View source for Convoy ON 166

{{short description|Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Convoy ON 166
| campaign          = 
| image             = Mk VII depth charge.jpg
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = A [[depth charge]] being loaded onto a depth-charge thrower aboard the corvette HMS ''Dianthus''
| partof            = [[Battle of the Atlantic]]
| date              = 20–25 February 1943
| place             = [[North Atlantic]]
| result            = German tactical victory
| combatant1        = {{flag|United Kingdom|naval}}<br/>{{flag|United States|1912}}<br/>{{flag|Canada|naval-1911}}<br/>{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|Poland]]
| combatant2        = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany|naval}}
| commander1        = CAPT W E B Magee RN<br/>CAPT P.R. Heineman USN
| commander2        = [[Admiral]] [[Karl Dönitz]]
| strength1         = 63 freighters<br/>1 [[destroyer]]<br/>2 [[cutter (boat)|cutters]]<br/>5 [[corvette]]s
| strength2         = 18 submarines
| casualties1       = 14 freighters sunk (87,994 [[Gross register tonnage|GRT]])<br/>262 killed/drowned
| casualties2       = 3 submarines sunk<br/>128 killed/drowned<br/>11 captured
}}
{{Campaignbox Atlantic Campaign}}

'''Convoy ON 166''' was the 166th of the numbered [[ON convoys|ON]] series of merchant ship convoys '''O'''utbound from the British Isles to '''N'''orth America.  Sixty-three ships departed [[Liverpool]] 11 February 1943 and were met the following day by [[Mid-Ocean Escort Force]] Group A-3 consisting of the {{sclass2|Treasury|cutter|1}}s {{USCGC|Campbell|WPG-32|2}} and {{USCGC|Spencer|WPG-36|2}} and the {{sclass2|Flower|corvette|1}}s {{HMS|Dianthus|K95|2}}, {{HMCS|Chilliwack|K131|2}}, {{HMCS|Rosthern|K169|2}}, {{HMCS|Trillium|K172|2}} and {{HMCS|Dauphin|K157|2}}. The convoy suffered losses before arriving at New York City, US.

==Background==
As western Atlantic coastal convoys brought an end to the Germans' "[[second happy time]]", Admiral [[Karl Dönitz]], the ''[[Befehlshaber der U-Boote]]'' (''BdU'') or commander in chief of U-Boats, shifted focus to the mid-Atlantic to avoid aircraft patrols. Although convoy routing was less predictable in the mid-ocean, Dönitz anticipated that the increased numbers of U-boats being produced would be able to effectively search for convoys with the advantage of intelligence gained through ''[[B-Dienst]]'' decryption of British Naval Cypher Number 3.<ref>Tarrant p.108</ref> However, only 20 percent of the 180 trans-Atlantic convoys sailing from the end of July 1942 until the end of April 1943 lost ships to U-boat attack.<ref name="hag">Hague pp.132, 137-138,161-162,164&181</ref>

==21 February==
On 20 February {{GS|U-604||2}} sighted the convoy scattered by sailing eight days in a northwesterly gale. {{GS|U-332||2}} torpedoed the straggling Norwegian ''Stigstad'' on the morning of 21 February. {{GS|U-623||2}} was sunk by a [[No. 120 Squadron RAF]] [[B-24 Liberator]] that afternoon, and ''Campbell'' sank a U-boat that evening. Postwar analysis concluded that ''Campbell'' sank {{GS| U-225||2}},<ref>Morison 1975 p.338</ref> but later re-evaluation indicated that the attack may have destroyed {{GS|U-529||2}}.<ref>Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.194</ref>

{{GS|U-92|1942|2}} torpedoed the British [[List of Empire ships (Th–Ty)#Empire Trader|''Empire Trader'']] at 2032 and the Norwegian ''NT Nielsen Alonso'' at 0153 on the night of February 21–22. Both ships were hit by a single torpedo on the port side, flooding the forward hold, and boiler room, respectively.<ref name="warsailors">{{cite web|url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/on166.html|title=Convoy ON 166|publisher=Warsailors.com|accessdate=2011-05-25}}</ref> {{ORP|Burza}} from the following convoy ONS 167 was ordered to reinforce the convoy escort.

==22 February==
{{GS|U-606||2}} torpedoed the British [[List of Empire ships (R)#Empire Redshank|''Empire Redshank'']] and American ''Chattanooga City'' and ''Expositor'' after sunset 22 February, but was damaged by [[depth charge]]s from the recently arrived ''Burza''. ''Campbell'' was disabled in a collision with ''U-606''. Twelve men were rescued from the crew of the sinking U-boat. ''Burza'' left the convoy to tow ''Campbell'' back to port. The [[convoy rescue ship]] ''Stockport'' was sunk by ''U-604'' while returning to the convoy after rescuing men from the three ships torpedoed by ''U-606''.<ref>Hague 2000 pp.92&162</ref>

==23 February==
{{GS|U-628||2}} torpedoed the Panamanian ''Winkler'' at 0420 and Norwegian ''Glittre'' at 0425. {{GS|U-186||2}} torpedoed the American ''Hastings'' about 0430 and British ''Eulima'' at 0458 on 23 February.<ref name="warsailors"/> ''Spencer'', ''Rosthern'' and ''Chilliwack'' remained with the convoy and ''Dianthus'' left to refuel.<ref name="Hague 2000 p.161">Hague 2000 pp.161-162</ref>

==24 February==
{{GS|U-600||2}} torpedoed the Norwegian ''Ingria'' at 0520 before dawn on 24 February.<ref name="warsailors"/> {{GS|U-653||2}} torpedoed the straggling American [[Liberty ship]] ''Jonathan Sturges''.

==25 February==
''U-628'' hit the British ''Manchester Merchant'' with two torpedoes on the starboard side at 0527 before dawn 25 February.<ref name="warsailors"/><ref>Hague 2000 p.162</ref>

==Aftermath==
The U-boats discontinued the attack on 26 February. The surviving ships in the convoy were joined by {{MV|Empire Cavalier||2}} from [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]] on 28 February with escorts {{HMCS|New Westminster|K228|2}}, {{HMCS|Blairmore|J314|2}} and {{HMCS|Rimouski|K121|2}}.<ref name=ON166>{{cite web|url=http://warsailors.com/convoys/on166.html |title=CONVOY ON 166 |publisher=Warsailors |accessdate=15 March 2010}}</ref> They reached [[New York City]] on 3 March 1943.<ref>Hague 2000 p.159</ref>

==Ships in convoy==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Name<ref name="haguedatabase">{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html|title=ON convoys|publisher=Andrew Hague Convoy Database|accessdate=2011-05-24}}</ref>
! Flag<ref name="haguedatabase"/>
! Dead<ref name="Hague 2000 p.161"/>
! Tonnage<ref name="haguedatabase"/>
! Cargo<ref name="Hague 2000 p.161"/>
! Notes<ref name="haguedatabase"/>
|-
|  ''Amastra'' (1935)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 8,031 [[gross register tons]] (GRT)
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Aruba'' (1929)
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
| 
| 3,979 GRT
| general cargo
| 
|-
|  ''Beauregard'' (1920)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 5,976 GRT
| 
| returned to England
|-
|  ''Brasil'' (1935)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 
| 8,130 GRT
|  
| 
|-
|  ''Charles H Cramp'' (1920)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 6,220 GRT
| 
| straggled 1 March<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Chattanooga City'' (1921)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 0
| 5,687 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-606||2}} 22 Feb
|-
|  ''City of Canberra'' (1927)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 7,484 GRT
| 
| carried convoy commodore Capt W E B Magee DSO RN
|-
|  ''Delilian'' (1923)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 6,423 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  {{SS|Edward Rutledge||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,177 GRT
| 16 passengers
| [[Liberty ship]]; returned to England
|-
|  ''El Almirante'' (1917)
| {{flagicon|Panama}}
| 
| 5,248 GRT
| 
| returned to England
|-
|  ''El Coston'' (1924)
| {{flagicon|Panama}}
| 
| 7,286 GRT
| 
| joined from Iceland 16 Feb but returned to Iceland when leaking condenser caused water shortage<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''El Oceano'' (1925)
| {{flagicon|Panama}}
| 
| 6,767 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  {{SS|Empire Cato||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 7,039 GRT
| 
| returned to England
|-
|  {{MV|Empire Cavalier||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 9,891 GRT
| 
| joined Halifax to New York; survived this convoy and [[convoy HX 229]]
|-
|  {{SS|Empire Chivalry||2}} (1937)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 6,007 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  {{SS|Empire Confidence||2}} (1935)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 5,023 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  [[List of Empire ships (R)#Empire Redshank|''Empire Redshank'']] (1919)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 0
| 6,615 GRT
| (in ballast)
| torpedoed by {{GS|U-606||2}} & scuttled by escort 22 Feb
|-
|  [[List of Empire ships (Th–Ty)#Empire Trader|''Empire Trader'']] (1908)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 0
| 9,990 GRT
| 985 tons chemicals
| veteran of [[convoy HX 79]]; torpedoed by {{GS|U-92|1942|2}} & scuttled by escort 23 Feb
|-
|  [[List of Empire ships (U–Z)#Empire Wordsworth|''Empire Wordsworth'']] (1942)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 9,891 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Eulima'' (1937)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 63
| 6,207 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-186||2}} 23 February
|-
|  ''Exilona'' (1919)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 4,971 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Expositor'' (1919)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 6
| 4,959 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-606||2}} & {{GS|U-303||2}}
|-
|  ''Fort Thompson'' (1942)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 7,134 GRT
| coal
| 
|-
|  ''Fort Vermillion'' (1942)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 7,133 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Franz Klasen'' (1932)
| {{flagicon|Panama}}
| 
| 1,194 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Gateway City'' (1920)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 5,432 GRT
| 
| veteran of [[convoy PQ 18]]
|-
|  ''George W McKnight'' (1933)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 2,502 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Glittre'' (1928)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 3
| 6,402 GRT
| (in ballast)
| veteran of [[convoy ON 67]]; acting as escort oiler; sunk by {{GS|U-628||2}} & {{GS|U-603||2}} 23 Feb
|-
|  ''Gyda'' (1934)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 1,695 GRT
| general cargo
| straggled and lost following 24 Feb collision with ''Fort Thompson''<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Hastings'' (1920)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 9
| 5,401 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-186||2}} 23 Feb
|-
|  ''Ingria'' (1931)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 0
| 4,391 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-600||2}} & {{GS|U-628||2}} 24 Feb
|-
|  {{SS|Jonathan Sturges||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 56
| 7,176 GRT
| (in ballast)
| [[Liberty ship]] straggled & sunk by {{GS|U-653||2}} 24 Feb<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Kaipaki'' (1939)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 5,862 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Lechistan'' (1929)
| {{flagicon|Poland}}
| 
| 1,937 GRT
| general cargo
| straggled 20 Feb<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Lochmonar'' (1924)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 9,412 GRT
| 28 passengers
| ship's master was convoy vice commodore
|-
|  ''Madoera'' (1922)
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
| 
| 9,382 GRT
| 
| straggled 24 Feb & damaged by {{GS|U-653||2}}<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Manchester Merchant'' (1940)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 36
| 7,264 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-628||2}} 25 Feb
|-
|  {{SS|Mark Twain||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,176 GRT
| 
| [[Liberty ship]] straggled with steering failure
|-
|  ''Markay'' (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 10,342 GRT
| 
| joined from Iceland 16 Feb; romped 23 Feb
|-
|  ''Molda'' (1937)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 
| 5,137 GRT
| general cargo
| 
|-
|  ''N T Nielsen-Alonso'' (1900)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 3
| 9,348 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-92|1942|2}} & {{GS|U-753||2}} 22 Feb
|-
|  ''Pacific Exporter'' (1928)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 6,734 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Pacific Grove'' (1928)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 7,117 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Pan-Maine'' (1936)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,237 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Pan-Maryland'' (1938)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,701 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  {{SS|Samuel Chase||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,191 GRT
| 
| [[Liberty ship]] veteran of [[convoy PQ 17]]
|-
|  ''Skandinavia'' (1940)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 
| 10,044 GRT
|  
| veteran of [[convoy ON 67]]
|-
|  ''Stigstad'' (1927)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 3
| 5,964 GRT
| (in ballast)
| straggled & sunk by {{GS|U-332||2}} & {{GS|U-603||2}} 21 Feb<ref name="warsailors"/>
|-
|  ''Stockport'' (1911)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 63
| 1,683 GRT
| (rescued crewmen of sunken ships)
| rescue ship; sunk by {{GS|U-604||2}} while rescuing survivors
|-
|  ''Tai Shan'' (1929)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 
| 6,962 GRT
| 12 passengers
| 
|-
|  {{SS|Thomas B Robertson||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,176 GRT
| 
| [[Liberty ship]] romped & arrived New York 28 Feb
|-
|  {{SS|Thomas Hooker||2}} (1942)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 7,176 GRT
| 
| [[Liberty ship]] returned to England
|-
|  ''Tortuguero'' (1921)
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}
| 
| 5,285 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Tropic Star'' (1926)
| {{flagicon|Norway}}
| 
| 5,088 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Wind Rush'' (1918)
| {{flagicon|United States|1912}}
| 
| 5,586 GRT
| 
| 
|-
|  ''Winkler'' (1930)
| {{flagicon|Panama}}
| 20
| 6,907 GRT
| (in ballast)
| sunk by {{GS|U-628||2}} & {{GS|U-223||2}} 23 Feb
|}

==See also==
* [[Convoy Battles of World War II]]

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

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book| title=The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 |author=Hague, Arnold |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2000 |isbn=1-55750-019-3}}
* {{cite book| title=History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume I The Battle of the Atlantic 1939–1943 |author=Morison, Samuel Eliot |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |year=1975}}
* {{cite book| title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945 |author1=Rohwer, J.  |author2=Hummelchen, G. |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1992 |isbn=1-55750-105-X}}
* {{cite book| title=The U-Boat Offensive 1914–1945 |author=Tarrant, V.E. |publisher=Arms and Armour |year=1989 |isbn=1-85409-520-X}}


[[Category:North Atlantic convoys of World War II|ON166]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Canada]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom|C]]