This week in the War, 7–13 September 1942: Arctic convoys

This week in the war, on 12 September 1942, U-boats and the Luftwaffe launched attacks, which continued for several days, against important Allied convoys heading through the Arctic Ocean towards Murmansk—–most notably against outbound convoy PQ18.

Convoy PQ18, which was carrying war aid, including Lend-Lease aid, to Russia, comprised 40 merchant vessels plus an escort of destroyers and corvettes, and an aircraft carrier. Battleships HMS Duke of York and HMS Anson were held at a distance in reserve.

Germany committed a dozen U-boats and a surface fleet of cruisers based in Norway.

In the end, 13 merchants ships were lost but enough survived for the Allies to consider the operation successful. The Kriegsmarine lost three U-boats. The Luftwaffe lost 40 aircraft and, more significantly, their complement of trained pilots and crew.