This Week in Maritime History: Moments from WWI & WWII

May 24, 1917: British naval convoy system introduced

On this day the British Royal Navy introduced a new convoy system to increase security for merchant ships transiting the Atlantic Ocean. The new system had merchant ships travel in groups under Navy protection – a reaction to several successful German U-boat submarine attacks during WWI. Allied countries knew they could not afford to lose any ships that might be needed in war and with the U.S. joining in, many ships and soldiers would need to be moved across the Atlantic. The new convoy system usually meant that between 10 and 50 merchant ships along with a troopship carrying soldiers might be escorted by armed naval destroyers, cruisers, trawlers and subs. Convoy gathering points for the trade of goods for the war effort were established along the coast line from Halifax to Rio de Janeiro. The convoy system proved successful and marked many fewer German submarine attacks – between May 1917 and November 1918, 1,100,000 Ameircan troops transited the Atlantic Ocean and only 637 were killed as a result of German attacks.

PHOTO: Convoy Routes in the Atlantic Ocean during 1941

 

May 24, 1941: The Bismarck sinks the Hood

The Bismark, Germany’s largest battleship sank the British HMS Hood in the North Atlantic.                                          

The HMS Hood was the pride of the British fleet - its largest battle cruiser, capable of speeds up to 31 knots. The ships crossed paths in the north Atlantic, northeast of Iceland where German Commander, Admiral Gubther Lutjens sank the HMS Hood, killing 1,500 British soldiers – just 3 survived. The attack damaged the Bismark’s fuel tank forcing Admiral Lutjens to sail to the French coast. Spotted en route, the Bismarck was torpedoed and finally sunk by British war ships, killing the Admiral and 2,300 German soldiers. 

PHOTOS: (1) German battleship BISMARK. (2) Last picture of Hood, sailing toward her rendezvous with Bismarck, as seen from Prince of Wales. Three of the guns from that ship's 'A' turret are visible