United States Naval Administration in World War II

History of Convoy and Routing

Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet,
and
Commander, Tenth Fleet

Navy Department
Washington, D.C.
1939-1945
Secret
FX-37


History of Convoy and Routing
Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
and Commander, Tenth Fleet

(up to VE Day, 8 May, 1945)

 

Background Material

Memorandum - Recommendation to Vice Admiral Wilson on transfer of Routing and Convoy Division, 13 May 1942
Memorandum - Transfer of Convoy and Routing Division to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
Publications Handled by FX-37
Chronologial Outline of FX-37
History of Development of Convoy and Routing Section of Tenth Fleet - FX-37

 

Outline

Page
CHAPTER I  
The Growth and Organization of C&R As a Whole 1
A. Mission 1
B. Definitions 2
C. Volume of Shipping Involved and Casualties Suffered
(including comparison with casualties of World War I)
2
D. Development of U.S. Shipping Control Prior to Our Entry in the War 5
E. C&R is Transferred to Headquarters, Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, May 1942 6
F. C&R Transferred to TENTH Fleet, May 1943 7
G. General Duties of Key Officers of C&R 8
  1. Director 8
  2. Assistant Director 8
  3. Convoy Administration or Control 9
  4. Communications 9
CHAPTER II  
Routing, Reporting and Control of Independents since December, 1941 10
A. The War Begins 10
B. "BUSRA" is Promulgated, March, 1942 10
C. C&R Assumes Full Responsibility for Shipping Control, July, 1942 11
D. "GIRO" is Issued, October, 1942 11
E. Field Personnel 11
F. DUties of Principal Sub-Sections 12
  1. Independent Plot (FX-3711) 12
  2. Merchant Ship Records (FX-3712) 18
  3. Staff Assistants (FX-3731 and FC-3732) 19
G. Routing Policies: Convoys vs. Independents 19
H. Activities in the Pacific 21
CHAPTER III  
Ocean Convoys 23
A. Convoying in General 23
B. Duties of Convoy Sections 24
  1. Convoy Plot 24
  2. Convoy Schedules 26
C. General Account of Convoying in North Atlantic and Coastal Waters 29
  1. Principal Ocean Convoys 30
  2. Chop Lines of the Atlantic 31
  3. North Atlantic Trade Convoys 32
    a. Inauguration and Control 32
    b. Schedules 32
    c. Routes 33
    d. Speed 34
    e. Voyage Times 34
    f. Escorts 35
    g. Shipping 35
    h. Casualties 38
  4. Principal Convoys to North Africa and Mediterranean 39
    a. TORCH Operations 39
    b. UG/GU Convoys 39
      1. UGF/GUF Convoys 39
      2. UGS/GUS Convoys 40
        a. Schedule 40
        b. Routes 41
        c. Speed and Voyage Time 41
        d. Escorts and Commodores 42
        e. Shipping 42
        f. Casualties 43
    c. OT/TO Convoys 43
  5. Principal Troop and Oil Convoys to U.K. 44
  a. UT/TU Convoys 45
  b. CU/UC Convoys (including TCU/UCT) 45
  1. Schedule 45
  2. Routes 46
  3. Speed and Voyage Time 46
  4. Escorts and Commodores 46
  5. Shipping 46
  6. Casualties 47
  c. AT/TA Convoys and Independent Transports 47
D. Pacific Convoys 48
CHAPTER IV  
Coastal Convoys: Atlantic Seaboard, Gulf, Caribbean and Brazil 50
A. Sea Frontiers and Joint (Army-Navy) Coastal Frontiers 50
B. Inauguration of the Convoy System 50
C. Control of Convoy Movements 51
D. Schedules 52
E. Routes, Speed and Voyage Time 53
F. Escorts and Commodores 54
G. Shipping 55
H. Casualties 57
I. Changes in Policy: Convoying vs. Independents 60
J. Canadian Convoys (and SG/GS Convoys) 61
CHAPTER V  
Communications 63
CHAPTER VI  
Summary 69


Appendices to History of Convoy and Routing

App-
endix
Title
A. Principal Abbreviations Used.
B. Sources Used.
C. Officers of Convoy and Routing (to 8 May 1945).
D. Estimate of Approximate Personnel, Space and Equipment Required by Convoy and Routing Section Based on Experience of Period 1943-1945.
E. Chart: History of Ocean "CHOP" Lines.
F. Table: Summary of Principal Convoys Arriving in Calendar Year 1942.
G. Tables: Convoys Arriving by Months -- January/December, incl., 1943.
G. Table: Summary of Convoys Arriving in Calendar Year 1943.
H. Tables: Convoys Arriving by Months -- January/December, incl., 1944.
H. Table: Summary of Convoys Arriving in Calendar Year 1944.
I. Tables: Convoys Arriving by Months -- January/May, incl., 1945.
I. Table: Summary of Convoys Arriving in Calendar Year 1945 (and Sailing Prior to VE).
J. Diagram: Time Graph of Convoy Schedules (typical of 1944).
K. Chart: U.S. Coastal Convoy System, 1944.
L. Chart: Average Ships and U-Boats at Sea by Areas for the Period Jan-June 1944.
M. Table: Sailing Intervals of North Atlantic Trade Convoys from North America.
N. Table: Pacific Convoys Arriving in January 1945.
O. Table: Pacific Convoys Arriving in February 1945.
P. Organization Diagram: Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (1 July 1943).
Q. Organization Diagram: Headquarters, Commander TENTH Fleet, Convoy and Routing Section (20 November 1944).
 
AA. Photo: Rear Admiral M.K. Metcalf, USN(Ret.), Director of Convoy and Routing, 8 May 1945.
BB. Photo: Ocean and Coastal Convoy Plot Room (FX-3721), April 1945.
CC. Photo: Convoy Wall Chart--North Atlantic Convoys, 16Feb43 (Note: ON-166).
DD. Photo: Convoy Wall Chart--North Atlantic Convoys, 25Feb43 (Note: ON-166).
EE. Photo: Convoy Wall Chart--U.S. Coastal Convoys, 5Dec43 (Day after sinking in KN-280).
FF. Photo: Convoy Schedules Section (FXC-3722), April 1945.
GG. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Schedule of Trade Convoys 5March-15Apr43.
HH. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Actual Record of Trade Convoys, 5March-15Apr43.
II. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Schedule of U.S. Convoys--Med. & U.K., (Including British Convoys--Med. & S. Afr.), 14Mar-7Jun44.
JJ. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Actual Record of U.S. U.S. Convoys--Med. & U.K., (Including British Convoys--Med. & S. Afr.), 14Mar-7Jun44.
KK. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Actual Record of Coastal & North Atlantic Trade convoys, 30Mar-10May45.
KK2. Photo: Convoy Time Graph--Actual Record of U.S. Convoys--Med. & U.K., Cont., (Including British Convoys--Med.), 21Feb-17May45.
LL. Photo: Merchant Ship Plot Room, North Atlantic (FX-3711), April 1945.
MM. Photo: Merchant Ship Plot Room, Pacific and Ships in Port (FX-3711), April 1945.
NN. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, North Atlantic, 25Feb43.
OO. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, North Atlantic, 1May45.
PP. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, South Atlantic, 1May45.
QQ. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, Pacific, 1May45.
RR. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, Indian Ocean, 1May45.
SS. Photo: Merchant Ship Wall Chart, Neutral Merchantmen, North and South Atlantic, 1May45.
TT. Photo: Communications Room (FX-375), April 1945.


Appendices AAA through MMM

(Note: Appendices AAA to MMM, inclusive, are not attached hereto because of their size, and are filed with Convoy and Routing Section.)

AAA. List of Photos of Time graphs of U.S. Coastal Convoys and North Atlantic Trade Convoys (16" x 22")
 
Photo Number Period Covered Title
A 22 Sept. - 1 Nov. '42 Record
B 1 Nov. - 11 Dec. '42 Record & Schedule
C 1 Nov. - 11 Dec. '42 Record
D 12 Dec. '42 - 22 Jan. '43 Schedule
E 12 Dec. '42 - 22 Jan. '43 Record
F 22 Jan. - 4 Mar. '43 Schedule
G 5 Mar. - 15 Apr. '43 Schedule
H 22 Jan. - 4 Mar. '43 Record
I 5 Mar. - 15 Apr. '43 Record & Revised Schedule
J 16 Apr. - 27 May '43 Schedule
K 5 Mar. - 15 Apr. '43 Record
L 28 May - 8 July '43 Schedule
M 16 Apr. - 27 May '43 Record
N 9 July - 19 Aug. '43 Schedule
O 28 May - 8 July '43 Record
P 20 Aug. - 30 Sept. '43 Schedule
Q 9 July - 19 Aug. '43 Record
R 1 Oct. - 11 Nov. '43 Schedule
S 20 Aug. - 30 Sept. '43 Record
T 12 Nov. - 23 Dec. '43 Schedule
U 1 Oct. - 11 Nov. '43 Record
V 24 Dec. '43 - 3 Feb. '44 Schedule
W 12 Nov. 23 Dec. '43 Record
X 4 Feb. - 16 Mar. '44 Schedule
Y 24 Dec. '43 - 3 Feb. '44 Record
Z 17 Mar. - 24 Apr. '44 Schedule
AA 4 Feb. - 16 Mar. '44 Record
BB 28 Apr. - 8 June '44 Schedule
CC 17 Mar. - 27 Apr. '44 Record
DD 9 June - 20 July '44 Schedule
EE 28 Apr. - 8 June '44 Record
FF 21 July - 31 Aug. '44 Schedule
GG 9 June - 20 July '44 Record
HH 1 Sept. - 12 Oct. '44 Schedule
II 21 July - 31 Aug. '44 Record
JJ 13 Oct. - 23 Nov. '44 Schedule
KK 1 Sept. - 12 Oct. '44 Record
LL 24 Nov. '44 - 4 Jan. '45 Schedule
MM 13 Oct. - 23 Nov. '44 Record
NN 5 Jan. - 15 Feb. '45 Schedule
OO 24 Nov. '44 - 4 Jan. '45 Record
PP 16 Feb. - 29 Mar. '45 Schedule
QQ 16 Feb. - 29 Mar. '45 Revised Schedule
RR 5 Jan. - 15 Feb. '45 Record
SS 30 Mar. - 10 May '45 Schedule
TT 16 Feb. - 29 Mar. '45 Record
UU 11 May - 21 June '45 Schedule
VV 30 Mar. - 10 May '45 Record
WW 11 May - 21 June '45 Record
 
BBB. List of Photos of Time graphs of U.S. Convoys to Mediterranean and U.K., and British Convoys to Mediterranean and West Africa (18" x 22")
 
Photo Number Period Covered Title
I 1 Jan. - 10 Mar. '43 Record
II 12 Feb. - 13 May '43 Record & Schedule
III 5 Apr. - 29 June '43 Record & Schedule
IV 30 July - 23 Sept. '43 Schedule
V 5 Apr. - 29 June '43 Record
VI 30 July - 23 Sept. '43 Record & Schedule
VII 24 Sept. - 18 Dec. '43 Schedule
VIII 30 July - 23 Sept. '43 Record
IX 24 Sept. - 18 Dec. '43 Record & Schedule
X 19 Dec. '43 - 13 Mar. '44 Schedule
XI 24 Sept. - 18 Dec. '43 Record
XII 14 March - 7 June '44 Schedule
XIII 19 Dec. '43 - 13 Mar. '44 Record
XIV 8 June - 1 Sept. '44 Schedule
XV 8 June - 1 Sept. '44 Revised Schedule
XVI 14 Mar. - 7 June '44 Record
XVII 2 Sept. - 26 Nov. '44 Schedule
XVIII 2 Sept. - 26 Nov. '44 Revised Schedule
XIX 8 June - 1 Sept. '44 Record
XX 27 Nov. '44 - 20 Feb. '45 Schedule
XXI 27 Nov. '44 - 20 Feb. '45 Revised Schedule
XXII 2 Sept. - 26 Nov. '44 Record
XXIII 27 Nov. '44 - 20 Feb. '45 Revised Schedule
XXIV 21 Feb. - 17 May '45 Schedule
XXV 27 Nov. '44 - 20 Feb. '45 Record
XXVI 18 May - 11 Aug. '45 Schedule
XXVII 21 Feb. - 17 May '45 Record
XXVIII 18 May - 11 Aug. '45 Record
 
CCC. Drawings of Time graphs of U.S. Convoys, East Coast, North Bound and South Bound, for the period May 15, 1942 to December 31, 1942. (Prepared by FX-3723) (8 1/2" x 11")
 
DDD. Loose-Leaf Booklet - U.S. Convoys, Composition and Voyages, By Individual Convoys (FX-3722) (9 1/2" x 11 1/2", Black)
 
EEE. Loose-Leaf Booklet - U.S. Convoys, Composition and Voyages, Monthly Summaries (for use in preparing tables for U.S. Fleet Anti-Submarine Bulletin) (FX-3722) (9 1/2" x 11 1/2", Black)
 
FFF. Time graphs of Pacific Convoys, Record, for the period 31 May 1943 to 28 February 1945 - 8 sheets 21" x 46 (FX-3722)
 
GGG. Time graphs of AT/TA sailings, Record, for the period 6 September 1943 to 8 May 1945 - 3 sheets 21" x 46 (FX-3722)
 
HHH. Time graphs of Canadian and SG/GS Convoys, Record, for the period 31 May 1943 to 19 January 1945 - 7 sheets 10 1/2" x 46 (FX-3722)
 
III. Time graphs of Indian Ocean Convoys, Record, for the period 28 June 1943 to 21 September 1943 - 1 sheet 21" x 46 (FX-3722)
 
JJJ. Time graphs of Convoys as listed below - Loose-Leaf Booklet, black, 11 1/2" x 18" (FX-3722):
 
(1) Special U.S. Convoys, 1 May 1943 to 1 October 1944
(2) U.S. Coastal Convoys, 1 January 1943 to 30 April 1943
(3) British African Convoys, 22 March 1943 to 2 June 1943
(4) North Atlantic Trade Convoys, 13 October 1942 to 17 August 1943
(5) UGS/GUS, UGF/GUF, CT/TO and CU/UC Convoys, 6 November 1942 to 15 August 1943
 
KKK. Card File - Record and Schedule of all convoy commodores. (Black Box, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 3") (FX-3722)
 
LLL. Monthly Summary of Actual Trans-Atlantic Convoy Routes for the period 1 January 1943 to 31 May 1945. (29 charts, 26" x 39") (FX-3721)
 
MMM. Time Graph of Coastal Convoy Schedule for period 28 August to 24 December 1942 (1 sheet, 17" x 58") (FX-3722)



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