The Biggest Allied Convoy To Russia Fought Through a Four-day Attack by Enemy Torpedo Planes and U-boats To Deliver Her Cargo at An Artic Port. the Commodore of This Convoy Was Rear-admiral E K Boddom-whetham, A12019

Convoy PQ 17 was a World War II convoy that took place in July 1942. It consisted of 35 merchant ships escorted by Allied warships. The purpose of the convoy was to transport vital supplies from the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union, which was an ally of the Allies at the time. The convoy faced significant challenges and dangers during its voyage. German forces, including submarines, aircraft and surface ships, were actively patrolling the waters to intercept and destroy the convoy. The convoy also had to navigate treacherous Arctic waters, where harsh weather conditions and ice posed additional threats. On 4 July 1942, the convoy was spotted by German reconnaissance aircraft, which alerted German naval forces. The next day, German U-boats attacked the convoy, sinking several merchant ships. The convoy's escorts tried to defend the ships, but were overwhelmed by the German firepower. In response to the growing threat, the British Admiralty took the controversial decision to order the convoy to break up and proceed individually. This decision was based on the belief that individual ships would be harder for the Germans to target. However, this decision left many of the merchant ships vulnerable and exposed. As a result, the scattered convoy suffered heavy losses. Of the original 35 merchant ships, only 11 managed to reach their destination in the Soviet Union. The rest were either sunk or damaged beyond repair. The loss of Convoy PQ 17 was a major blow to the Allied war effort. It highlighted the vulnerability of Arctic convoys and led to a re-evaluation of convoy tactics and escort strategies. The incident also strained relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, as American ships were among those lost in the convoy. Despite the heavy losses, Convoy PQ 17 achieved some success in delivering vital supplies to the Soviet Union. The surviving ships brought much-needed equipment, food and fuel to support the Soviet war effort against the Germans on the Eastern Front.