Convoy QP 3

Convoy QP 3 was an Arctic convoys of World War II that sailed from Arkhangelsk in the USSR to Iceland and terminated at Kirkwall in Orkney from 17 November to 12 December 1941.

Convoy QP 3
Part of Arctic Convoys of the Second World War
The Norwegian and the Barents seas, site of the Arctic convoys
Date 27 November – 12 December 1941 Location Arctic Ocean Result British victory
Belligerents
Royal Navy  Merchant Navy	Luftwaffe  Kriegsmarine
Commanders and leaders
	Hans-Jürgen Stumpff Hermann Böhm

Voyage

Convoy QP 3 sailed from Arkhangelsk in the Soviet Union on 27 November 1941. Arcos and Kuzbass suffered defects and turned back to Arkhangelsk. The remaining ships dispersed on 3 December. The Soviet ships Andre Marti and Revolutsioner made for to Kirkwall in Scotland.^[1] The six British ships docked at Seyðisfjörður in Iceland on 7 December. Once loaded with timber, the British ships were escorted to Kirkwall from 9 to 12 December by the Shakespearian-class trawlers HMT Macbeth and HMT Hamlet. There was no German interference in the voyage.^[2]

Allied order of battle

Merchant ships

Arkhangelsk to Seyðisfjörður^[2][a]

Name	Year	Flag	GRT	Notes
Arcos	1918	Soviet Union	2,343	27–29 November, defects, returned Arkhangelsk
Andre Marti	1918	Soviet Union	2,352	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Empire Baffin	1941	United Kingdom	6,978	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Harpalion	1932	United Kingdom	5,486	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Hartlebury	1934	United Kingdom	5,082	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Kuzbass	1914	Soviet Union	3,109	27–29 November, defects, returned Arkhangelsk
Orient City	1940	United Kingdom	5,095	Convoy Commodore; 27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Queen City	1924	United Kingdom	4,814	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Revolutsioner	1936	Soviet Union	2,900	27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður
Temple Arch	1940	United Kingdom	5,132	Vice-convoy Commodore; 27 November – 3 December, Seyðisfjörður

Escort

Russia to Iceland

Arkhangelsk to Seyðisfjörður^[2]

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
HMS Kenya	Royal Navy	Fiji-class cruiser	28 November – 3 December 1941
HMS Bedouin	Royal Navy	Tribal-class destroyer	28 November – 2 December 1941
HMS Intrepid	Royal Navy	I-class destroyer	28 November – 2 December 1941
HMS Bramble	Royal Navy	Halcyon-class minesweeper	27–28 November 1941
HMS Gossamer	Royal Navy	Halcyon-class minesweeper	27 November – 10 December 1941
HMS Hussar	Royal Navy	Halcyon-class minesweeper	27 November – 9 December 1941
HMS Seagull	Royal Navy	Halcyon-class minesweeper	9 –December to 12 December 1941
HMS Speedy	Royal Navy	Halcyon-class minesweeper	27–28 November 1941

Iceland to Scotland

Merchant ships, Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall^[2]

Name	Year	Flag	GRT	Notes
Empire Baffin	1941	United Kingdom	6,978	9–12 December 1941
Harpalion	1932	United Kingdom	5,486	9–12 December 1941
Hartlebury	1934	United Kingdom	5,082	9–12 December 1941
Orient City	1940	United Kingdom	5,095	Convoy Commodore, 9–12 December 1941
Queen City	1924	United Kingdom	4,814	9–12 December 1941
Temple Arch	1940	United Kingdom	5,132	Vice-convoy Commodore, 9–12 December 1941

Escorts, Iceland to Scotland

Seyðisfjörður to Kirkwall^[2]

Name	Flag	Type	Notes
HMT Hamlet	Royal Navy	Shakespearian-class trawler	9–12 December 1941 Seyðisfjörður–Kirkwall
HMT Macbeth	Royal Navy	Shakespearian-class trawler	9–12 December 1941 Seyðisfjörður–Kirkwall

Notes

1. Convoys had a standard formation of short columns, number 1 to the left in the direction of travel. Each position in the column was numbered; 11 was the first ship in column 1 and 12 was the second ship in the column; 21 was the first ship in column 2.^[3]