Arctic convoys of World War II
Outbound Homebound
Dervish departed Hvalfjörður , Iceland , August 21 ; arrived Arkhangelsk , Russia , August 31
PQ 1 departed Hvalfjörður September 29 ; arrived Arkhangelsk October 11 QP 1 departed Arkhangelsk September 28 ; arrived Scapa Flow , Scotland , October 10
PQ 2 departed Liverpool , England , October 13 ; arrived Arkhangelsk October 30
PQ 3 departed Hvalfjörður November 9 ; arrived Arkhangelsk November 22 QP 2 departed Arkhangelsk November 3 ; arrived Kirkwall , Scotland , November 17
PQ 4 departed Hvalfjörður November 17 ; arrived Arkhangelsk November 28
PQ 5 departed Hvalfjörður November 27 ; arrived Arkhangelsk December 13 QP 3 departed Arkhangelsk November 27 ; dispersed , arrived December 3
PQ 6 departed Hvalfjörður December 8 ; arrived Murmansk , Russia , December 20 QP 6 arrived Scapa Flow , Scotland , December 29
PQ 7a departed Hvalfjörður December 26 ; arrived Murmansk January 12 , 1942 QP 4 departed Arkhangelsk December 29 ; dispersed , arrived January 9
PQ 7b departed Hvalfjörður December 31 ; arrived Murmansk January 11
List of Arctic convoys -- 1941
The Arctic convoys of World War II were oceangoing convoys which sailed from the United Kingdom, Iceland, and North America to northern ports in the Soviet Union - primarily Arkhangelsk (Archangel) and Murmansk in Russia. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945, sailing via several seas of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, with two gaps with no sailings between July and September 1942, and March and November 1943. About 1,400 merchant ships delivered essential supplies to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, escorted by ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Navy. Eighty-five merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships (two cruisers, six destroyers, eight other escort ships) were lost. Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine lost a number of vessels including one battleship, three destroyers, 30 U-boats, and many aircraft. The convoys demonstrated the Allies' commitment to helping the Soviet Union, prior to the opening of a second front, and tied up a substantial part of Germany's naval and air forces.