To Hell And Back: The Arctic Convoys Of WWII Provided Lifeline To Soviet Union, But Extracted At Terrible Cost

Winston Churchill called it the worst journey in the world. To the sailors who served aboard the Arctic Convoys in the Second World War, Churchills remarks certainly wouldnt have seemed to be an understatement. As war raged across the Pacific, Africa, and Europe, the frozen expanses of the Arctic Sea did not remain untouched. Here, the battle between Nazi Germany and the Allied powers continued as a cat-and-mouse game the Germans fighting to prevent supplies getting through to the Soviet Union, and the Allies desperately sending equipment in the hope this could help the Russians keep the Nazis at bay long enough for a second front to be launched.

The stage for this battle was set in the summer of 1941, when Hitler tore up the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that had forged an uneasy peace between the two European powers. As war began, a surprised Soviet Union found itself on the backfoot trying to stem the Nazi advance. The Wehrmacht forged on ahead towards capturing large swathes of territory, setting alarm bells ringing in the Allied nations.

Russia was what lay between Germany and Britain. The Russians had long demonstrated courage and resilience in the face of adversity. But even the toughest needed guns to fight against the implacable German advance. If the Soviet Union were to fall, German forces, with the added advantage of unfettered access to Soviet mineral reserves and territorial depth, would be free to defend against any Allied excursion from the west.

In July 1941, the Allies, mindful of the consequences that would ensue should German forces be freed from the Eastern Front, gave the go-ahead to the convoys a decision was taken at the highest levels that the Soviet Union could not be allowed to fall. The first, codenamed Dervish, set off from Iceland on 21 August 1941, arriving in Archangel 10 days later. This precursor to the later series of convoys comprised six merchant ships and a fleet oiler escorted by three destroyers, three minesweepers, and three anti-submarine warfare vessels. At the same time, a superannuated carrier, the HMS Argus re-commissioned just prior to the war, delivered a cargo of Hurricane fighters to Murmansk.

The success of this ad-hoc convoy led the Royal Navy to draw up a formal series of convoys that would deliver supplies to the Soviet Union, allowing the Russians to keep up their resistance to the German war machine.

The first of the outbound convoys, PQ1, set off from Iceland on 29 September. At around the same time, the first of the inbound convoys, QP1, departed from Murmansk. The initial PQ/QP series ran till 1942, when in December, the second series, JW (outbound to Russia), and RA (inbound from Russia) were kicked off. The inbound and outbound convoys were timed to run almost simultaneously, allowing the inbound ships to return with the heavy escorts, while the outbound vessels continued to their destination under cover of the close-in escorts.

Over the course of four years, these convoys sailing from Hvalfjord, Liverpool, Loch Ewe, Oban, and Clyde set off for various locations in the Soviet Union Murmansk, Archangel, and the Kola Inlet eventually delivering over four million tonnes of supplies including thousands of aircraft, tanks, and trucks.

But while the convoys may have been a godsend for the Russians, they were a hellish experience for the men fated to serve aboard them. In the nearly four years the Arctic Convoys were staged, the Allies lost 16 warships and 85 merchantmen. While it may not seem that much a paltry 5% loss rate given the widespread slaughter that took place in the Second World War, it must be kept in mind that over 5,000 sailors went down with their vessels.

It was convoy PQ 17 that suffered the worst of the German attacks. The Hvalfjord-Archangel mission was detected by German ships, which, through a series of hit-and-run attacks, succeeded in drawing off most of the naval escorts, leaving the convoy bare. PQ17 was ordered to disperse, and bereft of naval cover, the merchantmen were easy pickings for the Kriegsmarine. Of the 35 ships that had set off from Iceland on 27 June 1942, just 11 made it to Russia the Allies losing 24 vessels and almost 200 sailors in return for German losses of just five aircraft.

The PQ17 disaster, which resulted in much soul-searching in the London Admiralty over the viability of the Arctic Convoys, also led to the introduction of tighter escort rings and the suspension of new missions till the long daylight hours of the Arctic region receded. Interestingly, the PQ17 tragedy has also entered popular culture. Thriller writer Alistair Maclean (who himself served in this theatre) is said to have based his first book, HMS Ulysses, on the travails endured by those fated to be a part of PQ17.

Considered by many to be Macleans finest work, HMS Ulysses paints a grim picture as the crew of the Ulysses battle fierce storms, German attacks, poor morale, and Admiralty indifference in what is ultimately a futile effort.

It was indeed a tough task; accounts of those who survived make for harrowing reading. Waves high as cliffs, fires, water freezing on the decks, and temperatures so low that skin could be stripped off from contact with bare metal were commonplace. Living conditions, never the easiest on a ship, were horrendous in these sub-zero temperatures. Amplifying these difficulties were the obsolescence of several of the ships that served here, and the young ages of the sailors some of the merchant mariners were as young as 14.

To add to this was the constant danger posed by the Kriegsmarine. The Germans had come to realise the significance of the convoys and they threw everything they could at them. However, while they seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Allied advances in the then-revolutionary technology of radar and direction-finding soon reversed this trend. The bad weather also constricted the U-boat wolfpacks, while the Allies success in cracking the Enigma machines also proved invaluable. Nevertheless, the Germans were able to extract a heavy price from the sailors aboard the convoys.

Surprisingly, the Arctic Convoys have been relegated to being a footnote in the history of the Second World War. But their importance to the war effort cannot be minimised it wasnt just the supply of weaponry to the Russians that was vital. The Kriegsmarine found itself tied up in the Arctic Sea, with the battleship Tirpitz cornered (and eventually sunk) in the Norwegian fjords. This focus on the Arctic also helped divert attention from the Atlantic, where the US was sending immense quantities of men and equipment to the British Isles. But perhaps, most importantly, the success of the convoys boosted the Russians morale during the early days of the war and dealt a psychological blow to the German high command, which feared that the Allies could attempt a major invasion from the north.

Seventy years have passed since Dervish, and few of the veterans of the Arctic Convoys remain, but finally, the sacrifices made by those who served in this theatre of war have received some recognition. Russia has instituted a commemorative medal, while the UK has the Arctic Emblem. However, efforts to have a special campaign medal in the UK have come to nought. One can only hope that the British government decides in its favour while there still are veterans left to honour.

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Arctic convoy medals and Bomber Command clasp to be issued within weeks
26 February 2013

Second World War veterans who served on the Arctic convoys and in Bomber Command will begin to receive their new awards within weeks, the government has announced.

Production of the Arctic Star and Bomber Command clasp is to begin within days, with up to 250,000 veterans and the families of those who have died expected to be eligible.

Living veterans and widows will be prioritised in receiving the new awards from as early as March. DefenceManagement.com understands that applications from other next of kin will be dealt with shortly afterwards.

Eligible veterans and next of kin are now being encouraged by the MoD to apply for the new awards. Information and an application form can be found on the www.veterans-uk.info website, or people can phone 08457 800 900.

The awards are being made in recognition of the unique contribution made by veterans in protecting Britain during World War II.

"All those who served our country in Bomber Command and on the Arctic convoys deserve nothing but the utmost respect and admiration from us," said defence minister Mark Francois. "That's why I am delighted that these special individuals will in the next few weeks begin to receive the Bomber Command clasp and Arctic Star that they have so long deserved.

"I am also pleased to announce that the families of those no longer alive will also be able to apply for these awards in recognition of their loved one's bravery."

Those eligible for the new Bomber Command clasp will have previously qualified for the 1939 to 1945 Star, to which the clasp will be affixed. It is also understood that there is an additional requirement to have flown at least one operational sortie as aircrew on a Bomber Command operational unit.

Those eligible for the new Arctic Star are all those who served for any length of time north of the Arctic Circle in World War II.

Well deserved for any one who served their country. A long time overdue. I am proud to say my Dad has been given a plaque on the Wall of Rememberance at Centenial Park Cemetery. Unfortunately they only give those to the ones who have died from war related causes. About three and a half years ago, I laid it on thick in a letter to DVA so Dad would get a TPI pension. It is only because I did this that he got the plaque he well deserved. A shame we have to push to get what should be given without any hesitation. Personally, I think everyone who served should get one, or some sort of commendation while they are still alive so they know their efforts were appreciated. My Dad was proud to have served his country, even though he went AWOL, got locked up, sold the Colonel's jeep and he sold the Sydney Harbour Bridge to some Americans. A bit of a larakin, but a proud larakin.

The application form is attached please pass on to any shipmates that this may apply to.

Application form link

Eligibility form link

Dear Sir/ Maam,

 

Please find attached details of the Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary Commemorations. The event is being commemorated by both the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy in celebrations across the country, particularly in Liverpool where the main event is taking place, however, I would, in particular, like to draw your attention to the Service of Commemoration at St Pauls Cathedral. The Service of Evensong promises to be a fitting tribute to those who served and those who lost their lives. I have included a ticket pro forma for you to book tickets for your organisation for St Pauls and we would appreciate it if you would complete the form and return it to us at your earliest convenience if you would like to attend. The Service of Commemoration is not limited to those who served during the Second World War.

 

If you would like more information about the significance of the event and its relevance to the maritime history of the Northern Atlantic during the Second World War, more details can be found through the Royal Navys website http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Special-Events/Battle-of-the-Atlantic , Battle of the Atlantic page.

 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

 

With kind regards,

 

Jane Snoswell

 

 

J Snoswell I OC I Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary Project Officer I Naval Regional Command Eastern England, HMS PRESIDENT, 72 St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1UQ I Mil: 93645 7345 I Civ: 0207 481 7345 I Mob: 07778 353858 I E-Mail: NRCEE-SO1Projects@mod.uk

  

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