Convoy PQ-18 Part 1
Convoy PQ-18 Part 2
Convoy PQ-18 Part 3

During the past three days, it had been quite noticeable that the personnel have lost their heavy appetites and complained of not being able to sleep. However, although all very tired and worn after practically three days of constant tenseness and on the alert, they have now started to keep the cooks busy and all seem to be able to sleep most anyplace. After having seen the way we have been able to defend our own ship they have new confidence that we will be able to continue to keep afloat. However, many have remarked: “I wish we would get torpedoed by a submarine.”

While this wish was made as all hands have been rather ‘on their toes’ because of the 1,200 tons of T.N.T. aboard and especially after seeing what happened to the two ships that exploded right next to us.

16 September, 1942: continuing on easterly course off the Spitzbergen Banks. Destroyers continued to drop depth charges all day. At 1900 a torpedo was observed coming to the surface about 300 feet off our port quarter. About 0700 an enemy reconnaissance plane was observed rather high. A few shots were fired by escort vessels and the plane disappeared. Continued snowing. heavy winds and very cold. At about 2200 a major part of the British escort left us, heading back toward Ireland. A few small Russian destroyers having replaced them. The personnel were quite concerned about this as they believed the full escort should continue into port with us, which is still about 3 days away.

17 September, 1942: weather continued cold but snow stopped and weather became clear, sea calm. About 1030 an enemy plane observed on reconnaissance duty. Left in a few minutes. At 1700 another plane, Ju-88 circled closely over the convoy. Some shots were fired at it as it disappeared into the clouds. Weather became bad again. No submarines noted in vicinity today.

18 September, 1942: position 75.52N x 35.27E. At 1040, four enemy planes appeared high overhead and began dropping bombs all over the convoy. Then a number of planes attacked by dive-bombing the convoy after which the planes attacked from low level flying by, and dropping torpedoes. The planes headed for us from off our port bow and launched two torpedoes which, due to our increased speed to about ten and one half knots and zig-zagging caused the torpedoes to barely miss our stern.

About two minutes later, another launched another torpedo off our port bow which, while we were zig-zagging, came almost alongside our port quarter at a speed of about 18 or 19 knots. The torpedoes seemed to be about ten to twelve feet long and approximately twelve inches in diameter. At times, it seemed as though the torpedoes were regulated so that if they first missed their target they were able to turn at different angles and even completely in the reverse direction. Others seemed to act almost like a porpoise.

The above attack lasted about one hour. At about 1145 ten low flying planes, some of them four-engine Fokker-Wulff (sic) torpedo planes approached from our port quarter right on the horizon. All ships were fully ready for them and as soon as they were in range and bombing, all hands cut loose on them. The escort vessels really poured a steady stream of fire into them which caused them to break their frontal attack and split up into pairs. Each pair concentrated on apparently a designated ship of the convoy. They seemed to strafe the ships with machine gun fire while launching torpedoes more heavily than heretofore.

A four engine torpedo plane (apparently a Fokker-Wulff 200) made a pass at our ship and launched her four torpedoes at us from the starboard but due to our zig-zagging, again we were missed. The plane made a heavy right bank and headed up between our column and the column on our port.

The after 20mm guns and my gun immediately began firing on it as it seemed to be suspended momentarily on its side with its top right to us. My gun jammed after 4 shots hit it apparently in the after part of the fuselage. At about the same time, the two after guns had jams and before we had our guns in working order again the plane had gotten out of range.

One of my loaders noticed the gunner in the after turret leaning limply over his gun with his left arm dangling down as if he were dead. Other ships ahead took up the fire on his and as he was smoking some, it is believed that he was one of the planes we later saw burning in the water ahead. We noticed three planes of this attack on our side of the convoy go into the sea aflame.

The Commodore’s ship apparently brought down a large four engine, as one crashed almost dead ahead of him, burning fiercely. We noticed a dive-bomber diving on one of the ships on the after port wing of the convoy. there was quite a large explosion and we observed the crew abandoning ship (it was believed to be the SS KENTUCKY) and the rescue ship and a destroyer were standing by. It appeared as the ship was not damaged enough to sink and the crew apparently started to return to the ship when two planes suddenly appeared and launched torpedoes at her. she immediately began to settle after being hit and sank within about two minutes.

Today’s attacks seemed to be more vicious and more determined than any yet. The attack lasted almost continuously from 1040 to 2400. It seemed that practically every ship had near hits by bombs and many, like us, must have been barely missed by the numerous torpedoes that were launched. The British HURRICANE fighter that was carried on a catapult on a British cargo vessel was launched during the hottest part of the attack. He gave chase to a number of the planes and was no doubt responsible for some of them withdrawing. It was learned later that he shot down two planes before he was compelled to head for shore due to the shortage of gas. This, it seemed, was the most outstanding heroic deed of the whole trip, as the strafing from the planes as well as the intense fire from all ships was so heavy that it did not seem possible that he could be missed.

At about 2300 enemy planes were heard overhead but soon disappeared as it started snowing rather heavily. Also, about this time a few Russian planes appeared on the scene.

Total ships lost are 15.

19 September, 1942: off Kanin Peninsula. At 1130 a British destroyer carrying survivors cruised up thru the convoy playing ‘Little Man, You’ve Had a Long Day’ on their loudspeaker. On a previous day, right after we had shot down three planes within a few seconds, a British destroyer cruised up near us at high speed and shouted over their loudspeaker: ‘Congratulations, excellent shooting.”

This little incident of good humor and word of praise lifted the morale of the personnel greatly. At 1700 enemy planes appeared overhead. Five Russian planes appeared and extremely heavy winds and bad weather caused the planes to return to their bases without any attacks being made as far as we could see. The weather became very bad and we were compelled to cruise back and forth all day and night, as unable to head into the shallow harbor. Russian planes constantly patrolling the convoy.

20 September 1942: still cruising back and forth due to heavy winds and seas. At 1610 we heard enemy planes overhead and observed five heavy time bombs explode among the convoy near the ships directly ahead of us. Russian planes appeared and began attacking the enemy planes. About 1715 another enemy plane appeared over our starboard quarter at a very high altitude. British cruiser fired a few salvos at it. Heavy snow began & plane disappeared. Still unable to go into port due to heave weather.

21 Sep. 1942: at 0930 took on Russian Naval Officer as pilot and headed into Nolotovok. At 1000 an enemy plane appeared overhead. Some shots were fired. the plane disappeared, apparently back to its base. At 1657 we moored to the key at Nolotovok. Discharge of cargo commenced immediately with Russian prison labor. At 2200 enemy planes appeared over head. All hands to General Quarters, but no shots fired as the planes appeared to have gone on over toward Archanglesk. The Russian shore batteries cut loose with a heavy AA fire. At 0045 we secured after another ‘busy’ day. Had some difficulty with my passport at Customs inspection as my three month Russian visa had expired while on route during the over four month trip. Every clear day and night while at Nolotovok enemy planes came over but dropped no bombs. Did drop numerous large flares and the Russians concentrated on the flares with apparently 20mm guns. Those flares that they could not reach seemed to remain stationery in the city - some for 15 minutes, but usually for only ten minutes. They were excellent flares, lighting the area very nicely

7 Oct. 1942 - we completed discharging cargo and I left the ship just before it pulled away from the dock at about 1300. Commander Tulley and I took up quarters in the Ford Bodnnon in a flat car. We had canned food with us and was all set for a long train trip to Moscow. Commander Tulley returned to Archanglesk for his baggage and I accompanied the three freight cars on to Moscow, arriving there at about 0530 October 17, 1942 after a most interesting trip, but a most miserable cold journey. Had many interesting conversations with troops en route to the front, with wounded troops and hospital attendants on a hospital train and with troops on a troop train returning to base for refitting from the Stalingrad front. In all cases the morale of the Russian personnel was very high and they all seemed eager to continue the fight until the Axis powers are completely destroyed. Those from the front were most enthusiastic about the performance of the American made JEEPS. Most of them asked: 'When will American and English forces open the second front?’

The troops en route to the front were young, fresh and well-equipped while the ones from the Stalingrad front were tired and worn, and their clothes and shoes almost completely worn out. All cases, however, the food served them was entirely adequate and none appeared to be in the least undernourished. A number of women accompanied the troops as nurses, chauffeurs and cooks.”

This ends the formerly CONFIDENTIAL US Navy report dated 23 November, 1942 on the voyage of Convoy PQ.18.

More Convoy PQ-18

Convoy PQ-18 Part 1
Convoy PQ-18 Part 2
Convoy PQ-18 Part 3
Convoy PQ-18 Part 4