Convoy HG 76

Convoy HG 76
Part of Second World War
Map of the Bay of Biscay and the South-western Approaches
Date 19–23 December 1941 Location Bay of Biscay, South-west Approaches 45°30′N 04°20′W / 45.500°N 4.333°W / 45.500; -4.333 Result British victory
Belligerents
Germany	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Karl Dönitz	Sir Raymond Fitzmaurice Frederic John Walker
Strength
Wolfpack Seeräuber 10 U-boats	HG 76 32 merchant ships 24 escorts
Casualties and losses
5 U-boats destroyed	2 merchant ships sunk 2 escorts sunk

HG 76 (19 to 23 December 1941) was an Allied convoy of the HG (Homeward from Gibraltar) series, during the Second World War. It was notable for the destruction of five German U-boats (the true total was not known to the British until after the war).

Two Focke-Wulf Condor long-range reconnaissance aircraft were shot down by Martlet fighters. The fighter cover was provided by the escort carrier HMS Audacity, which was sunk during the voyage along with a destroyer and two merchant ships. Despite the loss of the escort carrier, it was regarded as the first big convoy victory for the Allies in the Battle of the Atlantic.