I17}}
|align="left"|{{navy|Norway}}
|align="left"|{{sclass|Wickes|destroyer}}
|align="right"|13 Aug 1941
|align="right"|Sunk by {{GS|U-204||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1060.html |title=HNoMS Bath (I 17) – Norwegian Destroyer |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 19 Aug 1941, 88 Dead
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Bluebell|K80}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|15 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Boreas|H77}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|B|destroyer}}
|align="right"|22 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|HMS ''Campanula'' (K18)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|15 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|HMS ''Campion'' (K108)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|15 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Gurkha|G63}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|[[L and M-class destroyer|L-class destroyer]]
|align="right"|20 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|HMS ''Hydrangea'' (K39)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|15 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Lance|G87}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|[[L and M-class destroyer|L-class destroyer]]
|align="right"|20 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Leith|U36}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass|Grimsby|sloop|0}} [[sloop-of-war|sloop]]
|align="right"|13 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Vidette|D48}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|[[V and W-class destroyer|Admiralty V-class]] [[destroyer]]
|align="right"|21 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|HMS ''Wallflower'' (K44)
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|15 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|-
|align="left"|{{HMS|Wivern|D66}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|[[V and W-class destroyer|Modified W-class]] [[destroyer]]
|align="right"|22 Aug 1941
|align="right"|23 Aug 1941
|- {{no2}}
|align="left"|{{HMS|Zinnia|K98}}
|align="left"|{{navy|UK}}
|align="left"|{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}
|align="right"|13 Aug 1941
|align="right"|Sunk by {{GS|U-564||2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.Uboat.Net/Allies/Merchants/Ships/1067.html |title=HMS Zinnia (K 98) – British Corvette |publisher=www.Uboat.Net |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref> on 23 Aug 1941, 68 Dead
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[List of shipwrecks in August 1941]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Edwards |first=Bernard |year=2009 |title=The Cruel Sea Retold |location=South Yorkshire |publisher=Pen & Sword Military |isbn=978-1-84415-863-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Hague |first=Arnold |year=2000 |title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 |isbn=1-86176-147-3 |ref={{sfnRef|Hague}} }}
*{{cite book |last1=Rohwer |first1=J |last2=Hummelchen |first2=G |year=1992 |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945 |location=Annapolis, MD |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=1-55750-105-X}}

==External links==
*[http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/OG/index.html?tag.php?convoy=71!~tagmain OG.71 at convoyweb]{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://uboat.net/ops/convoys/convoys.php?convoy=OG-71 Convoy OG 71] at uboat.net

{{DEFAULTSORT:OG-71}}
[[Category:North Atlantic convoys of World War II|OG071]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom|C]]