Allied convoys: Each convoy had at least 1 or more merchants (depending on convoy size), assigned as rescue ship.
The rescue ship had to have a top speed higher than the speed of the convoy, be a low tonnage ship and carry cargo of a low war value.
Loved by all sailors except those serving on it.
Convoy rules in general, no one but the rescue ship may stop to pick up survivers, doing so might cost the captian his license, if not also the ship.
Early war especially the escorts was banned from picking up survivers, as they was already very limited in numbers, each and everyone it's weight worth in gold, later this change to a degree.
Japanese convoys: up to the convoy commander on what to do, which did lead to losses among escorts and merchants, when they turned into sitting ducks. Later in the war, manpower became an issue for the japanese so anyone rescued was worth a lot.
Troop transports and capital ships was a whole other ballgame. Most merchants had a crew of "only" 40-120 crew, in other words not worth the risk. But Capitals, cruisers and troop transports, here the number of people isn't so low, that you can effort to "ignore" them.
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