Convoy JW 58 Convoy JW 58 was an Arctic convoy sent from Great Britain by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II . It sailed in March 1944 , reaching the Soviet northern ports in early April . All ships arrived safely . JW 58 was attacked by German U - boat and air forces , but suffered no losses . Three U - boats were destroyed in counter - measures , and six aircraft shot down , during these operations . Ships . The convoy consisted of 47 merchant ships which departed from Loch Ewe on 27 March 1944 . It also included the US cruiser " Milwaukee " , which was being transferred to the Soviet navy as part of an agreement over the disposal of the surrendered Italian fleet . The convoy was joined from Iceland by three more ships en route from North America . Close escort was provided by a force led by Lt . Cdr Lambton in the destroyer " Westcott " . The force comprised two other destroyers and three corvettes . The force was supported by two escort carriers , " Activity " and " Tracker " , which travelled with the convoy , and an " Ocean escort " of 17 fleet destroyers led by R . Adm . F . Dalrymple - Hamilton in the cruiser " Diadem " . In addition , JW 58 was joined by the 2nd Support Group , the RN ' s most successful anti - submarine warfare group . These were five sloops led by Capt . FJ Walker , in " Starling " . The convoy was accompanied initially by local escort groups from Britain and Iceland , and joined later by a local escort group from Murmansk . Distant cover was provide by ships of the Home Fleet which were engaged in Operation Tungsten , an air strike against the German battleship " Tirpitz " anchored in Alta fjord . These were the battleships " Duke of York " and " Anson " , the carrier " Victorious " , cruiser " Belfast " , and six destroyers under the command of V Adm . Bruce Fraser . Ranged against this force were the U - boats of the German arctic flotilla , 16 U - boats forming the patrol lines " Blitz " , " Hammer " and " Thor " . German surface forces and air forces were much diminished at this stage of the conflict ; " Tirpitz " was still not operational after damage inflcted by the British X - craft attack ( Operation Source ) , while the German air force was reduced to scouting and shadowing operations . Action . JW 58 departed Loch Ewe on 27 March 1944 , accompanied by its local escort , the minesweeper " Rattlesnake " and two others , with two corvettes ; On 29 March it met Iceland contingent with its escort , the frigate " Fitzroy " and two A / S minesweepers . These were relieved by the Close escort and Ocean escort forces , and returned to base . Later during 29 March " Starling " encountered " U - 961 " in the Norwegian Sea . " U - 961 " was not part of the Arctic flotilla ' s patrol lines but on passage to North Atlantic ; she was unfortunate enough to encounter the RN force , was depth - charged , and destroyed by " Starling " and " Magpie " of 2 SG . On 31 March JW 58 met first patrol line . Over the next 48 hours the U boat force mounted 18 attacks on the convoy . No ships were hit , but three U - boats were destroyed . On 31 March the U - boats mounted their first attacks ; they had no success but " U - 355 " was destroyed by " Beagle " and aircraft from " Tracker " . On 2 April in another encounter " Keppel " destroyed " U - 360 " in a hedgehog attack . On 3 April a Swordfish from " Activity " attacked " U - 288 " and , with help from a Marlet and Avenger team from " Tracker " , destroyed her . On 3 April also JW 58 was joined by the eastern local escort , four Soviet destroyers , and on 4 April arrived at Kola without further incident . Conclusion . With the safe arrival of so many ships , and the destruction of three U - boats , plus a fourth incidental kill , and six shadowing aircraft , JW 58 was one of the most successful Arctic convoys run by the Allies during World War II . JW 58 was the last Arctic convoy for several months . The sequence was discontinued during summer 1944 as all naval forces were required for Operation Neptune , the cover for the Normandy landings . It re - commenced in August 1944 with Convoy JW 59 .