The Convoy’s Missing Ships

The Good Shepherd

This flow follows the losses and damage that steadily narrow the convoy while its survivors remain responsible for reaching safety.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Merchant Loss The First Merchant Loss from "The Good Shepherd". The First Merchant Loss A ship is hit Two white rockets report a torpedoing near the rear of the convoy.

The First Merchant Loss from "The Good Shepherd". The First Merchant Loss A ship is hit Two white rockets report a torpedoing near the rear of the convoy.

The First Merchant Loss A ship is hit Two white rockets report a torpedoing near the rear of the convoy. Keeling turns back and finds a ship sinking while Cadena is gathering survivors. The helpless formation Other merchant ships continue on their course while Keeling passes through their ranks. They cannot stop to rescue the damaged vessel without disrupting the formation and increasing the danger to themselves. Loss within a larger duty The scene forces George Krause to treat the convoy both as individual ships and as a collective mission. A stricken ship matters profoundly, but the remaining ships also carry people and supplies that must reach safety.

Fire and Survivors Fire and Survivors from "The Good Shepherd". Fire and Survivors A vessel burns During the night attack, a merchant ship erupts in flames after a submarine penetrates the convoy.

Fire and Survivors from "The Good Shepherd". Fire and Survivors A vessel burns During the night attack, a merchant ship erupts in flames after a submarine penetrates the convoy.

Fire and Survivors A vessel burns During the night attack, a merchant ship erupts in flames after a submarine penetrates the convoy. The explosion fills the darkness with a terrible landmark and leaves men in the water. Keeling turns aside George Krause diverts Keeling to pick up survivors, balancing the chance of saving them against the threat of nearby submarines. The ship moves slowly in dangerous water until the men are aboard. Lives recovered Four survivors reach Keeling, including injured men. The rescue cannot compensate for the ship’s loss, but it prevents the convoy’s casualty count from becoming still worse.

Seven Ships Lost Seven Ships Lost from "The Good Shepherd". Seven Ships Lost A final tally As relief approaches, George Krause reports that seven merchant ships have been lost.

Seven Ships Lost from "The Good Shepherd". Seven Ships Lost A final tally As relief approaches, George Krause reports that seven merchant ships have been lost.

Seven Ships Lost A final tally As relief approaches, George Krause reports that seven merchant ships have been lost. The surviving convoy has been battered, scattered, and delayed, but it remains capable of continuing. Damaged survivors Hendrikson and Southland reappear as damaged ships that can still maintain course and speed. Their return shows that damage does not always remove a ship from the operation, though it increases the demands on the escort. A hard measure of success The convoy’s arrival is not a clean victory: the ships and lives lost remain part of the outcome. The record of ships brought through must be held beside the record of those that did not survive.

Wednesday afternoon during the first torpedoing

Wednesday night during the convoy attack

Friday morning during the report to Diamond