US periscopes at night

[Snowman999]

I've just finished reading two excellent books on Atlantic warfare, and am right now in the middle of a third. Great emphasis and training was placed on Allied convoys maintaining proper formation and NOT panicking. It did happen, but a lot less than some people like to think. The convoy Commodores were highly trained, and by mid-war so were all the merchant captains. According to every source I've seen, nine times out of ten they did indeed maintain formation.

OK, granted, but you should still see flank speed and some zigging ordered in the middle of an active attack. Or at least zigging. Early-war attacks should have displayed some pacic as well, but I see no change from 1940 to 1945 (when I die gloriously.)

[Sailor Steve]

Oh, I completely agree about the zig-zags; they left that out completely. "All ships now come to course 050!"

And, on occassion the Commodore would actually order the convoy to break up and meet at a pre-arranged location. Rare, but it did happen.