CONVOY METHODS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 9 December 1941, Page 2

CONVOY METHODS

INCREASED EFFICIENCY PROTECTION ON ATLANTIC ALL NOW ESCORTED LONDON, Nov.' 21. ‘ A heartening report of the improvement in convoy conditions since the beginning of the war was given by Rear-Admiral F. Burges Watson, Commodore of Convoy, in an interview. Rear-Admiral Burges Watson, who was commodore commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy from 1932 to 1935, said: — "The position is now much better in the western ocean. Escorts are large and convoys are now escorted the whole way across. Escort, ships have become much more cunning in hunting, and a U-boat commander needs great courage to stir up the hive which the convoy has now become. “Every day means another toward the completion of more hunting craft of all types to reinforce the devoted escort groups which have been work-' ing since the beginning of the war to make more and more impassable the fence on the other side of which merchant ships can feel safe.

“Convoys row are sailing in large numbers all over the ocean and arriving safely. The days of unprotected convoys are past and there is no longer need to break formation and scatter when a torpedo attack is feared. In steady lines of 40, 50 or 100, they keep perfect station. Now they have smartness that may be compared with squadrons of men-of-war and I feel confident that the! worst of the so-called Battle of the Atlantic is past.” Describing the state of a typical convoy of 50 Ships,'he said thht on leaving port they had to pass a certain point at' three-minute' intervals, taking at least-two hotirs 27 minutes to do so and stretching out* for TO miles. Clear of the harbour they formed up into the lines of the convoy.

U-boat tactics had changed since the war began. Starting with daylight ■ submerged attacks and operating near the coasts, U-boats found this method too costly and so ranged further afield, looking for unescorted convoys. Then night attacks were developed, which followed day shadowing. The U-boats closed in on the convoy on the surface at night time with only the conning tower above water, ready for a crash dive at a moment’s notice. This form of attack had given the Germans their greatest success until steps were taken effectively to counter 'it.