This convoy was known as "Nightmare Convoy".^[3] Eight merchant ships,^[2] two naval escorts and over 400 people died, including 152 from the commodore's ship, Aguila (146 on August 19 and 6 survivors lost on August 22 when Empire Oak sank). The Aguila losses included the 22 "lost Wrens" (members of the Women's Royal Naval Service, or WRNS) who had volunteered for duties at Gibraltar. After this, Wrens were never sent again on passenger liners in convoys, but transported on HM ships.^[4] In their honour, a new Black Swan-class sloop, launched in 1942, was named HMS Wren, while a Liverpool-class lifeboat, launched in 1951, was named Aguila Wren.^[5]

Of the convoy's surviving merchant ships, five reached Gibraltar while 10 retreated to neutral Portugal.^[6][7] This was described as the most "bitter act of surrender could ever come our way".^[8]

The two ships from neutral Ireland were carrying British coal—after this incident, the Irish ship owners decided not to sail their vessels in British convoys and by the early months of 1942 the practice had ceased.^[9]

Allied merchant ships edit

A total of 23 merchant vessels joined the convoy in Liverpool.^[10]

Convoy escorts edit

A series of armed military ships escorted the convoy at various times during its journey.^[10]

• List of shipwrecks in August 1941

• Edwards, Bernard (2009). The Cruel Sea Retold. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-84415-863-8.
• Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. ISBN 1-86176-147-3.
• Rohwer, J; Hummelchen, G (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.

• OG.71 at convoyweb^{[permanent dead link]}
• Convoy OG 71 at uboat.net