The Dangers in Convoys

Hi Peter.
No sorry, I dont know when he started, I wonder if he was there when our Lou was there,
He looked as tho` the ship was built around him, I never heard of him after the ship was sent for scrap. Maybe he was scrapped with her. His boots should have been presented to the Maritime Museum.
"CHATTY MATTY wore these Boots."
I never saw him a again on the England or the Britain so probably he retired then.
Cheers
Brian.

So later, didn't the de-coding of the Enigma Machine by the Boffins at Station X help the convoys to dodge the U-Boats. Or did THEY have to sacrifice some ships so THEY wouldn't tip-off the enemy that THEY had cracked the code. I read it somewhere or mybe a Doc,
ttfn.Peter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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The word "Convoy" was defined as "one or more merchant ships sailing under escort by naval ships." Convoys were referred to by an letter and number code. The letters would normally stand for the port of departure, and the port of destination, the numbers denoting the amount of previous convoys in that system.

In August 1939 the Admiralty were made responsible for the control of Merchant shipping, but only in designating if and when a ship should sail in a Convoy, or if the ship was fast enough, to sail independently. They decided the course and speed, the rest was left to the civilian Ministry of shipping (MOS) which later became the Ministry of War Transport (MOWT). The MOS/MOWT took responsibility for the destination and cargo of all ships, and had the power to requisition all allied and neutral ships.

The average Convoy consisted of between six and nine columns of ships with five ships in each column. The largest Convoy ever was HX 300 which had one hundred and sixty seven ships sailing in nineteen columns. The HX series was also the longest running Convoy series, starting from the 16th September 1939 with HX 1, and finishing with HX 358 on the 23rd May 1945, in all there were 452 different convoy series throughout the war.

Suggest you obtain a copy of Arnold Hague's book "The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945-Its Organization, Defence & Operation" ISBN 1-55125-033-0

THANKS THUS FAR:

Just realised, further down my list was:

Have you any convoy numbers that came to Barry? Have you any of the convoy routes?

I will ensure all credit is due to all that help.

Thanks again and regards,

Keith.

As far as I am aware there were no direct convoy codes for Barry itself, as it was all part of the Bristol Channel and Milford Haven convoy routes. These consisted of the BB series (Belfast to the Bristol Channel 1940-1943) BB series (Clyde to the Bristol Channel 1945) BTC series (Bristol Channel to the Thames 1944-45. EBC series Bristol Channel coastal convoy to France June to October 1944) FBC series Seine Bay to Bristol Channel coastal convoy June to October 1944.

As I mentioned see if your local library can get hold of Arnold Hague's book

Thanks, have much going on as ever, hence the request for help.

Really Appreciated:

Quick look did find this that I found interesting.

LINK: BBC - WW2 People's War - Bombs Over Barry

ALL THE BEST AND REITERATE MY THANKS.

Keith.