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A 'convoy' is a group of vehicles (of any type, but usually motor vehicles or ships) traveling together for mutual support. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas. If one vehicle breaks down or gets stuck, the other vehicle can assist with repairs or attempt to free the bogged-down vehicle. If repairs are not possible, the people from the broken-down vehicle can transfer to others.

Contents

Naval convoys

Age of Sail

World War I

World War II

Post-WWII

Humanitarian aid convoys

Truckers convoys

See also

Military convoys

Humanitarian convoys

References

External links

Naval convoys

Age of Sail

By the French Revolutionary Wars of the late 18th century, effective naval convoy tactics had been developed to ward off pirates and privateers. Some convoys contained several hundred merchant ships. The most enduring system of convoys were the Spanish treasure fleets, that sailed from the 1520s until 1790.
When merchant ships sailed independently, a privateer could cruise a shipping lane and capture ships as they passed. Ships sailing in convoy presented a much smaller target: a convoy was no more likely to be found than a single ship. Even if the privateer found a convoy and the wind was favourable for an attack, it could hope to capture only a handful of ships before the rest managed to escape, and a small escort of warships could easily thwart it.
Many naval battles in the age of sail were fought around convoys, including:

★ The Battle of Portland (1653)

★ The