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.

Notes

References 
 
 
 
 

HX156
HX 156
Naval battles of World War II involving Canada