Convoy PQ 1


Convoy PQ 1 was the second of the Arctic Convoys of World War II by which the Western Allies supplied material aid to the Soviet Union in its fight with Nazi Germany. The convoy sailed from Hvalfiord in Iceland on 29 September 1941 and arrived at Archangelsk on 11 October 1941.

Ships

This Convoy consisted of 11 merchant ships loaded with raw materials, 20 tanks and 193 crated Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft.
The code prefix PQ was chosen from the initials of Commander Phillip Quellyn Roberts an operations officer in the Admiralty.
Escorted ships convoy PQ 1 in the coastal waters of the USSR
All ships arrived safely.

List of ships

The following information is taken from Ruegg and Hague Convoys to Russia: Allied Convoys and Naval Surface Operations in Arctic Waters 1941–1945 unless indicated.
NameFlagTonnage Notes
HMS Antelope Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
HMS Anthony Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
Atlantic 5,414Commodore's ship
RFA Black Ranger 3,417Detached on 4 Oct with HMS Antelope
Blairnevis 4,155
HMS Britomart Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
Capira Panama5,625
Elna Ii Soviet Union3,221
EscapadeEscort 1 Oct - 11 Oct
Gemstone 4,986
GossamerEscort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
Harmonic 4,558
HMS HarrierEscort 10 Oct - 11 Oct
HMS Hussar Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
HMS Impulsive Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
HMS Leda Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
Lorca 4,875
North King Panama4,934Vice-commodore's ship
River Afton 5,479
HMS Suffolk Escort 29 Sept - 11 Oct
UritskiSoviet UnionEscort
Valerian KuybyshevSoviet UnionEscort
Ville D'Anvers Belgium7,462

Footnotes