Convoy HX 228 HX 228 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II . It was one of a series of four convoy battles that occurred during the crisis month of March 1943 and is notable for the loss of the Escort Group leader Commander AA " Harry " Tait . Prelude . HX 228 was an east bound convoy of 60 ships , plus local contingents , which sailed from New York on 28 February 1943 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials . The Mid - Ocean Escort Force group B3 joined the convoy from St Johns . The escort group was led by Commander AA Tait of HMS " Harvester " ; the other ships of this group were the destroyers HMS " Escapade " , ORP " Burza " and ORP " Garland " and the corvettes HMS " Narcissus " and FNFL ships " Aconit " , " Renoncule " and " Roselys " . The group was backed by the escort carrier " USS Bogue " and 2 destroyers which sailed from Argentia on 5 March . Arrayed against them in the North Atlantic were three U - Boat patrol lines , " Wildfang " , " Burggraf " and " Neuland " , although in the event only a re - configured " Neuland " , comprising 13 U - boats , engaged HX 228 . In early March the U - boat rakes came in contact with SC 121 , which was several days ahead of HX 228 , and engaged it . The Admiralty diverted HX 228 north - east to avoid the conflict and thus straight into the " Neuland " patrol area . Action . On 10 March the first contact was made by " U - 336 " in heavy weather . During the rest of the day eight others were directed to join . Ironically , at this point the weather forced " Bogue " and her group to detach , as it was impossible to fly off aircraft in the storm . She sailed for Argentia and took no part in the action . On the evening of 10 / 11 March , during a snow squall , the first attacks took place . " U - 221 " attacked three ships , sinking two ammunition ships , " Tucurinca " and " Andrea F Luckenbach " , and damaging a third , " Lawton Edwards " . " U - 221 " was vigorously counterattacked , and withdrew to repair damage . " U - 444 " and " U - 757 " both fired on " William C Gorgas " , which she dropped back and sank later . " U - 757 " also fired on " Brant County " which was also carrying ammunition . The " Brant County " caught fire and exploded , and " U - 757 " was damaged as a result . " U - 757 " was forced to return to base and was later attacked in the company of two other U - Boats in the Bay of Biscay by the RAF , but all survived . " U - 86 " and " U - 406 " both claimed hits using the new pattern - running FAT torpedoes . " Jamaica Provider " was damaged during this stage . During the morning of 11 March , " Harvester " sighted " U - 444 " on the surface and ran in to attack . She opened with gunfire and then rammed " U - 444 " , suffering damage to her propellers in the process . It was originally thought that " Harvester " had sunk " U - 444 " but she was found later on the surface and finished off by " Aconit " . While in the area , " Harvester " found and picked up 50 survivors from " William Gorgas " and 1 from " U - 444 " . While attempting to re - join the convoy her engines failed , and she summoned " Aconit " for assistance . While " Harvester " lay helpless , she was sighted and torpedoed by " U - 432 " ; she sank with 149 on board , including Commander Tait . Arriving on the scene , " Aconit " gained Asdic contact on " U - 432 " which was lying motionless at periscope depth , her commander and crew celebrating their victory . " Aconit " attacked with depth charge s , blowing her to the surface and sinking her later with gunfire . " Aconit " picked up a 20 survivors from " U - 432 " , 48 from " Harvester " , 12 from " William C Gorgas " and the one from " U - 444 " , to join the 3 previously picked up . Despite further action that day and during the night of 11 / 12 March there were no further losses to either side , and on 12 March Admiral Karl Dönitz , the Befehlshaber der U - Boote or commander in chief of U - Boats , called off the attack . HX 228 arrived safely at Liverpool on 15 March 1943 . Conclusion . HX 228 cannot be seen as a victory for either side . The convoy had lost four ships and a warship , with the loss also of Commander Tait , an effective and well - respected Escort Group commander . The " Neuland " wolf pack had lost two boats , a potentially ruinous rate of exchange . Tables . Allied Merchant Ships Sunk Allied Warships Sunk U - boats Destroyed