Convoy ONS-20

Convoys ONS 20/ON 206

Date	15–18 October 1943
Location	North Atlantic
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

Nazi Germany

United Kingdom

Commanders and leaders

Admiral Karl Dönitz

ONS 20 :
Comm:
Escort :Cdr HR Paramor

ON 206 :
Comm :
Escort :Cdr RA Currie

Strength

Schlieffen:
14 U-boats

ONS 20:
52 ships
6 escorts ON 206 :
62 ships
5 escorts

Support group B7 :
7 warships

Casualties and losses

6 U-boats destroyed

1 ship sunk

ONS 20 :
Comm:
Escort :Cdr HR Paramor

ONS 20:
52 ships
6 escorts ON 206 :
62 ships
5 escorts

ONS 20 and ON 206 were North Atlantic convoys of the ONS/ON series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II. They were the subject of a major U-boat attack in October 1943, the third battle in the Kriegsmarine's autumn offensive.

Despite the losses suffered by Rossbach and poor results achieved during its attack on SC 143, and still believing their new weapons and tactics gave them an advantage, BdU(Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote Commander of the Submarines) re-organized the boats then in the North Atlantic into patrol line Schlieffen with the intention of intercepting the expected west-bound convoys. These were ONS 20 and ON 206.

ONS 20 departed Liverpool on 9 October 1943. Composed of 52 ships it was bound for Halifax, and was escorted by B-4 escort group, which comprised 6 destroyer escorts led by HMS Bentinck (Cdr HR Paramor as Senior Officer Escort).

ON 206 departed Liverpool on 11 October 1943; Composed of 62 ships, mainly in ballast, it was bound for New York and was escorted by B-6 escort group, comprising 2 destroyers, Fame (Cdr RA Currie SOE) and Vanquisher, the frigate Deveron, and 3 corvettes.

Also in the vicinity was Escort group B-7, in the role of a support group; it comprised 2 destroyers, Duncan (Cdr P Gretton) and Vidette, and 4 corvettes.

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