Difficulty in Maintaining Position in Convoy
As Comdr. Cooley later reported, Almaack, "being light and big, was unable to maintain position in the convoy at speeds less than 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h)." The heavy weather wrought havoc on the abilities of the ships to stay in formation, and Almaack found herself on her own on three occasions, each time managing to rejoin the convoy. Upon rejoining for the third time, Comdr. Cooley informed the escort commander "what speed he would make and what positions he would pass through if separated again." When this came to pass, and the cargo ship was again on her own, Almaack proceeded independently to New York without incident. Reflecting back on the voyage, on 6 December 1941, Almaack's commanding officer opined that his ship would have been far safer "steaming alone . . . than in any convoy that does not maintain a speed of at least 10 knots (20 km/h)." He also used that occasion to press for his ship to be armed with at least two 4-inch or 5-inch (127 mm) guns. In endorsing Comdr. Cooley's report on 19 December, Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, agreed to recommend independent routing for fast cargo ships such as Almaack unless "available information indicates undue danger from submarine concentration . . . ."
Read more about this topic: USS Almaack (AKA-10)
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