[bigboywooly]

Originally Posted by java`s revenge

Firstly,

Year 1939,
And making convoys was much later in the war.

.

:hmm:

15 Sept 1939

U 31 reported in radio message 0700: "Convoy in square 1253, main course 2400, speed 10 knots." That is off the Bristol Channel. This is the first clear report of a convoy. The boats in the neighboring areas U 34, 29, 53, should now operate against the convoy

BDU KTB

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30247.htm

i only met large convoys with 3 to 4 destroyers...oh man.
That wasn`t the case.

1st October 39

I intend to operate them against merchant shipping in the Atlantic. They are almost all boats of large radius of action. I regard the enemy situation as follows:


a)Convoy system has been widely introduced. Ports for incoming convoys are: Weymouth for the channel area, Barry for the Bristol Channel - Irish Sea. Ports for outward bound convoys are: Plymouth for the Channel area Milford Haven for the Bristol Channel - Irish Sea Gibraltar is used by convoys bound in all directions and as port of control for ships bound for northern Europe. Ramsgate or the Downs are ports of control for east bound traffic coming from the Channel.

b)The strength of convoys varies between 4 and 20 ships, their speed between 7 and 18 knots. Very fast convoys have only been observed in the Mediterranean.

c)Convoy escort: Close escort by 4-6 destroyers, sometimes also cruisers, a/c accompany the convoys off the coast.
Remote protection:Strong air activity all around England.
Stationary a/c carriers:


BDU KTB

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30249.htm

16th October 39

U 46 reported a convoy of 20 ships escorted by 12 destroyers, on a main course northeast. Boat was shadowing, lost contact for a while, regained it and shadowed until afternoon. Then English costal radio stations received reports of the torpedoing of 2 ships. At 2000 U 37 reported: convoy scattered, one ship sunk. She must therefore have reached the convoy. After the convoy had scattered, contact was lost. In order to regain it, U 37 ordered a reconnaissance line to be formed the following morning which is intended to pick up the convoy from the northeast.

19th October 39

U 46 encountered a fresh convoy of 15 ships, but she was soon driven off by destroyers and lost contact

30th October 39

U 34 sank a steamer from a convoy off the west entrance to the Channel, torpedoed 3 others, but could not observe results owing to anti-S/M activity. She is returning because of a crack in the inner compensating tank.

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30250.htm

And so on