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Links Cruise Ships in Cork |
The Queenstown Convoys of WW1 The introduction of the convoy system in World War One was a desperate attempt to stem shipping losses due to the U-boat campaign. The tactic of the convoy - groupings of merchant ships escorted by a screen of warships, was not a new one. There had been convoys in times of conflict for centuries. Even in peacetime, convoys were used to protect sea commerce from the ravages of piracy. Throughout history pirates have been the scourge of merchant shipping. From the Elizabethan era, state-sponsored piracy, in the form of the privateer, added to the menace. The convoy system had seen it's greatest usage during the Napoleonic War and American War of Independence, when groups of up to a hundred ships would assemble in Cork Harbour for convoy to America and the West Indies. One one occasion the press reported one hundred and forty merchant ships moored in Cork Harbour awaiting convoy. The convoy system was resisted during most of World War One. The British Admiralty largely saw it as an outmoded tactic, not suitable for modern warfare. They thought that concentrated groups of ships would provide an easy target for submarines and raiders. In fact the opposite was true, with lone ships providing the easy pickings of the u-boat campaign.
It was the United States Commander of Naval forces in Europe, Admiral W.Sims who was the greatest supporter of the convoy system. It was eventually adopted in the summer of 1917, and proved a great success, continuing until war's end. Convoys have continued to be used to this day, vindicating the system. Queenstown was used as an assembly point and departure port for convoys leaving Europe, from August 1917 to January 1918. For the rest of the war. English and French ports were used, with Liverpool, Southmpton, Le Havre and Cherbourg becoming the most important by the Armistice. It must be remembered that the vast majority of cargoes were transported to, not from Europe. It was the ports in the USA, Canada, South America,Austra;ia,New Zealand and West Africa that were the source of food and materials that kept the Allied war machine in operation. Much of Europe, especially Britain, would have starved without these supplies. Troop transports from North America took a slightly different route. Troop movements were mainly done in fast convoys, staying in deep water, direct from America to the French ports.
Queenstown was a vital port in the convoy system, with up to 37 United States destroyers, 12 Royal Navy sloops, and occasionally a few British destroyers based there. There was also the important support of the Auxiliary fleet of trawlers, rescue tugs and motor boats. In 1918 there were also United States battleships based in Berehaven, British and American submarines, and a fleet of subchasers. In August 1918 there were also United States Flying boats in operation from Lough Foyle, Wexford, Whiddy Island, and Aghada in Cork. The Queenstown destroyer and sloop force did not only escort the outward Queenstown Convoys, but would meet incoming convoys and single ships from all over the world. In great feats of seamanship, an incoming convoy, or single troop ship, would be met by Queenstown warships, hundreds of miles out in the Atlantic. Then they would be escorted to their final destination. The navigational skills of these ocean rendevous were astounding. There was no satellite navigation, bad weather meant that astral navigation was sporadic, and radio communication was rudimentary at best. There were some terrible accidents and mishaps, but the facts that these tasks were accomplished speaks volumes of the seamanship and bravery of these sailors, both merchant and naval. The Queenstown convoys were given the designation 'OQ' followed by the number of the convoy, eg; OQ27 - Outward, Queenstown, convoy 27. Homeward convoys were given a 'H' designation and their originating port, eg: HH27 - Homeward Hampton Roads, convoy 27. The port of destination was never given on these designations. In total there were 31 'OQ' convoys. Of these, Twenty five left from Queenstown, one left from Milford Haven in Wales, one left from Rosslare via Queenstown, One departed from Rosslare direct. Three were cancelled.he The OQ Convoys, Aug 1917 to Jan 1918. OQ1 Departed Queenstown 21st August 1917. Two ships were escorted,
OQ3 Departed Queenstown on the 30th of August 1917. Ships escorted were: Escorted by USS Cushing, Sampson, Nicholson, Parker, Drayton, C onyngham, Mc Dougal. OQ 5 Sailed on the 8th of September 1917. OQ6 Sailed on the 11th of Sep 1917 OQ7 Sailed form Queenstown, 13th Sep 1917 Escorted by HMS Camellia and Bluebell OQ8 Sailed 19th September, Ships escorted: Dispersed 50N 17W OQ9 Departed 22nd Sep 1917 Headcliffe
OQ10 Sailed 28th Sept 1917 Karamea Escorted by: OQ 11 Sailed 30th September 1917 Eastwood Dispersed 47.42N 15W Escorted by USSRowan, Wilkes Patterson, Burrows, Ammen. Shadowed by Q-Ship HMS Tamarisk. OQ12 Sailed 8th Oct 1917 Paul Paix Dispersed 48N 14W OQ13 Departed Queenstown on 13th Oct 1917 Abadesa Dispersed 49.30N 17W Escorting ships USS Rowan, Patterson, Ammen, Fanning Winslow Wilkes. Convoy Shadowed by Q-Ship HMS Cullist. OQ14 Sailed 16th October 1917. Swinburne Escorted by USSConyngham, Parker, Mc Dougal, Jacob Jones, Sterett, Nicholson, Dispersed 48.30 N 12.30W OQ15 Sailed 20th Oct 1917. Baron Napier Escorted by USS Porter (Cushing developed defects)Trippe Wainwright Drayton Walkesham Cummings, , HMS Camellia, Zinnia. - Q-Ship, HMS Heather, positioned in front of convoy as bait. OQ16 Sailed 25th October 1917 Hawsker Dispersal: 48N 15W OQ17, due to sail on Oct 29th 1917, was cancelled due to bad weather and intending ships were instructed to join convoy OQ18. OQ18 Sailed 01st November 1917. Roselands Escorting vessels were USS Porter Wainwright Drayton Trippe Burrows Cummings and Q-Ship, HMS Heather, shadowing convoy.. OQ19 Sailed 13th Nov 1917 Greystoke Castle Escorted by USS Cushing, Wilkes, Ericsson, Drayton, Davis, Sampson, HMS Jessamine, Q-Ship HMS Tamarisk shadowing convoy. OQ20 Sailed , Nov 17th 1917 Boukadra Escorted by: To 48N 14W OQ21 Sailed from Rosslare on Nov 21st 1917 To 51.44N 06.16W then dispersing at 49N 15W Escort USS Allen OQ22 Sailed from Rosslare 24th Nov and Queenstown 25th Nov 1917. Flavia OQ23 Sailed 29th Nov 1917 from Queenstown. OQ24 Sailed from Queenstown Dec 03rd 1917 Chicago Grange To 48.20N 14W OQ25 Due to leave, Dec 08th 1917, cancelled due to lack of merchantmen to be escorted OQ26 Sailed from Queenstown Dec 14th 1917 River Araxes OQ27 Sailed 20th Dec 1917 El Cordobes OQ28 Sailed Dec 25th 1917 Guernsey
Bombay OQ30 No information – cancelled? OQ31 Sailed from Milford Haven, Monday 7th Jan 1918 Cornishman
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