Escort Group (naval)
Encyclopedia
Escort Groups for convoy protection were a British development in the war at sea during World War II
. They were a tactical innovation by the Royal Navy
in anti-submarine warfare
, to combat the threat of the German Navy
's "wolfpack" tactics.
Escort Groups consisted of mixed types of small warships that operated together as a permanent team, defending shipping convoy
s during World War II
, and more particularly, during the Battle of the Atlantic. The development of these 'escort groups' proved an effective means of defending shipping convoy
s. They were rigorously trained in anti-submarine tactics and had many successes. For example, in a ten-day period in 1941, four U-boats were sunk with the loss of three of Germany's top U-boat commanders.
, based first in Plymouth
, then, as the focus of the campaign moved after the Fall of France, in Liverpool
..
Western Approaches Command controlled an array of escort vessels, mainly elderly destroyer
s, sloop
s, trawler
s and, later, corvette
s to escort merchant ships travelling to and from Britain.
These were not numerous enough or sufficiently long ranged to provide a full escort service across the Atlantic, but would accompany convoys to and from meeting points at the edge of the Western Approaches
, at points thought to be beyond U-boat
range.
In the beginning convoy escorts were compiled on an ad hoc basis; the escorts would be dispatched as and when available, and arrive singly or in small groups. Command of the escort force fell to the senior officer present, and could change as each new ship arrived. Any tactical arrangements had to be made on the spot, and communicated by signal lamp
to each ship in turn. The ships would be un-co-ordinated, being unused to working together, and would have no common battle plan or tactics.
These deficiencies led to a major defeat in October 1940 when Convoy HX 79 was savaged by a wolfpack of 5 U-boats. Despite an escort of 11 warships, 12 ships were sunk from the convoy, while the U-boats were unscathed.
This disaster gaver the impetus for Percy Noble, the commander of WAC, to form discrete groups; by the beginning of 1941 eight groups had been formed.
This level of teamwork was never achieved by the attacking U-Boats. Although the wolfpack was a co-ordinated in that a number of boats would be concentrated on a target convoy, once gathered the boats would attack individually without any attempt at further co-operation. It was not unknown for U-boats to get in each others way whilst attacking, or collide with each other. Time and again during the Battle of the Atlantic relatively small, well-handled escort groups were able to frustrate attacks by more numerous groups of U-boats, and ensure the “safe and timely arrival” of their charges.
In one example, in November 1942, Convoy ON 144 of 33 ships protected by the B-6 Escort Group of just 5 corvettes, were attacked by a group of 10 U-boats. Over the next three days they fought off attacks by the wolfpack for the loss of 5 ships and one corvette. 28 ships arrived safely.
Following this action the SOE (Senior Officer Escort) was “warmly congratulated” for preventing what could have been a major disaster, and the contrast with HX 79 was apparent.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They were a tactical innovation by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
, to combat the threat of the German Navy
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
's "wolfpack" tactics.
Escort Groups consisted of mixed types of small warships that operated together as a permanent team, defending shipping convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and more particularly, during the Battle of the Atlantic. The development of these 'escort groups' proved an effective means of defending shipping convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s. They were rigorously trained in anti-submarine tactics and had many successes. For example, in a ten-day period in 1941, four U-boats were sunk with the loss of three of Germany's top U-boat commanders.
Background
During the first year of the Battle of the Atlantic British convoy protection was the responsibility of the Western Approaches CommandWestern Approaches Command
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsible for the safety of British shipping in the Western...
, based first in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, then, as the focus of the campaign moved after the Fall of France, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
..
Western Approaches Command controlled an array of escort vessels, mainly elderly destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
s, trawler
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
s and, later, corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s to escort merchant ships travelling to and from Britain.
These were not numerous enough or sufficiently long ranged to provide a full escort service across the Atlantic, but would accompany convoys to and from meeting points at the edge of the Western Approaches
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...
, at points thought to be beyond U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
range.
In the beginning convoy escorts were compiled on an ad hoc basis; the escorts would be dispatched as and when available, and arrive singly or in small groups. Command of the escort force fell to the senior officer present, and could change as each new ship arrived. Any tactical arrangements had to be made on the spot, and communicated by signal lamp
Signal lamp
A signal lamp is a visual signaling device for optical communication . Modern signal lamps are a focused lamp which can produce a pulse of light...
to each ship in turn. The ships would be un-co-ordinated, being unused to working together, and would have no common battle plan or tactics.
These deficiencies led to a major defeat in October 1940 when Convoy HX 79 was savaged by a wolfpack of 5 U-boats. Despite an escort of 11 warships, 12 ships were sunk from the convoy, while the U-boats were unscathed.
This disaster gaver the impetus for Percy Noble, the commander of WAC, to form discrete groups; by the beginning of 1941 eight groups had been formed.
Service history
In 1941 WAC had 8 escort groups formed. These typically comprised 6 to 8 ships, under the command of an RN officer, usually a Commander or Lt Cdr. By operating together under a single commander, groups were able to develop group tactics and practice their use; with the issue of a single short command the various ships of the group, often out of sight of each other, could be relied upon to act in a co-ordinated fashion. Later these tactics were standardized and taught to all escort group commanders at the Western Approaches Tactical Unit.This level of teamwork was never achieved by the attacking U-Boats. Although the wolfpack was a co-ordinated in that a number of boats would be concentrated on a target convoy, once gathered the boats would attack individually without any attempt at further co-operation. It was not unknown for U-boats to get in each others way whilst attacking, or collide with each other. Time and again during the Battle of the Atlantic relatively small, well-handled escort groups were able to frustrate attacks by more numerous groups of U-boats, and ensure the “safe and timely arrival” of their charges.
In one example, in November 1942, Convoy ON 144 of 33 ships protected by the B-6 Escort Group of just 5 corvettes, were attacked by a group of 10 U-boats. Over the next three days they fought off attacks by the wolfpack for the loss of 5 ships and one corvette. 28 ships arrived safely.
Following this action the SOE (Senior Officer Escort) was “warmly congratulated” for preventing what could have been a major disaster, and the contrast with HX 79 was apparent.