B-6 Escort Group (Royal Navy)
| Escort Group B6 | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War II |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Escort Group |
| Role | Anti-submarine warfare |
| Size | ~7 ships |
| Part of | Western Approaches Command |
| Engagements |
Convoy SC 104 Convoy ON 206 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Cdr JJ Waterhouse Cdr R Heathcote Cdr RA Currie |
Escort Group B6 was a British convoy escort group of the Royal Navy which saw action during the Second World War, principally in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Escort Group B6 was one of seven British escort groups which served with the Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF), which provided convoy protection in the most dangerous midsection of the North Atlantic route. The MOEF was originally to be 5 American, 5 British and 4 Canadian groups. B6 was formed in the spring of 1942, following the inability of the US Navy to form groups A4 and A5 due to other commitments. To replace them two new escort groups, B6 and B7 were formed.
Led by Modified long-range V-class destroyer HMS Viscount (D92), and under the leadership of Commander John Waterhouse, Group B6 included four Norwegian-manned Flower-class corvettes from Group A4; HNoMS Andenes (K01), HNoMS Eglantine (K197), HNoMS Potentilla (K214), and HNoMS Rose (K102). These were joined later by a fifth, HNoMS Montbretia (K208).
In the summer of 1942 B6 escorted several uneventful convoys which arrived without loss. However, in August 1942 ON 122 was attacked by 9 U-boats of wolfpack Lohs. four ships were sunk, while six U-boats were damaged, four seriously enough to return to base. Two of these returning submarines were attacked by aircraft in the Bay of Biscay; one was sunk, another so badly damaged it had to be withdrawn from service.
In September B6 was joined by the F-class destroyer Fame as senior ship, whose commander Ralph Heathcote became Senior Officer of the Escort group (SOE). The following month SC 104 was attacked by Group Wotan. In a five-day battle (12–17 October) SC 104 lost eight ships while two U-boats (U-661 and U-353) were destroyed and two others damaged. During this action both Fame and Viscount were damaged and forced to withdraw, command falling to Lieutenant Commander Christian Monsen of Potentilla.
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