Armed escort trawlers

[trevor]

Sorry if this seems to be a basic question but I have been looking at the convoys in and out of England during WW2 and have noted that the trawlers only seem to escort the convoy for a couple of days in general and not the complete journey
Why was this?
was it due to the distances travelled? or other reasons

Thanks
Trevor

[geosub1978]

Generaly:

In the beggining, the mid Atlantic escorts were mainly ad-hoc V an W class WWI era destroyers with armed trawlers reinforcing the escort up to the edges of the Western Approaches. The escorts used to exchange in three succesive zones: Western Approaches/Iceland/Newfoundland.
Expect formation of escorting groups only after the first months of 1941 again with V/Ws enforced with some Town class destroyers and smaller but still tough boats such as corvettes and navy trawlers.
Soon you will find sloops and the famous five HIGHLANDERS and then US Benson, Cannon class destoyers and US coast guard cutters and at last Hunter Killer or Distant Cover groups formed around escort carriers.

An intresting battle which developed under the shadow of the battle of the Atlantic is the effort around the british coastal convoys.

[trevor]

Hi Geosub1978, Thank you for the explanation,

I have the following books that I am trying to understand from
Convoys to Russia by Arnold Hague 1941 - 1945
Arctic convoys by Richard Woodman
The Real Cruel Sea same author and
Convoy Drama in arctic waters by Paul Kemp

my aim is to try and identify the Trawlers that were based or were registered at Grimsby that were requisitioned, main problem is that most sources only id the boats by name not official number or other details so its quite a challenge especially when some were renamed after modification to mine sweepers and escort vessels

Cheers
Trevor

[geosub1978]

I always use THE HUNTERS/HUNTED as a first reference which would lead me to a more detailed book. If I find anything there I will revert!

[trevor]

Thanks, I will see if I can find a copy

best regards
Trevor