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. |
|
|
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 gr’ce 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 | ||
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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 Tankersb |
||
| 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. |
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 |