Mid-Ocean Escort Force facts for kids
The Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) was a special group of warships during World War II. Their main job was to protect merchant ships (called convoys) carrying important supplies across the Atlantic Ocean. These convoys sailed between Canada, Newfoundland, and the British Isles.
When the United States joined the war, their ships, along with British and Canadian ships, worked together in these escort groups. Even when the US ships left some groups later, the MOEF continued its vital work. By 1943, British and Canadian ships mostly handled the main convoys, while US escorts focused on faster convoys and those heading to the Mediterranean Sea.
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Why Escorts Were Needed
During World War I, the British learned that grouping merchant ships into convoys and giving them escorts helped protect them from enemy attacks. So, when World War II started in September 1939, they quickly began using convoys in waters near the United Kingdom.
At first, German submarines (called U-boats) couldn't go far from their bases. But after Germany took over bases in Norway and France, their newer, bigger U-boats could travel far into the mid-Atlantic. These areas were too far for airplanes to patrol, creating a "Mid-Atlantic Gap" where convoys were very vulnerable. Many escort ships didn't have enough fuel to cross the whole ocean.
To fix this, convoys started getting escorts for their entire journey. For example, convoy HX 129, which left Halifax in May 1941, was the first to have escorts all the way. Ships from Halifax would hand off the convoy to escorts from Newfoundland, who would then pass it to ships from Iceland, and finally, British escorts would guide it to the UK.
American Ships Join In
In August 1941, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to send American destroyers to protect convoys traveling between Canada and Iceland. Convoy HX 150 was the first to have American escorts in September 1941. The Royal Canadian Navy continued to protect the slower convoys. Canadian escort groups usually had six ships: one destroyer and five smaller ships called Flower-class corvettes.
Being an escort was dangerous. For example, the US destroyer Kearny was hit by a torpedo in October 1941. Later that month, the destroyer Reuben James was sunk while protecting convoy HX 156. When the United States officially entered the war, their escort groups often had five destroyers. Six United States Coast Guard Treasury-class cutters also joined these groups.
How Long-Range Escorts Were Organized
The US Navy needed many destroyers for both the Pacific Ocean and to protect their own coastal shipping in the Atlantic. So, they looked for ways to make escorting more efficient. They realized that a shorter route from Newfoundland to the British Isles would save time and require fewer destroyers.
In early 1942, an agreement was made to create the Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF). This force had fourteen Escort Groups. Groups led by American ships were called "A" groups, British-led groups were "B" groups, and Canadian-led groups were "C" groups.
These groups were meant to have three destroyers and seven corvettes each. Destroyers were powerful ships, while corvettes were smaller but good for patrolling. However, about a third of these ships were always unavailable. Some needed repairs from storms or battles, while others were getting regular maintenance.
Each MOEF escort group followed a 33-day schedule. This included time escorting convoys, resting in ports like St. John's, and getting repairs in Derry. This new system meant most escorts didn't have to go to Iceland for maintenance, which was difficult there. Canada and Britain also had their own local escort forces closer to their coasts.
Early Escort Groups
The first MOEF escort groups were made up of a mix of ships from different navies. For example, Escort Group A-1 included the US destroyer Benson and Canadian Flower-class corvettes like Alberni. Escort Group B-1 had the British destroyer Hurricane and various Flower-class corvettes. Canadian groups like C-1 included destroyers such as Assiniboine and several Flower-class corvettes.
Shortage of Destroyers
Corvettes had enough fuel to complete MOEF missions, but destroyers used a lot of fuel, especially at convoy speeds. Only certain older destroyers, like some Town-class destroyers, were good for MOEF duties. Other older destroyers, like the Wickes-class, didn't have enough fuel for the full journey. The British Navy even modified some of their destroyers to carry more fuel.
As the war continued, many modern American destroyers were sent to the Pacific Ocean to protect important battleships and aircraft carriers. The remaining American destroyers in the Atlantic were often needed to protect troop convoys or deal with U-boat attacks closer to the US coast. Because of this, some American-led MOEF groups were broken up, and others were taken over by the British Royal Navy.
By April 1942, eleven main groups were escorting the important HX, SC, and ON convoys through the tough winter of 1942–43.
Escort Group A-3
This group, initially led by the US destroyer Gleaves, escorted many convoys. After Gleaves left, US Coast Guard cutters like Spencer and Campbell took over leadership. They faced tough battles, losing ships in convoys like ON 92, SC 100, ON 145, ON 166, and SC 121. Despite losses, they also escorted many convoys without incident. Eventually, this group became a Canadian-led group, C-5.
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Escort Group B-1
This British-led group saw new corvettes join, and older destroyers were replaced by long-range escorts. They successfully escorted many convoys without loss, but convoy ON 178 lost three ships to U-boat attacks.
Escort Group B-2
This group also added new corvettes and replaced its older destroyers with long-range ones like Vanessa and Whitehall. They had a good record, escorting many convoys safely. However, Convoy SC 118 suffered heavy losses, with eight ships sunk.
Escort Group B-3
This group's older destroyers were replaced by newer ones, including Polish destroyers. They also had four corvettes with Free French crews. They escorted many convoys safely. However, Convoy HX 228 lost four ships, and the group leader, Harvester, was sunk after ramming a U-boat. Another U-boat then sank Harvester, but a Free French corvette, Aconit, sank that U-boat in return.
Escort Group B-4
This group added new corvettes and replaced an older destroyer. They escorted many convoys without loss. However, Convoy HX 209 lost one ship, and Convoy HX 229 lost twelve ships. In Convoy ON 176, one ship was lost, and the destroyer Beverley was torpedoed.
Escort Group B-6
This group included Norwegian-manned corvettes and new British destroyers. They escorted many convoys safely. However, Convoy ON 122 lost four ships, Convoy SC 104 lost seven ships, and Convoy ON 144 lost five ships. One of their corvettes, Montbretia, was also torpedoed.
Escort Group B-7
This group, led by the destroyer Firedrake, also included several corvettes. They escorted many convoys without loss. But Convoy ON 153 lost three ships. In December 1942, HMS Firedrake was torpedoed and sank. The destroyer HMS Duncan became the new leader, and a new type of ship, the River-class frigate Tay, joined the group. Convoy HX 231 lost three ships, and Convoy ONS 5 lost eleven ships.
Escort Group C-1
This Canadian-led group saw many changes in its corvette lineup. They escorted many convoys safely, but Convoy ON 100 lost three ships, and Convoy SC 94 lost ten ships. The group leader, Assiniboine, was replaced. Convoy ON 154 suffered heavy losses, with thirteen ships sunk. Later, a new River-class frigate joined the group.
Escort Group C-2
This group also had changes in its destroyers and corvettes. While they escorted many convoys safely, Convoy ON 113 lost three ships, though the destroyer St. Croix sank a U-boat. Convoy SC 97 lost two ships, but the corvette Morden sank another U-boat. New River-class frigates joined this group later.
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Escort Group C-3
This group escorted many convoys without loss. However, Convoy ON 115 lost two ships, but the destroyer Skeena and corvette Wetaskiwin sank a U-boat. Convoy SC 109 lost one ship, and the destroyer Saguenay was badly damaged in a collision. A new River-class frigate joined this group later.
Escort Group C-4
This group also had changes in its ships. They escorted many convoys safely. However, Convoy ON 127 lost six ships, and the destroyer Ottawa was torpedoed. Convoy SC 107 suffered very heavy losses, with fifteen ships sunk.
Spring of 1943
By the spring of 1943, Escort Group B-5 returned to the MOEF. It included the destroyer Havelock, several Flower-class corvettes, and a new River-class frigate, Swale. They escorted convoys ON 168 and SC 126 without loss, but Convoy SC 122 lost eight ships.
The new River-class frigates were a big help to the MOEF. They allowed older escort ships to go in for upgrades, getting new sensors like radar and better anti-submarine weapons. The destroyers that were replaced by these new frigates could then form "mobile support groups." These groups could quickly move to help convoys that were under attack. As the weather improved in 1943, new long-range patrol planes also started flying over the mid-Atlantic, helping to spot U-boats from the air.
See also
- Mid-Ocean Meeting Point
- Mid-Atlantic Gap
