The Dangers in Convoys

[Lou Barron]

What i use to like when i wason the bridge on watch a few times there would be a Uboat scare then to watch a destroyer go flat out through the lines of ships then drop depth charges .One of the mates would say thats the navy getting their fish for dinner
Getting attacted by planes was a bit scary specially when the bombs were landing in the drink along side of the ship I think on the D/Bedford we got bombed a few times even in port.
One trip on our return up the Mersey it was when the Germans was giving Liverpool the works the docks was on fire and i think there was a couple of ships sank .
The next day we had to leave the Mersey and go to Glasgow

[j.sabourn]

Louis, although mostly in the London area during the war, there was one time was up in Glagow staying with an Aunt as my mother was from there. Must have been at the time the blitz was in the extreme stages. Anyhow was like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire as all the kids used to hit me over the head with their wooden swords, me being the dirty redcoat and them bonny Prince Charlie. Think I preferred the blitz. Cheers John Sabourn

[happy daze john in oz]

Born in the middle of it in East Dulwich Hospital South London, on the day of my birth the Germans bombed the local railway station, never had a lot of love for them since.

[j.sabourn]

The small bit I have read of the first world war as regards shipping, the German submarine crews acted in a less belligerent attitude. As reading about, after knocking out the radio room allowed mostly to abandon the ship, before usually time permitting they sunk the same with gunfire. Dont remember reading anything about the convoy system then, but did not really follow the history of the war at sea during that period. As regards merchant ships being picked off in various parts of the world by the submarine lying in wait where they knew the ships plied that is in favourable current areas, one would have thought that the masters of such ships would have got wise to this. Then again the ships may have been that underpowered that they had to have favourable currents to make the passage. I was on one in 1970 and had 3 goes of getting up the Korean straits. When we finally got to Japan I went home. Cheers John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

Hi Lou,
The Duchess of Bedford, later renamed Empress of France, had the record, as The Most Bombed Ship to survive the war.
a great ship.
Cheers
Brian.

[Ivan Cloherty]

The small bit I have read of the first world war as regards shipping, the German submarine crews acted in a less belligerent attitude. As reading about, after knocking out the radio room allowed mostly to abandon the ship, before usually time permitting they sunk the same with gunfire. Dont remember reading anything about the convoy system then, but did not really follow the history of the war at sea during that period. As regards merchant ships being picked off in various parts of the world by the submarine lying in wait where they knew the ships plied that is in favourable current areas, one would have thought that the masters of such ships would have got wise to this. Then again the ships may have been that underpowered that they had to have favourable currents to make the passage. I was on one in 1970 and had 3 goes of getting up the Korean straits. When we finally got to Japan I went home. Cheers John Sabourn

The masters were wise to this, but had to follow Admiralty instructions (see #5). One elderly master I sailed with (in the 50's) told me they were not allowed to rub the positions off the charts as Admiralty boys would pick random ships to board on arrival and inspect charts to see if instructions had been followed. He would not let us erase any positions until reaching port, old habits die hard. Of course there-in lies the anomalie as theAdmiralty boys could not board the ships that did not make it, who also may have well being following instructions issued.

[DeepSea]

I know it was tried to send ships singly to Russia, 12 ships i believe, and the loss rate was high , have often wondered if Convoys were the best defence, 40 or 50 Ships close together made a wonderful target, often a U Boat would fire a spread of Torpedoes knowing something would be hit, often hit 2 ships at random, they sometimes surfaced at night in the middle of a convoy,

“Operation FB” the code name given to thirteen Merchant ships routed to supply Russia between 29th October to the 2nd November 1942, all sailing independently and unescorted, sailing in twelve hour intervals. The ships Officers were given a £100 bonus and the crew £50 in advance as the operation was given a high risk, which was proved correct later as less than 50% of Operation FB got through. One British Merchant Seaman stated the FB stood for "Foolish Bastard" for volunteering.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I have been asked to put something together for an exhibition in early January, as I am working on much of the content for the event anyway I could put something together myself, but ask for all help and advice from those that know more and better etc,

Basically, have been asked to explain what a Convoy is / was.

The exhibition will run for the Year of the Convoy: Looking for an uncomplcated explanation to tell the children and of course the public at large.

i would appreciate any or all contributions.

Best Wishes to all for Christmas.

Regards Keith.

[j.sabourn]

20 or 30 sheep being herded by 5 or 6 sheepdogs. Again this would be likened to lambs being led to the slaughter. I think most kids would understand if just told the facts a bunch of ships under the protection of warships in the hope of there being safety in numbers. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Peter Trodden]

Hi Lou,
The Duchess of Bedford, later renamed Empress of France, had the record, as The Most Bombed Ship to survive the war.
a great ship.
Cheers
Brian.

Like you Brian, I was in the FRANCE a few times. You will remember our Mess Man Chatty Matty who had been in Her for years,do you know if He spent the War in Her when she was Duchess of Bedford ?
ttfn Peter.