555:
68:
40:
257:. Its purpose was to provide reinforcement to convoys at sea, being equipped to spend extended periods at sea moving from one convoy to another as needed. Its function primarily was to assist a convoy's escort in its defence, though it also had the facility to spend time, which escorts did not have, to continue attacks on U-boats to a successful conclusion rather than having to break off to maintain the guard on the convoy.
537:. Whilst the United States Navy had had much success using carrier groups in a hunter-killer role on the mid-Atlantic route, the Royal Navy's experience was less positive. Winter gales made flying difficult and hazardous, while the need to provide protection to the carrier hampered A/S operations. 2 SG at least generally had more success operating without carrier assistance.
241:. The combination of an active hunting group and a charismatic, determined and innovative anti-submarine specialist such as Walker proved to be a potent force; 2 EG was the most successful anti-submarine unit of the war, being credited with the destruction of 23 U-boats during two years of active service.
371:
The group's first patrol in May 1943 was uneventful. There were several major convoy battles during the month, but none involving 2 SG. The group operated in support of HX 235 and ONS 8, sailing ahead in an attempt to encounter and breach any U-boat patrol lines drawn across the convoy routes.
358:' upon entering and leaving harbour. This practice was emulated by other Royal Navy ships and was evidence of the change of attitude and strategy of anti-submarine units from defenders to hunter/killers of U-boats.
267:
design was well suited to the task, with good endurance, adequate speed and specialized anti-submarine armament. In addition, Walker had developed a range of A/S tactics, which 2 SG became adept at, such as the
859:
missing in the area led to 2 SG being credited with her destruction. More recent analysis has questioned this, and the assessment was changed in 1989. It is now thought that 2 SG's attack was on the wreck of
725:" - the invasion of Normandy, and was instrumental in preventing any attacks on the invasion fleet. In all fifteen U-boats were destroyed in attempts to attack the invasion fleet. Eight ships were sunk.
664:
in transit across the "Rosegarden", but had no other success, though three U-boats were destroyed in attacks on JW 58. The return convoy, RA 58, was also attacked but neither side saw any success.
852:, bringing its score to 23. Wemyss reports the attack, in March 1945, but after a report of another sinking in the same area six months earlier, concluded they were "flogging a dead horse".
869:
Despite this, 2nd
Support Group was responsible for the confirmed destruction of 22 U-boats during World War II, making it the most successful anti-submarine unit of the entire conflict.
1200:
375:
The group's first success came in June. Its first U-boat was detected on 1 June 1943: fortuitously on a fine day, and identified by a Lt. Earl Howe Pitt, the event was dubbed another "
385:, in the longest hunt of the Atlantic campaign up to that point, and a vindication of the support group ethos, leaving ships free of escort responsibilities to destroy U-boats.
635:
491:
But whilst the remainder of the operation saw the destruction of 20 U-boats over a nine-week period, 2 SG's time was unproductive, and no further successes were recorded.
680:. Though starting from 300 miles away Walker, in an inspired piece of work, divined where to search and after a three-day search gained contact. An 18-hour hunt brought
638:
was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker's seniority as
Captain was backdated from 30 Jun 42 to 30 Jun 40 and awarded a second Bar to his DSO.
540:
On 2 December SG was acting in support of SL 140/MKS 31 with 4 SG (Cdr. E.H. Chavasse). 2 SG put in a determined attack on a U-boat, (thought to be
216:
formed at the crisis point of the campaign. It was to act as reinforcement to convoys under attack, with the capacity to actively hunt and destroy
825:
As 2 SG grappled with the changed nature of the campaign the group saw its last successes. In
February 1945 the group destroyed two more U-boats,
260:
Walker, however, was determined that the group would be active in destroying U-boats and impressed this aim on his commanders from the outset.
354:
The primary goal and strategy of the 2nd Escort Group as 'hunter-killers of U-boats' was reflected in the group practice of playing the song '
1147:
454:
On 30 July 1943 Walker's group saw further success when they encountered a group of three U-boats on the surface (two were vital submarine
788:
to remain submerged for entire patrols. This created a different set of tactical problems, requiring different tactics of the escorts.
562:
In
January 1944 2 SG sailed on its most famous exploit, accounting for six U-boats in one patrol, three of them in one 15-hour period.
1128:
1109:
934:
269:
410:
273:
344:
were new ships, and none had worked together before. Under
Walkers training (previously the Experimental Commander at
554:
546:), but was unsuccessful, though the battle for SL 140/MKS 31 saw the destruction of a U-boat, without loss of ships.
253:, it was more commonly referred to as the "2nd Support Group" (2 SG). It was formed in April 1943, one of five such
345:
109:
455:
499:
In
September 1943, after a further refit, 2 SG went to the North Atlantic, in the company of the escort carrier
718:
805:
838:
826:
522:. No successes were recorded, although the convoy battle saw three U-boats destroyed, with no ships lost.
254:
861:
847:
832:
770:
764:
758:
752:
700:
675:
659:
647:
614:
608:
596:
590:
584:
578:
572:
566:
541:
532:
526:
479:
473:
467:
416:
380:
376:
232:
221:
206:
90:
630:
The group returned to its base at
Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the
466:" to his group and fired at them, causing damage that prevented them from diving. Two of the submarines,
398:
194:
694:
602:
355:
315:
299:
250:
228:
174:
130:
688:
652:
on weather patrol, before joining Arctic convoy JW 58. It was joined in this for a short period by
351:, the RN Anti-submarine training school) the group became a highly effective and successful unit.
263:
The group comprised six sloops of the Black Swan class, making it a highly uniform group, and the
1037:
1032:
714:
653:
438:
283:
236:
751:
The group had one successful patrol during August operating in the Bay of Biscay. Four U-boats,
1179:
1162:
1143:
1124:
1105:
1008:
930:
811:
784:
722:
631:
500:
525:
However, in
November 1943, in operations around HX 264, 2 SG accounted for two more U-boats,
985:
926:
919:
506:
485:
307:
202:
429:
and was forced to retire. Walker elected to stay with the group, exchanging commands with
402:
601:
on 19 February. This patrol was ended on 20 February 1944, when one of Walker's group,
323:
291:
213:
67:
55:
45:
782:
changed its tactics to operate in the shallow inland waters around
Britain, using the
1194:
565:
On 31 January 1944 Walker's group gained their first kill of the year when they sank
519:
463:
459:
444:
406:
143:
264:
668:
817:
779:
775:
were accounted for while attempting to cross the bay to and from their bases.
198:
72:
1166:
728:
On 2 July SG received its heaviest blow when Capt. Walker died suddenly of a
518:
In
October, in concert with B-7 Escort Group, the group worked in support of
478:, a Type IX/C40, were then sunk by Walker's group, and the second Type XIV,
119:
1183:
220:, rather than be restricted to escort duties. Comprising six sloops of the
379:" by Walker. Over a 15-hour period the group found, tracked and destroyed
729:
217:
558:
HMS Kite of the 2nd Escort Group conducting a depth charge attack.
553:
1140:
German U-boat losses during World War II: details of destruction
646:
In March 1944 the group returned to North Atlantic, destroying
332:
During April the group was engaged in working up and training;
623:
sank in a gale off the Scillies; all of her crew were saved.
1121:
U-boats destroyed: German submarine losses in the World Wars
778:
The months following this were unfruitful, however, as the
409:. On 24 June 1943 the group was successful in destroying
740:
In July 1944, 2 SG was back in action, led initially by
458:
replenishment boats known as "Milk Cows") while in the
168:
160:
155:
137:
125:
115:
104:
96:
86:
78:
61:
51:
33:
25:
20:
918:
405:to interdict the U-boat transit routes across the
1161:. History of the Second World War. London: HMSO.
397:departed to another group, 2SG was assigned to "
212:2 EG was formed in April 1943, one of five such
1201:Escort Groups of the Royal Navy in World War II
684:to the surface, where she was sunk by gunfire.
433:, and, after the group returned to port, with
1041:(Supplement). 10 September 1943. p. 902.
8:
667:In May 1944, 2 SG responded to an attack on
619:). After an 8-day struggle to get her home,
1102:Hitler's U-boat war: the hunted, 1942-1945
627:was the only ship of 2 SG lost in action.
1176:Walker's Groups in the Western Approaches
393:After a refit at Liverpool, after which
882:
425:was damaged in the process of ramming
17:
7:
804:were transferred, to be replaced by
447:), as a replacement for the damaged
1178:. Liverpool Daily Post & Echo.
437:. 2 SG was joined at this point by
14:
925:. Toronto: Totem Books. pp.
687:In June 1944, 2 SG was joined by
713:. That month the group was on a
279:The group originally comprised:
66:
38:
1104:. Vol. 2. London: Cassel.
571:. On 9 February his group sank
227:, the group was led by Captain
1157:Roskill, Stephen (1954–1961).
744:(Cdr. N.A. Duck) and later by
401:", an attempt in concert with
1:
1009:naval-history.net : HMS
986:naval-history.net : HMS
855:However a post-war report of
607:, was torpedoed (possibly by
846:2 SG was also credited with
511:(Lt.Cdr R.S. Abrams), while
231:, Britain's most successful
201:which saw action during the
1174:Wemyss, David E.G. (1948).
1123:. London: Arms and Armour.
837:(some sources say this was
636:First Lord of the Admiralty
1217:
866:, sunk in September 1944.
505:. The group was joined by
110:Western Approaches Command
889:Note; pronounced "Weems".
658:. 2 SG met and destroyed
589:in one action, then sank
312:(Lt.Cdr. F.B. Proudfoot),
304:(Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin),
1159:The war at sea 1939-1945
719:South-Western Approaches
320:(Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss),
917:Lamb, James B. (1987).
1138:Niestlé, Alex (1998).
748:(Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss).
559:
377:Glorious First of June
328:(Lt.Cdr. W.F. Segrave)
249:Officially called 2nd
233:anti-submarine warfare
207:Battle of the Atlantic
91:Anti-Submarine Warfare
1142:. London: Greenhill.
557:
229:F.J. "Johnnie" Walker
205:, principally in the
193:(2 EG) was a British
1100:Blair, Clay (1998).
730:cerebral haemorrhage
595:on 11 February, and
515:was in for repairs.
462:. He signalled the "
356:A-Hunting We Will Go
288:(Capt. F.J. Walker),
131:A-Hunting We Will Go
1119:Kemp, Paul (1997).
921:On the triangle run
705:, replacements for
495:Atlantic operations
296:(Cdr. R.M. Aubrey),
180:Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss
29:April 1943–May 1945
1087:Neistle pp.82, 232
1038:The London Gazette
717:operations in the
715:search and destroy
560:
472:, a Type XIV, and
399:Operation Musketry
161:Commander nickname
141:Operation Musketry
1149:978-1-85367-352-8
723:Operation Neptune
197:formation of the
184:
183:
175:Capt. F.J. Walker
1208:
1187:
1170:
1153:
1134:
1115:
1088:
1085:
1079:
1076:
1070:
1067:
1061:
1058:
1052:
1051:Blair pp.581-592
1049:
1043:
1042:
1029:
1023:
1020:
1014:
1006:
1000:
997:
991:
983:
977:
974:
968:
967:Blair pp.436-438
965:
959:
956:
950:
947:
941:
940:
924:
914:
908:
905:
899:
896:
890:
887:
736:Later operations
486:Short Sunderland
484:, by Australian
203:Second World War
191:2nd Escort Group
71:
70:
44:
42:
41:
21:2nd Escort Group
18:
1216:
1215:
1211:
1210:
1209:
1207:
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1191:
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984:
980:
976:Wemyss pp.98-99
975:
971:
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962:
957:
953:
948:
944:
937:
916:
915:
911:
906:
902:
897:
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888:
884:
875:
794:
738:
644:
552:
550:Six in one trip
497:
403:Coastal Command
391:
369:
364:
270:creeping attack
247:
187:
179:
177:
170:
150:
148:
146:
142:
65:
39:
37:
12:
11:
5:
1214:
1212:
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1189:
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978:
969:
960:
951:
942:
935:
909:
900:
891:
881:
880:
879:
874:
871:
793:
792:Last successes
790:
737:
734:
721:, as part of "
643:
640:
551:
548:
496:
493:
390:
387:
368:
365:
363:
360:
330:
329:
321:
313:
305:
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274:barrage attack
255:support groups
246:
243:
235:commander, in
214:support groups
195:anti-submarine
185:
182:
181:
178:Cdr. N.W. Duck
172:
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56:British Empire
53:
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46:United Kingdom
35:
31:
30:
27:
23:
22:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
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1130:1-85409-515-3
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1111:0-304-35261-6
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936:0-00-217909-1
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642:Arctic convoy
641:
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494:
492:
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483:
482:
477:
476:
471:
470:
465:
464:general chase
461:
460:Bay of Biscay
457:
452:
450:
446:
442:
441:
436:
432:
428:
424:
420:
419:
414:
413:
408:
407:Bay of Biscay
404:
400:
396:
389:Bay offensive
388:
386:
384:
383:
378:
373:
367:First patrols
366:
361:
359:
357:
352:
350:
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196:
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186:Military unit
176:
173:
167:
163:
159:
154:
149:SL 140/MKS 31
145:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
121:
118:
114:
111:
107:
103:
99:
95:
92:
89:
85:
82:Support Group
81:
77:
74:
69:
64:
60:
57:
54:
50:
47:
36:
32:
28:
24:
19:
16:
1175:
1158:
1139:
1120:
1101:
1094:Bibliography
1083:
1078:Wemyss p.148
1074:
1065:
1060:Wemyss p.172
1056:
1047:
1036:
1027:
1018:
1010:
1004:
999:Roskill p.53
995:
987:
981:
972:
963:
954:
945:
920:
912:
903:
894:
885:
868:
862:
856:
854:
848:
845:
839:
833:
827:
824:
818:
812:
807:Loch Ruthven
806:
801:
797:
795:
783:
777:
771:
765:
759:
753:
750:
745:
741:
739:
727:
710:
706:
701:
695:
689:
686:
681:
676:
670:
666:
660:
654:
648:
645:
629:
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591:
585:
579:
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347:
341:
337:
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331:
324:
316:
308:
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292:
284:
278:
262:
259:
251:Escort Group
248:
237:
222:
211:
190:
188:
105:Part of
15:
1069:Neistle p.?
1033:"No. 36390"
1022:Blair p.500
958:Blair p.274
949:Wemyss p.76
907:Wemyss p.73
898:Wemyss p.74
802:Loch Killin
702:Loch Killin
272:" and the "
138:Engagements
116:Garrison/HQ
1011:Woodpecker
873:References
780:U-boat Arm
746:Wild Goose
625:Woodpecker
621:Woodpecker
604:Woodpecker
513:Woodpecker
488:aircraft.
445:C. Gwinner
431:Wild Goose
338:Wild Goose
317:Wild Goose
301:Woodpecker
223:Black Swan
199:Royal Navy
171:commanders
164:"The Boss"
156:Commanders
73:Royal Navy
52:Allegiance
1167:472844916
798:Loch Fada
785:schnorkel
696:Loch Fada
669:USS
632:Admiralty
421:, though
245:Formation
120:Liverpool
1195:Category
988:Starling
796:In 1945
742:Dominica
690:Dominica
655:Whimbrel
456:type XIV
449:Starling
443:(Lt.Cdr
440:Woodcock
423:Starling
334:Starling
285:Starling
238:Starling
108:Part of
100:~6 ships
1184:2663097
671:Donnell
634:. The
502:Tracker
362:History
218:U-boats
169:Notable
34:Country
1182:
1165:
1146:
1127:
1108:
933:
927:34, 35
840:U-1208
828:U-1018
819:Labuan
816:, and
813:Tobago
769:, and
711:Magpie
699:, and
613:or by
583:, and
520:ON 207
508:Magpie
395:Cygnet
348:Osprey
309:Cygnet
225:-class
147:HX 264
144:ON 207
62:Branch
43:
26:Active
878:Notes
863:U-247
857:U-683
849:U-683
834:U-327
772:U-385
766:U-608
760:U-736
754:U-333
682:U-473
677:U-473
661:U-961
649:U-653
616:U-256
610:U-764
598:U-264
592:U-424
586:U-734
580:U-238
574:U-762
568:U-592
543:U-843
534:U-842
528:U-226
481:U-461
475:U-504
469:U-462
427:U-119
418:U-449
412:U-119
382:U-202
265:sloop
151:JW 58
126:March
1180:OCLC
1163:OCLC
1144:ISBN
1125:ISBN
1106:ISBN
931:ISBN
831:and
800:and
709:and
707:Kite
531:and
435:Kite
415:and
346:HMS
342:Kite
340:and
325:Kite
293:Wren
189:The
97:Size
87:Role
79:Type
843:).
674:by
276:".
1197::
1035:.
929:.
822:.
810:,
763:,
757:,
732:.
693:,
577:,
451:.
336:,
209:.
1186:.
1169:.
1152:.
1133:.
1114:.
939:.
268:"
133:"
129:"
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