Convoy Hi-71

Convoy Hi-71
Part of World War II, Pacific War

Port side view of USS Spadefish in May 1944.
DateAugust 18–19, 1944
Location
Result United States victory
Belligerents
 United States  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Glynn R. Donaho[1] Empire of Japan Sadamichi Kajioka[citation needed]
Units involved
2 Wolfpacks 6th Escort Group
931st Air Group
Strength
9 submarines 1 escort carrier
3 destroyers
9 kaibōkan
13 merchant ships
Casualties and losses
60 killed
1 submarine sunk
~8,000 killed
7 merchant ships sunk
1 escort carrier sunk
2 destroyers sunk
3 kaibōkan sunk

Convoy Hi-71 (ヒ-71) was one of the World War II Hi convoys of fast tankers and troop transports from Japan to Singapore. The heavily defended convoy was specially loaded with reinforcements for defense of the Philippines, and encountered a wolfpack of United States Navy submarines in the South China Sea after being scattered by an August 1944 typhoon. Personnel losses were high because heavy seas prevented rescue of crewmen from sunken ships.

  1. ^ Blair, pp.676–680