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HMS BELLONA ----------ARCTIC CONVOYS

Bellona participitated in 6 Russian Convoys and shot down at least 2 enemy aircraft-
1944
JW 62 Nov/Dec 1944 From Loch Ewe to the Kola inlet
RA 62 Dec 1944 from The Kola Inlet to Loch Ewe
1945
JW 64 Feb i945 from The Clyde toThe Kola Inlet
RA 64 Feb/Mar 1945 From The Kola Inlet to The Clyde
JW66 Apr 1945 from The Clyde to The Kola Inlet
RA 66 Apr/May 1945 from the Kola Inlet to The Clyde

JW62
The Convoy Escort consisted of 2 Escort Carriers and 21 Escort Vessels covered by the Cruiser Bellona and 10 Destroyers
The Convoy consisted of 30 Freighters
17 U Boats were operating off the Kola Inlet but no ships were lost

Sometimes the sea was quite calm and we saw the "Arctic Smoke " a vapour which rises from the surface of the sea because of the temperature differential between the sea and the cold arctic air above

RA62
The Convoy escort was as for JW62
The Convoy consisted of 28 Freighters

British and Russian escorts sailed the previous day to harass the U Boats .U 367 was depth charged and sunk by the Frigate HMS Bamborough Castle ,however U365 torpedoed the Destroyer HMS Cassandra and blew off her bows .She had to be towed back to the Kola Inlet.
Later on the convoy was attacked by 9 Torpedo Bombers from the Luffwaffe.2 JU 88 were shot down. Then U365 which had been tailing the convoy was sunk by a SwordfiSH Aircraft from the Escort Carrier Campania No ships of yhe convoy were lost

.Seeing the Swordfish taking off and landing was a sght to be remembered ,When they took off with a torpedo arrached below they seemed to drop nearly to sea level before recovering.

JW64
The Convoy Escort consisted of 2 Escort Carriers the Cruiser Brllona and 17 Escort Vessels
The Convoy consisted of 26 Freighters

There was some adverse weather and opposition in the way of 12 U Boats and some 80 Enemy Aircraft 8 OF which were destroyed .1 British fighter was lost but the Pilot was recovered.
All the F reighters entered Harbour safely in snow squalls and poor visibility .The Corvette HMS Denbigh Castle who had been covering the last Freighter was torpedoed and had to be towed into harbour and beached

.Bellona's divers had to dive and recover confidential material before the Russians got there .I remember a big Russian Tug boat coming along side and was surprised to to see that the Tug master was a women

RA64
The Convoy Escort was the as for JW 64 less Denbigh Castle
The Convoy consisted of 34 Freighters (31 sailed because 2 were sunk before joining the convoy and 1 returned to harbour )

A thorough search off the entrance was made on the previous day and 2 of the Escorts sank U242 but there were 9 U Boats lying in wait . 1 Escort was torpedoed and was towed back to harbour . Then a while later a Freighter was torpedoed and sank while being towed back to harbour .Later in the day another Escort was torpedoed and blew up .
The convoy was attacked by Torpedo Bombers but were unable to score any hits some were destroyed by Gunfire from the escort .BELLONA shot down 2. The Bombers came in so low over the sea yhat I could hear them on the Sonar
Soon the weather deteriorated and persisted for the whole passage Heavy seas and gale force winds often caused the ships of the convoy to scatter . Some ships hove to with engine and steering gear defects,shifting cargoes and splitting seams .One of Bellona's bulkheads cracked. The Escort Carriers stopped operating aircraft it was that bad .One of the ships of the convoy was straggling behind the convoy and was torpedoed and sunk by torpedo bombers
31 Ships of the convoy arrived safely

JW66
The Convoy Escort consisted of 2 Escort Carriers. Bellona and 22 Escort Vessels
The Convoy consisted of 22 Freighters, a Rescue Ship ,A Tanker and 2 Norwegian Relief Vessels

16 U Boats were operating in the area but the Escorts prevented any attacks .All Ships reached Port safely

RA 66
The Convoy Escort was the same as JW 66
The Convoy consisted of 24 Freighters

16 U Boats were waiting off the entrance to the Kola Inlet But during a seach of the area the day before 3 of the Escorts sank U286 .But one of the Escorts theFrigate Goodall was torpedoed and sunk with heavy loss of life .All Ships of the convoy reached Port safely 3 Days after The War in Europe ended.

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The Ships of the Convoy formed up in columns in line ahead . The Escorts formed a screen around the convoy whilst the Escort Carriers and the Cruiser operated in an area wiithin the convoy .This area was known as " The Box " At times the convoys crossed the artic circle

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The details of the Convoys have been taken from Vice Admiral B.B.Schofield' book THE ARCTIC cONVOYS (Macdonald and Janes London 1977 )

The Admiral was Director of Trade (Convoy and Routing Division) During WW2

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