Convoy HG 76 | |||||||
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Part of Second World War | |||||||
Map of the Bay of Biscay and the South-western Approaches | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Germany | United Kingdom | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Karl Dönitz |
Raymond Fitzmaurice Frederick Walker | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Wolfpack Seeräuber 10 U-boats |
HG 76 32 merchant ships 24 escorts | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
5 U-boats destroyed 2 Aircraft destroyed |
2 merchant ships sunk 2 escorts sunk |
Convoy HG 76 (19 to 23 December 1941) was an Allied convoy of the HG (Homeward from Gibraltar) series, during the Second World War. It was notable for the destruction of five German U-boats, although the true total was not known to the British until after the war.
Two Condor long-range reconnaissance aircraft were shot down by British Martlet fighters from the escort carrier HMS Audacity, which was sunk later on the voyage, along with a destroyer and two merchant ships. Despite the loss of Audacity, it was regarded as the first big convoy victory for the Allies in the Battle of the Atlantic.