Convoy HX 156
Convoy HX 156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941, and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of,,, and s and.
The Action
31 October 1941
The sighted the convoy at dawn on 31 October 1941, and torpedoed as the destroyer approached to investigate the Huff-Duff bearing of the sighting report. A torpedo struck the port side and detonated the forward magazine. The hull aft of the third stack remained afloat for 5 minutes; and 44 men were rescued from the crew of 159.Reuben James was the first United States warship sunk during World War II. U-552 was driven off by the escort; but found the convoy that afternoon.
1 November 1941
Task Unit 4.1.3 handed the convoy off to the British 6th Escort Group on 1 November 1941.U-552 and U-567 made two unsuccessful torpedo attacks on 1 November and maintained contact with the convoy through 3 November. launched her Hawker Sea Hurricane to intercept a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft, which it chased off. The Hurricane pilot was rescued by after ditching his aircraft. The convoy reached Liverpool on 5 November.
Ships in the convoy
These ships were members of Convoy HX 156.| Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
| Alchiba |  Netherlands |