How many escorts did convoys have?

[KevinB]

I am in March '43 and came across a large convoy and decided to get rid of the escorts before targetting the convoy.
But how many escorts do convoys have?
I knocked out about 9 and they were still coming. Is this real?

[Spray]

Sounds real to me here in 41' im just monitoring radio traffic ploughing along then I get a message. All submarines form wolfpack meet up at X and Y co ords for attack on convoy. Managed to get there in time... didn't really see the friendly subs doing any work but there was a radio report 39 Merchants 7 Escorts. It was by far the biggest convoy I ever saw.

[mookiemookie]

As a sample here's the makeup of convoy PQ-17 which was carrying the most valuable cargo ($700 mm) to date in the war by the time it sailied in June/July of 1942:

33 merchant ships plus 1 oiler to refuel the escorts

3 rescue ships
5 destroyers
3 corvettes
3 minesweepers
4 anti-submarine trawlers
2 anti-aircraft ships
2 submarines 25 of the merchants were sunk.

So yes, the number of destroyers are historically correct. You're not paid to sink warship tonnage, you're paid to sink merchants! Go get 'em! :arrgh!:

[KevinB]

Bloody Hell! In that case I had better start making my last will and testatment!:down:

[Brag]

Bloody Hell! In that case I had better start making my last will and testatment!:down:

Send me your girlfriend's address. She will need consoling :smug:

[Jimbuna]

Some convoys have Hunter Killer groups close by scripted into the game. :arrgh!:

[Wulfmann]

When the war turned in May 1943 the convoys had considerable protection.
They would have sweepers way in front, another line right in front and multi layers on the flanks with more bringing up the rear. They then had hunter killer groups in between the convoys as well as extra AS ships to take over from convoy escorts attacking U-Boats so the convoy did not reduce its escort screens.
I add many escorts from May 1943 over what is in GWX so I have between 18-24 but this is really less than they would have had as well. But, there are also less merchants so hoping I balance for reality in relative terms.
My reasoning is this:
U-Boats did not (in real life)attack the screen to eliminate them to have an unopposed way with the merchants so by having more than I could sink/survive/have fish left it forces me to act more like a real Kaleun.
For me sinking 2 escorts just means four will come.
If I am forced to defend myself and get in a destroyer battle I have no chance of getting near the merchants so even if I sink a bunch I lose.
With so many escorts penetrating is risky and only rarely does it happen after mid 43.
That sounds like what I read so feel it is how it should be.
To each there own, what ever makes you enjoy SH3 is the right way.
I want it as close to personal accounts.
Wulfmann

[Sailor Steve]

I just finished reading a great book on the Battle of the Atlantic. It said that they had trouble fielding escorts in 1939; in fact one convoy sailed unescorted until joined by one corvette and one armed trawler. From the Convoy Commodore: "Oh, look, they've sent us a rowboat and a raft!"

By 1943 you could expect to see as many as 12 destroyers, and sometimes an additional hunter/killer group patrolling close by, which meant six more destroyers and a small carrier, which meant aircraft. Not to mention blimps.:dead: