During Arctic convoy PQ-8, the merchant ship Harmatris was torpedoed just short of safety and taken in tow by the minesweeper Speedwell. Matabele and Somali remained behind because their general-purpose armament could protect the damaged ship against several kinds of threat. U-454 struck again during the night and sank Matabele without warning, leaving only two survivors in the freezing water. Harmatris and her important cargo still reached Murmansk. Convoy protection must therefore be measured by the threatened merchant ship's survival as well as the escort's fate.
Chapter · 1:59:03-2:00:39
Matabele's sacrifice with Arctic convoy PQ-8
Matabele was lost while her general-purpose capabilities helped a torpedoed merchantman and its cargo reach Murmansk from convoy PQ-8.