IRL u-boat warfare question

[deamyont]

Now if a convoy were attacked by a wolfpack, did the merchants just run trying to get away from the u-boats, or did they stay in the line of fire, trying to pick up survivors from sunken ships? How did it really work? After the "laconian"-orders was issued I mean.

[Sailor Steve]

Usually one or more escorts would be assigned to pick up survivors. What happened during attacks was up to the Convoy Commodore. Sometimes they would break up and run in different directions, and regroup at a predetermined point, and sometimes they would just press on and hope for the best.

[LeafsFan]

Some convoys had rescue ships. These were Small merchants which were stationed at the rear of the convoy. Convoys only scattered when faced with a superior German Man of War, scattering in the face of a woilfpack would only make the ships easy meat for the U-boats.

HB

[Herr Russ]

I'm reading 'Torpedo Junction' and at least off the US coast, they ships would scatter & run towards the coast. They though it would be better to be aground on a shoal than at the bottom.. Vessels would be dispatched from various harbors if a SOS was received but sometimes it would be weeks until survivors were found.. I'm only in chapter 3, so it may have changed later on...

[Melonfish]

usually the ships just tried to zig zag as best they could. alot of the worst hit convoys had issues with weather and mechanical falures those that could keep up and stay with the DD's generally were ok those that languished in the rear....

there are documented cases of ships stopping to help survivors and getting torpedo'd there's even a case of a passenger on a ship getting sunk then picked up, then whilst on the ship that rescued him (and others) got sunk again and eventually picked up. others were picked up only to be sent back to the bottom (bad luck old boy) by the next torp. being a merchant seaman in the 40's sucked.... which is why i'm so proud of my grandfather.
pete