APPENDIX H


 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN JANUARY 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HX 272/275d 4 15.5 228c 57 53c 13.2 0 0 0
SC 150,151e 2 16.3 54c 27 22c 11.0 0 0 0
ON 216/219d 4 18.7 217c 54 34c 8.5 0 2k 0
ONS 25/27e 3 19.3 91c 30 23c 7.7 0 0 0
UT 6, 7d 2 10.5 54 27 26 13.0 0 0 0
TU 6d 1 10.9 16 16 13 13.0 0 0 0
CU 10/12d 3 10.7 61 20 18 6.0 0 0 0
UC 8/10d 3 12.8 62 21 18 6.0 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, January 22 -- 783 36 207 9.4 0 2 0
Total North Atlantic, December 21 -- 818 39 184 8.8 0 0 0
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 27/30f 4 16.6 271 68 56 14.0 0 0 0
GUS 24/26f 3 18.0 164 55 33 11.0 0 0 0
OT 12g 1 15.2 10 10 4 4.0 0 0 0
TO -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Middle Atlantic, January 8 -- 445 56 93 11.6 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, December 8 -- 378 47 80 10.0 0 0 0
 

C. East Coast
NG 407/412 6 6.6 130 22 30 5.0 0 0 0
GN 104/109 6 6.9 137 23 30 5.0 0 0 0
NK 586/591 6 6.1i 47 8 23 3.8 0 0 0
KN 285/291 7 5.8 94 13 31 4.4 0 0 0
KG 679/684 6 3.2 75 13 30 5.0 0 0 0
GK 779/784 6 3.0 42 7 30 5.0 0 0 0
KH 471/483 7 3.7j 40 6 36 5.2 0 0 0
HK 175/185 6 4.2 119 20 30 5.0 0 0 0
GAT 108/113 6 6.0 132 21* 30 5.0 0 0 0
TAG 106/111 6 5.1 134 21* 30 5.0 0 0 0
ZG 54/56 3 3.5 27 9* 13 4.3 0 0 0
GZ 55/57 3 3.9 61 20* 15 5.0 0 0 0
JT 17/19 3 15.8 55 13* 16 5.3 0 0 0
TJ 18/20 3 19.0 46 12* 19 6.3 0 0 0
XB 90A, 90B, 91/93 5 2.1 64 13 15 3.0 0 0 0
BX 90, 93 4 2.1 56 14 12 3.0 0 0 0
SG -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
GS -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Regular Coastal, January 83 -- 1,259 15.2 390 4.7 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, December 90 -- 1,468 16.3 424 4.7 1 0 0
Special Convoys, Januaryb 209h -- 380 1.8 292 1.4 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Decemberb 216 -- 469 2.2 326 1.5 0 0 0
Total East Coast, January 292 -- 1,639 5.6 682 2.3 0 0 0
Total East Coast, December 306 -- 1,937 6.3 750 2.4 1 0 0
# All ships (including casualties) except escorts, and except those returning to port. * Total of maximum ships at any one time in each convoy.

(a) Including escorts.
(b) Not regularly scheduled; miscellaneous.
(c) Ships and escorts between WESTOMP and Oversay only.
(d) Between New York and Liverpool.
(e) Between Halifax and Liverpool.
(f) Between Norfolk and Gibraltar.
(g) Between Dutch West Indies and Gibraltar.
(h) Of which 77 originated in CSF, 51 in ESF, 46 in GSF, 20 in PSF, and 15 in FOURTH Fleet area.
(i) Excluding NK 587 and 591 dispersed early.
(j) Including only KH 471 and 479 to Galveston; others dispersed off Pilottown, averaging 2.1 days.
(k) Empire Housman ON 217 3 Jan., and Sumner I. Kimball ON 219 16 Jan.
 

--H1--

 


CONVOYS


Convoys - Review of the Month

The first month of the new year started off auspiciously for U. S. convoys: no ships even damaged by the enemy.

Interest was focused in the British North Atlantic trade convoys, where high to precipitous seas with gales up to 75 knots directly or indirectly caused the loss of three merchantmen. Two of these were stragglers believed sunk by U-Boats. First the new EMPIRE HOUSMAN (Br.) was attacked 31 December while straggling from ON 217, then given the coup de grce on 3 January. Also the new U. S. Liberty ship, SUMNER I. KIMBALL, was sunk 16 January, probably by torpedo while straggling from ON 219. Then the JOSEPH SMITH, another new Liberty, in ON 218 broke up from weather 11 January in 44°N, 43°W, without loss of life. In addition to these casualties, the severe storms lengthened voyage times by from one to three days over December. ONS convoys averaged 19.3 days from Liverpool to Halifax, as compared to a record low of 14.0 days last August. Escorts of the HX convoys (and to a lesser degree the SC) were augmented by numerous U. S.-built frigates and British DE's destined for U.K., bringing HX escorts up to an average of over 13. The average size of the SC convoys fell to a new low of only 27 ships, versus an average of 42 in December, and as there were only two convoys arriving in January, there were but 54 ships for the month.

In the East Coast area, the month was notable for the virtual absence of submarines. The last U-Boat left Sea Frontier areas after the first week of January - a situation probably unprecedented since the war began.

An order from Commander Tenth Fleet (C&R), dated 20 January, summarized the convoy policy as regards shipping in the Gulf, Panama and Caribbean Sea Frontiers as follows:

(1) All vessels of 14.5 knots and over to be sailed independently, except those carrying aviation gasoline, or troops in excess of certain specified limits, which shall have adequate escort.

(2) Ships of under 14.5 knots and of 8 knots or more, to be sailed in regular trade convoys, except: (a) ships in sisal, mahogany, banana and Cuban sugar trade, to be sailed direct and independently; (b) avgas tankers on special Naval service sailing from western Gulf area to ports as far north as Jacksonville, to be sailed independently; (c) certain specified tankers between Aruba, Curacao and Cristobal, to be sailed independently; and (d) ships not carrying avgas or troops sailing to or from ports where regular trade convoys are not available, to be sailed independently via inshore routing.

(3) Ships of under 8.0 knots to be sailed independently via inshore routing.

While only 83 regular coastal convoys arrived this month as against 90 in December, the average size dropped to 15.2 ships from 16.3, the decline taking place principally in the KG/GK, KH/HK and ZG/GZ convoys. Special convoys likewise declined both to number of convoys and average size, but still were far above the light months of September and October when a higher proportion of independent sailings was permitted.

U. S. EAST COAST REGULAR CONVOYS - SPEED OF ADVANCE IN KNOTS
(From Commodores' Reports)
Average for Month E.S.F. G.S.F. C.S.F. P.S.F. Fourth Fleet
NG GN NK KN KG GK KH HK GAT TAG ZG GZ JT TJ
September 1943 7.88 8.54 8.56 9.08 8.3 8.48 9.0 8.26 7.46 8.64 8.32 8.25 10.27 7.25
December 1943 8.53 8.25 8.05 8.97 8.21 8.3 8.45 8.13 7.52 8.87 7.70 7.63 9.20 7.63
Total Average 8.20 8.39 8.30 9.02 8.25 8.39 8.72 8.20 7.49 8.75 8.01 7.94 9.73 7.44
Average, All Convoys - 8.34 Knots

--H1A--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN FEBRUARY 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HX 276/279d 4 16.2 259c 65 36c 9.0 0 0 0
SC 152e 1 16.7 30c 30 7c 7.0 0 0 0
ON 220/223d 4 18.8 225c 56 34c 8.5 0 0 0
ONS 28/29e 2 17.4 76c 38 18c 9.0 0 0 0
UT 8d 1 10.7 30 30 13 13.0 0 0 0
TU 7d 1 11.2 25 25 13 13.0 0 0 0
CU 13/14d 2 11.8 46 23 12 6.0 0 0 0
UC 11/13d 3 11.6 70 23 18 6.0 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, February 18 -- 761 42 151 8.4 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, January 22 -- 783 36 207 9.4 0 2 0
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 31, 32, 33Af 3 16.5i 177l 86m 28l 12.5m 0 0 0
GUS 27/29f 3 18.8 152 51 32 10.7 0 0 0
OT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TO 12g 1 11.4 7 7 4 4.0 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, February 7 -- 336 48 64 9.1 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, January 8 -- 445 56 93 11.6 0 0 0
 

C. East Coast
NG 413/418 6 6.4 112 19 30 5.0 0 0 0
GN 110/116 7 7.1 158 23 35 5.0 0 0 0
NK 592/597 6 6.2 42 7 22 3.7 0 0 0
KN 292/297 6 5.4 79 13 27 4.5 0 0 0
KG 685/690 6 3.1 81 14 30 5.0 0 0 0
GK 785/790 6 3.1 61 10 30 5.0 0 0 0
KH 485/495 6 4.9j 43 7 28 4.7 0 0 0
HK 187/197 6 4.3 116 19 28 4.7 0 0 0
GAT 114/119 6 6.5 127 19* 33 5.5 0 0 0
TAG 112/117 6 5.0 142 22* 30 5.0 0 0 0
ZG 57/59 3 3.9 47 16 16 5.3 0 0 0
GZ 58/60 3 3.9 62 21 16 5.3 0 0 0
JT 20/22 3 15.5 63 17* 18 6.0 0 0 0
TJ 21/22 2 18.3 34 12* 12 6.0 0 0 0
XB 94/97, 94A, 94B 6 2.2 69 12 14 2.3 0 0 0
BX 94/97 4 2.1 93 23 14 3.5 0 0 0
SG 38/39 2 5.2k 2 1 5 2.5 0 0 0
GS 41 1 4.2 1 1 2 2.0 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, February 85 -- 1,332 15.7 390 4.6 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, January 83 -- 1,259 15.2 390 4.7 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Februaryb 162h -- 273 1.7 210 1.3 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Januaryb 209 -- 380 1.8 292 1.4 0 0 0
Total East Coast, February 247 -- 1,605 6.5 600 2.4 0 0 0
Total East Coast, January 292 -- 1,639 5.6 682 2.3 0 0 0
# All ships (including casualties) except escorts, and except those returning to port. * Total of maximum ships at any one time in each convoy.

(a) Including escorts.
(b) Not regularly scheduled; miscellaneous.
(c) Ships and escorts between WESTOMP and Oversay only.
(d) Between New York and Liverpool.
(e) Between Halifax and Liverpool.
(f) Between Norfolk and Gibraltar.
(g) Between Netherlands West Indies and Gibraltar.
(h) Of which 46 originated in CSF, 59 in ESF, 39 in GSF, 6 in PSF, and 12 in FOURTH Fleet area.
(i) Average of UGS 31/2. UGS 33A 15 knots, 10.2 days.
(j) KH 487 only. KH 489 dispersed in 90°W, 4.2 days. Other 4 dispersed off South Pass, averaging 2.4 days.
(k) SG 39 only. SG 38 sailed from Argentia, 4.1 days.
(l) Including UGS 33A, 4 ships, 3 escorts.
(m) Excluding UGS 33A, 4 ships, 3 escorts.
 

--H2--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN MARCH 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HX 280/283d 4 16.3 258c 65 40c 10.0 0 0 0
SC 153/155e 3 16.1 142c l 47 24c 8.0 0 0 0
ON 224/228d 5 15.8 343c 69 41c 8.2 0 0 0
ONS 30/31e 2 16.0 49c 25 15c 7.5 0 0 0
UT 9d 1 10.9 29 29 13 13.0 0 0 0
TU 8/9d 2 11.3 42 21 24 12.0 0 0 0
CU 15/18d 4 11.1 94 23 23 6.0 2i 0 0
UC 14/16d 3 11.2 74 25 18 6.0 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, March 24 -- 1,031 43 198 8.2 2 0 0
Total North Atlantic, February 18 -- 761 42 151 8.4 0 0 0
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 33/35f m 3 17.0 223 74 38 12.7 0 0 0
GUS 30/32f 3 19.3 257 84 38 12.7 0 0 0
OT 13g 1 14.6 10 10 4 4.0 0 0 0
TO -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Middle Atlantic, March 7 -- 490 70 80 11.4 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, February 7 -- 336 48 64 9.1 0 0 0
 

C. East Coast
NG 419/424 6 7.0 166 28 30 5.0 0 0 0
GN 117/122 6 7.1 166 28 30 5.0 0 0 0
NK 598/603 6 6.0 38 6 23 5.8 0 0 0
KN 298/303 6 5.5 67 11 30 5.0 0 0 0
KG 691/696 6 2.8 83 14 31 5.2 0 0 0
GK 791/796 6 3.1 57 10 30 5.0 0 0 0
KH 497/505 5 3.9j 29 6 24 4.8 0 0 0
HK 198/209 6 4.3 102 17 33 5.5 0 0 0
GAT 120/125 6 6.1 135 22* 33 5.5 0 0 0
TAG 118/123 6 5.0 165 25* 33 5.5 0 0 0
ZG 60/62 3 4.1 47 16 16 5.3 0 0 0
GZ 61/63 3 3.9 56 19 15 5.0 0 0 0
JT 23/25 3 15.2 46 11* 17 5.7 0 0 0
TJ 23/26 4 18.9 65 13* 25 6.2 0 0 0
XB 98/102, 99A 6 2.1 105 18 17 2.8 0 0 0
BX 98/101 4 2.1 131 33 13 3.3 0 0 0
SG -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
GS 42 1 7.5k 1 1 3 3 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, March 83 -- 1,459 17.6 403 4.9 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, February 85 -- 1,332 15.7 390 4.6 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Marchb 189h -- 328 1.7 248 1.3 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Februaryb 162 -- 273 1.7 210 1.3 0 0 0
Total East Coast, March 272 -- 1,787 6.6 651 2.4 0 0 0
Total East Coast, February 247 -- 1,605 6.5 600 2.4 0 0 0
# All ships (including casualties) except escorts, and except those returning to port. * Total of maximum ships at any one time in each convoy.

(a) Including escorts.
(b) Not regularly scheduled; miscellaneous.
(c) Ships and escorts between WESTOMP and Oversay only.
(d) Between New York and Liverpool.
(e) Between Halifax and Liverpool.
(f) Between Norfolk and Gibraltar.
(g) Between Netherlands West Indies and Gibraltar.
(h) Of which 76 originated in CSF, 50 in ESF, 39 in GSF, 17 in PSF, and 7 in FOURTH Fleet area.
(i) U. S. tanker Seakay on 18 March in 51-10, 20-20 in CU 17; and USS Leopold (DE 319) on 9 March in 58-36, 25-57 escorting CU 16.
(j) KH 503 only. Other 4 dispersed off South Pass, averaging 2.2 days.
(k) Greenland to Boston.
(l) Including 45 LST's.
(m) UGS 36 to be included in April table, having arrived Bizerte 3 April with U. S. escort.
 

--H3--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN APRIL 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HX 284/286, HXF 287d 4 15.0 294c 74 33c 8.2 0 0 0
SC 156, 157e 2 14.8 117c n 45o 11c 5.5 2r 1s 0
ON 229, 230, ONF 232d 3 16.5 176c 59 21c 7.0 0 0 0
ONM 231d 1 18.3 90c 90 8c 8.0 0 0 0
ONS 32e 1 21.0 47c 47 7c 7.0 0 0 0
UT 10, 11d 2 10.7 51 26 26 13.0 0 0 0
TU 10, 11d 2 11.8 39 20 24 12.0 0 0 0
CU 19/21d 3 11.3 83 28 18 6.0 1t 0 1u
UC 17/19d 3 11.6 71 24 18 6.0 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, April 21 -- 968 46 166 7.9 3 1 1
Total North Atlantic, March 24 -- 1,031 43 198 8.2 2 0 0
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 36/38g 3 19.8 289p 81q 55l 14.3m 3v 0 5w
GUS 33/35f 3 17.8 228 75 37 12.3 0 0 0
OT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
TO 13h 1 10.7 9 9 4 4.0 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, April 7 -- 526 75 96 13.7 3 0 5
Total Middle Atlantic, March 7 -- 490 70 80 11.4 0 0 0
 

C. East Coast
NG 425/430 6 7.1 184 31 30 5.0 0 0 0
GN 123/128 6 7.0 192 32 32 5.3 0 0 0
NK 604/609 6 6.2 84 6 23 3.8 0 0 0
KN 304/309 6 5.1 74 12 25 4.2 0 0 0
KG 697/702 6 2.9 75 13 32 5.3 0 0 0
GK 797/802 6 3.0 50 8 32 5.3 0 0 0
KH 507/519 7 3.9j 49 7 35 5.0 0 0 0
HK 211/221 6 4.2 102 17 31 5.2 0 0 0
GAT 126/131 6 6.3 133 20* 35 5.8 0 0 0
TAG 124/129 6 5.0 136 22* 33 5.5 0 0 0
ZG 63/65 3 4.2 41 14 18 6.0 0 0 0
GZ 64/66 3 3.6 55 18 18 6.0 0 0 0
JT 26/28 3 15.7 55 15* 20 6.6 0 0 0
TJ 27/29 3 19.5 14 12* 20 6.6 0 0 0
XB 103/105, 103A 4 2.0 50 13 8 2.0 0 0 0
BX 102/105 4 1.9 87 22 11 2.8 0 0 0
SG 40k 1 8.1 1 1 6 6.0 0 0 0
GS -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Regular Coastal, April 82 -- 1,362 16.6 409 5.0 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, March 83 -- 1,459 17.6 403 4.9 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Aprilb 209i -- 330 1.6 257 1.2 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Marchb 189 -- 328 1.7 248 1.3 0 0 0
Total East Coast, April 291 -- 1,692 5.8 666 2.3 0 0 0
Total East Coast, March 272 -- 1,787 6.6 651 2.4 0 0 0
# All ships (including casualties) except escorts, and except those returning to port. * Total of maximum ships at any one time in each convoy.

(a) Including escorts.
(b) Not regularly scheduled; miscellaneous.
(c) Ships and escorts between WESTOMP and Oversay only.
(d) Between New York and Liverpool.
(e) Between Halifax and Liverpool.
(f) Between Norfolk and Gibraltar.
(g) Between Norfolk and Bizerte.
(h) Between Netherlands West Indies and Gibraltar.
(i) Of which 88 originated in CSF, 72 in ESF, 29 in GSF, 11 in PSF, and 9 in FOURTH Fleet area.
(j) Average of three convoys, KH 507, 515 and 517. Other 4 dispersed off South Pass, averaging 2.2 days.
(k) Argentia to Greenland.
(l) Including 12 YMS's in UGS 38.
(m) Excluding 12 YSM's in UGS 38.
(n) Including 27 LST's.
(o) Excluding 27 LST's.
(p) Including 25 LST's and 20 LCI(L)'s.
(q) Excluding 25 LST's and 20 LCI(L)'s.
(r) SS Ruth I and SS South America, SC 156, 6 April in 45°N-35°W by U-Boat.
(s) SS Colin, SC 157, 26 April in 54°N-32°W by U-Boat.
(t) Tanker SS Pan Pennsylvania, CU 21, 16 April in 40°N-69°W by U-Boat.
(u) USS Gandy (DE 764), CU 21, 16 April in 40°N-69°W by ramming U-Boat which torpedoed SS Pan Pennsylvania.
(v) SS Paul Hamilton, SS Royal Star and USS Lansdale (DD 426), UGS 38, 20 April in 37°N-04°E by aircraft.
(w) SS Samburgh and SS Jared Ingersoll, UGS 36, 1 April in 37°N-02°E by aircraft; USS Holder (DE 401), UGS 37, 11 April in 37°N-04°E by aircraft; SS Stephen F. Austin and SS Samite, UGS 38, 20 April in 37°N-04°E by aircraft.
 

--H4--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN MAY 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HX 288, HXM 289, HXF 290, HXS 291 4 16.4l 430c v 107n 26c 6.5 0 0 0
ONS 233, ONM 234, ONF 235, ONS 236 4 16.1m 366c 91p 24c 6.0 0 0 0
CU 22, TCU 23, TCU 24, TCU 24B, CU 25d 5 10.9 175 35 46 9.2 0 0 1q
UC 20/22, UCT 23d 4 10.5 120 30 30 7.5 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, May 17 -- 1,091 64 126 7.4 0 0 1
Total North Atlantic, April 21 -- 968 46 166 7.9 3 1 1
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 39/41f 3 20.5 259t 86 49u 16.3 0 0 0
GUS 36/39f 4 19.6 356 89 49 12.2 1r 0 3s
UGF 11e 1 13.5 6 6 8 8.0 0 0 0
OT 14g 1 12.7 6 6 4 4.0 0 0 0
TO 14g 1 13.0 5 5 4 4.0 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, May 10 -- 632 63 114 11.4 1 0 3
Total Middle Atlantic, April 7 -- 526 75 96 13.7 3 0 5
 

C. East Coast
NG 431/436 6 6.5 212 35 31 5.2 0 0 0
GN 129/134 6 7.0 184 31 30 5.0 0 0 0
NK 610/616 7 6.1 53 8 22 3.1 0 0 0
KN 310/315 6 5.2 87 15 24 4.0 0 0 0
KG 703/709 7 2.8 94 13 38 5.4 0 0 0
GK 803/808 6 2.9 47 8 32 5.3 0 0 0
KH 521/531 6 3.9i 40 7 26 4.3 0 0 0
HK 223/233 6 4.4 140 23 32 5.3 0 0 0
GAT 132/137 6 5.9 159 25* 30 5.0 0 0 0
TAG 130/135 6 5.1 96 15* 29 4.8 0 0 0
ZG 66/68 3 3.9 42 14 18 6.0 0 0 0
GZ 67/69 3 3.9 43 14 18 6.0 0 0 0
JT 29/32 4 15.0 56 12* 23 5.8 0 0 0
TJ 30/32 3 20.2 63 16* 19 6.3 0 0 0
XB 106/110, 108A 6 1.7 20 3 10 1.7 0 0 0
BX 106/109 4 2.0 78 20 9 2.2 0 0 0
SG 41/42 2 5.0k 4 2 5 2.5 0 0 0
GS 43/46 4 5.4j 7 2 10 2.5 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, May 91 -- 1,425 15.7 406 4.5 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, April 82 -- 1,362 16.6 409 5.0 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Mayb 184h -- 251 1.4 218 1.2 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Aprilb 209 -- 330 1.6 257 1.2 0 0 0
Total East Coast, May 275 -- 1,676 6.1 624 2.2 0 0 0
Total East Coast, April 291 -- 1,692 5.8 666 2.3 0 0 0
# All ships (including casualties) except escorts, and except those returning to port. * Total of maximum ships at any one time in each convoy.

(a) Including escorts.
(b) Not regularly scheduled; miscellaneous.
(c) Ships and escorts between WESTOMP and Oversay only.
(d) Between New York and Liverpool.
(e) Between Norfolk and Naples.
(f) Between Norfolk and Bizerte.
(g) Between Netherlands West Indies and Algiers.
(h) Of which 73 originated in CSF, 72 in ESF, 26 in GSF, 2 in PSF, and 11 in FOURTH Fleet area.
(i) Average of three convoys, KH 521, 523 and 525. Other three dispersed off South Pass, averaging 2.4 days.
(j) Average of GS 44/46 to Argentia. GS 43 to Cale Cod Canal 9.4 days.
(k) Average from St. Johns, SG 41 sailed from Boston as BG 8.
(l) Average voyage HXF 14.5, HXM 16.3, HXS 18.3 days, New York to Liverpool.
(m) Average voyage ONF 14.5, ONM 15.6, ONS 17.2 days, Liverpool to New York.
(n) Average size HXF 94, HXM 131, HXS 102 ships.
(p) Average size ONF 66, ONM 76, ONS 112 ships.
(q) USS Donnell (DE-56) with CU 22, 3 May, 38°N, 20°W, by U/B.
(r) USS Fechteler (DE-157) with GUS 38, 5 May, 36°07'N, 02°40'W, by U/B.
(s) USS Menges (DE-320) with GUS 38, 2 May, 37°08'N, 05°19'E; Fort Fidler and G.S. Walden with GUS 39, 14 May, 36°46'N, 00°52'E.
(t) Including 16 LCI (L)s in UGS 41.
(u) Including 6 YMS in UGS 39.
(v) Including 15 LSTs in HXS 288.
 

--H5--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS - REVIEW OF THE MONTH

Although convoyed shipping across the Atlantic reached an all-time high of 1,723 ships in May, (compared with a previous high of 1,521 in March) there was only one casualty in the Atlantic, USS Donnell (DE-56) being damaged by torpedo while escorting CU 22. IN the Mediterranean, however, U. S. escorted GUS 38 and GUS 39 were attacked by U-Boats, resulting in the sinking of the USS Fechteler (DE-157) and the damaging of USS Menges (DE-320) and two British cargo vessels, Fort Fidler and G.S. Walden (see table on page H5). The U-Boat which made the first attack on GUS 38 was sunk on the following day. UGS 40 was attacked by air east of Algiers, but no casualties resulted.

The largest convoy which ever sailed anywhere was HXM 292 with 135 ships and six escorts. The four HX convoys arriving May averaged as much as 107 ships. This is approximately the same number of ships which would have crossed the Atlantic in HX and SC convoys combined, under the old schedule. The four ON convoys averaged 91 ships. Direct routes and good weather combined to make fast voyages, and there were no attacks.

The UT/TU troop convoys were combined with the CU/UC tanker convoys, commencing with TCU 23 sailing 3 May, with the result that there were five eastbound convoys averaging 35 ships, with about nine escort vessels.

U. S. coastal convoys made another clean record with no U-Boats in the area. In order to speed oil deliveries, tankers of 10 to 14.5 knots were released from convoy in Eastern Sea Frontier on 9 May, and finally on 23 May, tankers of all speeds were ordered to sail independently in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and along the Eastern Seaboard. However, with a renewed threat of approaching U-Boats, on 2 June all tankers were ordered back into convoy, except between ports in the Gulf of Mexico and except for tankers in the Pacific trade between Aruba/Curacao and the Canal.

Commencing June 2, the sailing interval of ZG/GZ convoys was shortened from ten to five days, in order to expedite coastal shipping to and from the Canal via Guantanamo.

The volume of shipping in Eastern Sea Frontier was up to a new high with an average of 149 ships at sea daily. Reflecting the temporary release of tankers, the proportion of total shipping sailing in convoy dropped to a new low of 70% in Caribbean Sea Frontier, and to 41% in Panama Sea Frontier.

In the Canadian area, XB convoys dropped to only three ships per convoy because of the suspension of ONS convoys to Halifax, but BX convoys held up to 20 ships per convoy, most of these ships sailing to join HX convoys for U.K. Convoying was generally in effect, with one U-Boat patrolling in the area.

In the Brazilian area two U-Boats were present during the month, one of them nearer to shore than usual, but no attacks were made on convoys.

Convoy No. of Convoys
Arriving
Average Ships per Convoya Percentage of
Tankers
b
Tankers Other Ships Total
NG 17 11 20 31 36%
GN 16 13 18 31 43%
NK 17 3 3 7 49%
KN 17 4 8 12 34%
KG 17 1 12 13 7%
GK 17 1 7 8 14%
KH 16 1 5 6 15%
HK 17 4 14 18 25%
GAT 17 11 13 24 44%
TAG 17 12 11 23 51%
ZG 9 0 14 14 1%
GZ 8 2 14 16 13%
JT 9 4 12 16 22%
TJ 9 4 12 16 23%
Total 203 6 11 17 32%
(a) To nearest even ship. (b) Based on actual totals.

--H5a--

 


CONVOYS


CONVOYS ARRIVING IN JUNE 1944

Designation Convoys Average Voyage (Days) Ships# Ships
per
Convoy
Escorts Escorts
per
Convoy
Casualties (Enemy Action)a
Sunk in
Convoy
Sunk as
Straggler
Damaged
 

A. North Atlantic
HXM 292, HXF 293, HXS 294, HXM 295 4 15.0m 433c 108o 24c 6.0 0 0 0
ONM 237, ONF 238, ONS 239, ONM 240 4 16.8n 316c 79p 24c 6.0 0 0 0
CU 22, CU 27, TCU 23, TCU 28d 3 11.3 95 32 25 8.3 0 0 0
UC 24, UCT 25, UC 26d 3 11.4 123 41 21 7.0 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, June 14 -- 967 69 94 6.7 0 0 0
Total North Atlantic, May 17 -- 1,091 64 126 7.4 0 0 1
 

B. Middle Atlantic
UGS 42/44f 3 19.1 272 91 41 13.7 0 0 0
GUS 40/42f 3 18.8 203 68 37 12.3 0 0 0
GUF 11e 1 12.8 6 6 6 6.0 0 0 0
OT 15g 1 14.3 10 10 4 4.0 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, June 8 -- 491 61 88 11.0 0 0 0
Total Middle Atlantic, May 10 -- 632 63 114 11.4 1 0 3
 

C. East Coast
<
NG 437/442 6 6.6 227 38 38 6.3 0 0 0
GN 135/140 6 7.1 155 26 30 5.0 0 0 0
NK 617/622 6 5.8 44 7 19 3.2 0 0 0
KN 316/321 6 4.8 98 16 21 3.5 0 0 0
KG 710/715 6 2.8 74 12 30 5.0 0 0 0
GK 809/815 7 3.1l 49 7 32 4.6 0 0 0
KH 533/543 6 3.7i 34 6 25 4.2 0 0 0
HK 235/245 6 4.2 115 19 24 4.0 0 0 0
GAT 138/143 6 6.2 134 20* 28 4.7 0 0 0
TAG 136/141 6 5.1 135 20* 30 5.0 0 0 0
ZG 69/74 6 3.7k 40 7 32 5.3 0 0 0
GZ 70/74 5 3.7 106 21 29 5.8 0 0 0
JT 33/35 3 15.0 55 14* 17 5.7 0 0 0
TJ 33/35 3 19.9 55 14* 18 6.0 0 0 0
XB 111/113, 111A 4 1.8 16 4 8 2.0 0 0 0
BX 110/113 4 2.0 65 16 8 2.0 0 0 0
SG 43/44 2 7.9j 3 2 2 1.0 0 0 0
GS 47 1 4.9j 1 1 1 1.0 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, June 89 -- 1,406 15.8 392 4.4 0 0 0
Total Regular Coastal, May 91 -- 1,425 15.7 406 4.5 0 0 0
Special Convoys, Juneb 228h -- 387 1.7 310 1.3 1q 0 0
Special Convoys, Mayb 184 -- 251 1.4 218 1.2 0 0 0
Total East Coast, June 317 -- 1,793 5.7 702 2.2 1 0 0
Total East Coast, May 275 -- 1,676 6.7 624 2.2 0 0 0