Convoy HX 156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941, and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of Gleaves-class destroyer) USS Niblack (DD-424), Clemson-class destroyer) USS Reuben James (DD-245), Wickes-class destroyer) USS Tarbell (DD-142), and Benson-class destroyer)s USS Benson (DD-421) and USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427).

The Action

31 October 1941

The GS U-552 sighted the convoy at dawn on 31 October 1941, and torpedoed USS Reuben James (DD-245) as the destroyer approached to investigate the Huff-Duff bearing of the sighting report. A torpedo struck the port side and detonated the forward magazine. The hull aft of the third stack remained afloat for 5 minutes; and 44 men were rescued from the crew of 159. Reuben James was the first United States warship sunk during World War II. U-552 was driven off by the escort; but GS U-567 found the convoy that afternoon.

1 November 1941

Task Unit 4.1.3 handed the convoy off to the British 6th Escort Group on 1 November 1941. U-552 and U-567 made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on 1 November and maintained contact with the convoy through 3 November. SS Empire Foam launched her Hawker Sea Hurricane to intercept a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft, which it chased off. The Hurricane pilot was rescued by HMS Broke (D83) after ditching his aircraft. The convoy reached Liverpool on 5 November.

Ships in the convoy

These ships were members of Convoy HX 156.