5th Escort Group (Royal Navy)
| 5th Escort Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | March 1941-December 1941 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Escort Group |
| Role | Anti-Submarine Warfare |
| Size | ~7 ships |
| Part of | Western Approaches Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Lisahally |
| Engagements | Convoy HX 112 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Cdr D MacIntyre |
5th Escort Group was a British formation of the Royal Navy which saw action during the Second World War, principally in the Battle of the Atlantic.
5th Escort Group (5 EG) was formed in March 1941, one of the earliest escort groups to be set up. Led by Cdr Donald MacIntyre as Senior Officer Escort (SOE) in HMS Walker, 5 EG comprised the V class destroyers Vanoc, and Volunteer, the S-class destroyers Sardonyx and Scimitar and the Flower class corvettes Bluebell and Hydrangea
5 EG's first action was a major convoy battle in defence of HX 112 in March 1941. This saw the loss of 5 ships but also the destruction of two U-boats German submarine U-99 1940 (2) and U-100, commanded by leading U-boat aces Kretschmer and Schepke.
5 EG continued on escort duty in the North Atlantic but this became uneventful due to a downturn in the U-boat effectiveness in Summer of 1941. This was due to the loss of three U-boat aces in March, and British Intelligence penetration of the U-boat Arms Enigma code after April.
In June 5 EG moved to escort south- and north-bound convoys to and from Gibraltar and the South Atlantic. These too were successful, despite the threat across the Bay of Biscay of both air and U-boat attack.
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