Convoy ON 92

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Convoy ON 92

In May 1942, Convoy ON 92 carried 42 merchant ships from Liverpool to North America as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. The ships sailed on 6 May and were joined by mid-ocean escort group A-3 the next day. The convoy was spotted by the German wolfpack Hecht, and seven ships were sunk before contact was broken on 13 May. Surviving ships reached Halifax on 21 May.

The convoy was commanded by Commodore Capt. R. Gill aboard Southern Princess, with the escort led by US Navy destroyer Gleaves (Capt. J. Heffernan) and including USCG cutter Spencer and four Canadian corvettes (Algoma, Arvida, Bittersweet, Shediac). A rescue ship, Bury, accompanied, and two CAM ships provided temporary air cover.

German U-boats attacked in force, with U-569 shadowing first, then U-94, U-124 and others joining. Despite evasive maneuvers and counterattacks by Gleaves, Spencer, and the corvettes, seven merchant ships were sunk and one was damaged. The escort later rescued survivors, with 178 people taken on board Bury. The convoy reached Halifax on 21 May, with additional escort support arriving along the way.

Casualties and losses: Allied casualties were none; 9 German submariners were killed. Seven merchant ships were sunk and one damaged.

Aftermath: British and Allied authorities criticized the escort’s performance, and Captain Heffernan was reassigned. The sinking of seven ships was the month’s only successful U-boat attack on a North Atlantic convoy.