QP-13 Memorial

Memorial for the sailors of the Convoy QP-13,

Nineteen ships from the Arctic Convoy QP-13 were sailing north of Aðalvík on July the 5th 1942. The Convoy consisted of Merchant ships as well as military escorts, most of the ships were heading towards the U.S. with a stopover in Hvalfjörður. Sailors were struggling with pinpointing the convoy because of harsh weather conditions and low visibility which caused seven ships to sail into the Northern Barrage naval minefield SN72, laid only a month earlier. 

Six ships sank, H.M.S. Niger (UK), Heffron (U.S.), Hybert (U.S), John Randolph (U.S.), Massmar (U.S.) and Rodina (U.S.S.R). The ship Exterminator (Panama) got damaged when it a mine but did not sink.

250 people got rescued from the sea in extreme weather conditions. 179 people were rescued by the French corvette Roselys a remarkable deed and one of the greatest naval rescues in Iceland’s history.

The Memorial was opened with a ceremony on July 5th, 2014.