This collection of correspondence, taken from RG 24, volume 3775 in the National Archives of Canada, describes the plans in the event of a German battlecruiser raid on the convoy routes in the North Atlantic. Note that the 'key' to the convoy abbreviations mentioned in a couple of the documents may be found here.
To: Senior Naval Officer, New York
Senior Officer of Escorts, Halifax
Port Convoy Officer, Norfolk, Va
Port Convoy Officer, Sydney, C. B. [Cape Breton]
Port Convoy Officer, Quebec
(copies to Director of the Naval Service of Canada, and Rear-Admiral, Bermuda)
Date: 15 October 1918 No. 25.
Subject: Plan of Action to be Taken in the Event of a Battle Cruiser Raid in the Atlantic
MOST SECRET
The attached orders, which have been agreed upon by the Admiralty and U. S. Navy Department, for use in the event of a raid being attempted by a German Battle Cruiser in the Atlantic, are forwarded for your information, guidance, and necessary action.
2. The present intention is for each East bound convoy, whether troop or cargo, to be escorted up to the submarine danger zone by either a pre-Dreadnought Battleship or Armoured Cruiser in addition to the Armed Merchant Cruiser or Commissioned Escort Ship, this plan to become effective as the necessary Men of War become available.
3. Particular attention is called to Paragraph (c) of Plan of Action as regards reporting time and date convoy will cross the meridian of 40.00 West, which information is also to be telegraphed to Commander-in-Chief.
4. Attention is also called to "Notes for Immediate Action" and to the necessity for officers in charge of convoys, and commodores of convoys, receiving full instructions as to the B. C. R. Plan.
[signed] W. L Grant [Royal Navy], Admiral
(a) Raider warning will not be sent out without mutual consent of Navy Department and Admiralty unless the evidence is conclusive.
(b) Warning will be in the form Battle Cruiser Raider Action followed by time (G. M. T.) from which it is in force (to be sent in Convoy Cypher).
The latest reported position of the Enemy Battle Cruiser will be added if possible, and later reports of the enemy's position will be broadcasted, in Convoy Cypher, by shore Stations.
(c) On the issue of this warning the Navy Department, Washington, acting in co-operation with the Commander-in-Chief, North America & West Indies, will take all action required as regards East bound convoys whose time A (G. M. T.) is later than the time (G. M. T.) given in the raider warning. The time A (G. M. T.) is to be the estimated time at which the convoy will cross longitude 40 West; this time should be fixed before convoy sails and be included in the sailing telegram sent to London. (Note.- This division of spheres of action by time instead of by actual position is necessary as it is not possible to know exactly whether a convoy has or has not crossed longitude 40 West at a given time).
(d) Dreadnought Battleships based on Berehaven will be detailed (under orders to be issued from London) to proceed to meet Troop Convoys whose time A is earlier than the time (G. M. T.) given in the Raider Warning.
They will only be sent to meet such of those convoys as can be met before reaching longitude 20 West.
On making contact the Dreadnought should report the fact by W/T to London and should accompany the convoy until further instructions are received.
Any Dreadnought Battleships based on Berehaven which may be in excess of these requirements should be utilised to meet Cargo Convoys.
(e) Dreadnoughts based on Halifax or in other North American Ports will be detailed by Washington to reinforce Troop or other Convoys as may be considered desirable at the time, and will report to Washington on making contact. The Dreadnoughts will accompany on instructions being received but will not go to the East of 20 West unless so ordered.
(f) The Ocean Escort (Pre-Dreadnought or Armoured Cruiser) is to remain with each convoy unless and until further orders are received, except in the case of being met by a Dreadnought when she will return to her West Atlantic Port.
(g) Each convoy routed by the North of Ireland will also be given an alternative route by the South of Ireland; when time admits of Destroyer Escort being diverted, such convoys may be directed by London to the alternative route, the Battleships at Berehaven being informed accordingly.
(h) Each convoy to be given by the Port Convoy Officer as at present an ocean route shewing where it will cross longitude 60, 50, 40, 30 West. These routes to be given under general directions from Washington and to be notified in each case to London (as at present).
(i) Washington and London to keep each other closely informed of action taken in regard to the various convoys.
NOTES FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.- To come into force for convoys sailing after 21st October.
(I) Convoy Cypher to be issued to all escorts and commodores of convoys and also to ships in fast U. S. Troop Convoys and monster ships which sail independently.
(II) Officers in charge of convoys and commodores of convoys to be instructed in the sense of above Plan "B. C. R.", and also that notwithstanding the above general instructions when danger is actually imminent the officers in charge of convoys must be given full discretion as to the action to be taken to evade the enemy. As a general rule in such cases they should seek to escape in the general direction of their destination but as a final resort officers in charge of convoys, when the convoy is insufficiently protected, may disperse their convoys. In all cases convoys should maintain radio silence except that the senior officer's ship should
(1) Report position and movements of raiding force if sighted,
(2) Relay to shore station if necessary,
(3) Make such signals as may be absolutely necessary to make contact with Battleship or Destroyers unless the safety of convoy is thereby endangered.
(j) No special plan will be adopted at present for Westbound traffic which will proceed independently after dispersal from outward convoy. The aim should be to continue all voyages. Ships will be guided by warning received and any instructions broadcasted.
To: Senior Naval Officer, New York
Senior Officer of Escorts, Halifax
Port Convoy Officer, Norfolk, Va
Port Convoy Officer, Sydney, C. B. [Cape Breton]
Port Convoy Officer, Quebec
(copies to Director of the Naval Service of Canada, and Rear-Admiral, Bermuda)
Date: 18 October 1918 No. 25.
Subject: Plan of Action to be Taken in the Event of a Battle Cruiser Raid in the Atlantic
The following amendment is to be made in my Memorandum No. 25 of 15th October.-
Cancel Paragraph (f) and substitute -
"The Ocean Escort (Pre-Dreadnought or Armoured Cruiser) if acting as additional Escort, is to remain with each convoy unless and until further orders are received, except in the case of being met by a Dreadnought when she will return to her West Atlantic port. When however any ship is acting as the only Escort of a convoy, and is therefore in charge of it, she will, even if met by a Dreadnought, carry on under present rules."
[signed] W. L. Grant [RN], Admiral
To: Senior Naval Officer, New York
Senior Officer of Escorts, Halifax
Port Convoy Officer, Norfolk, Va
Port Convoy Officer, Sydney, C. B. [Cape Breton]
Port Convoy Officer, Quebec
(copies to Director of the Naval Service of Canada, and Rear-Admiral, Bermuda)
Date: 2nd November 1918. No. 25.
Subject: Plan of Action to be Taken in the Event of a Battle Cruiser Raid in the Atlantic
Reference: My No. 25 of 15th and 18th October 1918.
Herewith is forwarded for your information copy of arrangements made for supplementing the present escorts for troop and cargo convoys.
[signed] W. L Grant [RN], Admiral
25th October 1918.
Op-38 D
S-49-541
From: Chief of Naval Operations
To: C-in-C, Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Battleship Force One.
Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force.
Commander, Newport News Division Cruiser and Transport Force.
American Convoy Officer, New York.
Commander, U. S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.
Subject: Escorts for Troop and Cargo Convoys
Reference: (a) BCR Plan A dated 10th October 1918
The following instructions are issued for the purpose of carrying out and clearing up the details of reference (a)
1. Beginning immediately, either one pre-dreadnaught [sic] or one armored cruiser (including the "CHARLESTON", "ST. LOUIS" and "ROCHESTER") but not both pre-dreadnaught and armored cruiser, will be assigned to escort every convoy of importance in the order hereinafter named as BCR escorts. Convoys escorted by British armored cruisers will not be escorted by U. S. armored cruisers.
2. As far as practicable pre-dreadnaughts will be used as escorts for troop convoys.
3. No cargo convoys will have a BCR escort when such detail will make it impracticable to furnish armored ships as BCR escorts for troop convoys.
4. The order of importance of the various convoys is as follows:-
(a) U. S. Troopship Groups (slow).
(b) HX Convoys from New York.
(c) HC Convoys from Quebec through November 15, and from Halifax after November 15.
(d) HB Convoys from New York.
(e) HN Convoys from New York.
(f) HS Convoys from Sydney through December 2, and from Halifax after December 2.
(g) HH Convoys from Hampton Roads.
(h) Halifax-Gibraltar Convoys (when started) slow.
5. The light cruisers of Squadron Two, Cruiser Force and the French and British ocean escorts will continue on their present duty in charge of the various convoys.
6. In all convoys, the convoy will be in charge of the officer designated as convoy commander either in the ocean escort or one of the ships of the convoy, and never in charge of the commanding officer of the accompanying battleship ro armored cruiser acting as BCR escort.
7. Battleships and armored cruisers acting as BCR escort will be given orders to proceed as far as fuel permits or until met by the eastern escort, but not past longitude 15 degrees West, unless necessity to protect the convoy against a raid exists. These vessels will be directed to return without refuelling, except in cases of emergency.
8. If it becomes necessary to start Halifax-Gibraltar convoys, the light cruisers of Squadron Two, Cruiser Force will be relieved by British vessels as ocean escorts for HN convoys, and assigned as ocean escorts for Halifax-Gibraltar convoys.
9. The Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force will carry out the details of this plan. Commander, Battleship Force One will confer with Commander, Cruiser Force and arrange with the Commander, Cruiser Force for a schedule of sailings of vessels of Battleship Force One, prepared as far in advance as practicable.
(Signed) W. V. Pratt, Acting.
10th November, 1918.
M-025090/18.
[to: The Director of Naval Service, Ottawa]
I am to transmit herewith for your information a copy of Plan B. C. R., Instructions as to action to be taken in regard to North Atlantic Convoys in the event of a Raid in the North Atlantic by an Enemy Battle Cruiser.
2. Spare copies are enclosed for issue to Port Convoy Officers for communication to Commodores of Convoy.
3. The receipt of this letter and enclosure should be specially acknowledged.
4. This letter has been addressed to the following Officers, the number indicates the number of copies of enclosure forwarded with each letter:-
| Commander-in-Chief, Devonport | 12 |
| Rear-Admiral, Falmouth | 3 |
| Admiral, Milford Haven | 6 |
| Senior Naval Officer, Liverpool | 10 |
| Senior Naval Officer, Clyde | 6 |
| Commander in Chief, Queenstown | 3 |
| Vice-Admiral, Runcrana | 3 |
| Senior Naval Officer, Larhe | 2 |
| Port Convoy Officer, Lamlash | 6 |
| Rear-Admiral 2nd in Command, N. America & West Indies | 1 |
| Rear-Admiral, Halifax, N. S. | 8 |
| Port Convoy Officer, Norfolk, Va. | 8 |
| Commodore Wells, New York | 8 |
| Rear-Admiral Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron | 1 |
| Senior Naval Officer, Dakar | 1 |
| Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar | 1 |
| Director of Naval Service, Ottawa | 1 |
| Commodore Heaton Ellis, Paris | 2 |
| Commander in Chief, Portsmouth | 2 |
5. Copies of the Plan B. C. R. have also been sent to Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, Commander in Chief, North America and West Indies, and Force Commander U. S. N.
By Command of their Lordships,
[signed] H. Eastwood, for Secretary.
[in manuscript:] Acknowledged by wire 15/12/18
Instructions as to Action to be taken in regard to North Atlantic Convoys in the event of a Raid in the North Atlantic by an Enemy Battle Cruiser
1. The following plan of action in the event of a raid by enemy Battle Cruiser in the North Atlantic has been agreed upon by the U. S. Navy Department and the Admiralty and is communicated for the information and guidance of all concerned.
Should it be decided to put the plan in action, warning will be sent out from the Admiralty and also from the U. S. Navy Department, Washington, in convoy cypher in the words "Battle Cruiser Raider Action", followed by the time (GMT) indicating the hour at which the plan would be regarded as having been brought into force. The latest reported position of the enemy Battle Cruiser will be added to this message, if possible, and later reports of the enemy's position will be broadcasted in Convoy Cypher by Shore Stations.
2. On the issue of this warning, the Navy Department, Washington, in consultation with the C-in-C North America and West Indies, will take all action which they consider desirable as regards Eastbound Convoys whose time 'A' (GMT) is later than the time (GMT) given in the raider warning. This time "A" (GMT) is the estimated time at which the Convoy would cross Longitude 40º W. and will be fixed for each Convoy before the Convoy sails and be included in the sailing telegram sent to London. The Admiralty, London, is consultation with the Force Commander, U. S. Navy, will take all action as regards Eastbound Convoys whose time "A" (GMT) is earlier than the time (GMT) given in the raider warning.
(Note. - This division by time of the sphere of the action is necessary as it is not possible to know exactly the actual position of each convoy at the time when the raider warning is issued, and it is necessary that it should be quite clear as to whether Washington or London is to take action in regard to each particular convoy.)
3. Dreadnought Battleships have been based on Berehaven and will be detailed under orders to be issued from London to proceed to meed troop convoys whose time "A" (GMT) is earlier than the time (GMT) given in the raider warning; if there are any Dreadnought Battleships at Berehaven in excess of the requirements of the troop convoys they will be utilised to meet cargo convoys. On making contact the Dreadnought Battleship should report the fact by W/ T to the Admiralty, London, and should accompany the convoy until further instructions are received.
4. Dreadnought Battleships will also be based on Halifax or other North American Port and will be detailed under orders to be issued from Washington to reinforce troop or other convoys whose time "A" is later than the time (GMT) given in the raider warning. On making contact the Dreadnought Battleship will report the fact by W/T to Washington and will accompany convoy on instructions being received from Washington but will not go to the Eastward of 20º W, unless so ordered.
5. Apart from the Dreadnought Battleships mentioned above, it is intended that eventually each convoy, whether troop or cargo, should have either a Pre-Dreadnought Battleship or an Armoured Cruiser as Ocean Escort. In normal times, this escort if acting as an additional Ocean Escort would return to North America on reaching the British Islands Submarine Danger Zone, but after the raider warning is issued the Pre-Dreadnought Battleship or Armoured Cruiser should continue with the convoy unless and until further orders are received except in the case of a convoy being joined by the Dreadnought Battleship, when the Pre-Dreadnought Battleship or Armoured Cruiser should return to her North American Port. When, however, the Armoured Cruiser is acting as the Ocean Escort and in charge of the convoy, she will, under normal conditions and also when met by a Dreadnought Battleship, continue with the convoy as at present.
6. Each convoy routed by the North of Ireland is also to be given al alternative route by the South of Ireland; in the event of the raider warning being issued and when time admits of the Destroyer Escort being diverted to the South, such convoys may be directed from London to proceed by the South-about route, and London will then inform Berehaven accordingly.
7. All convoys to be given as at present ocean route showing where they will cross Longitude 60, 50, 40, and 30º W., so that their course may be known approximately at any moment.
8. Washington and London to keep each other closely informed of action taken in regard to various convoys.
9. Convoy Cypher to be issued as at present to all Escorts and Commodores of Convoy and also to ships in the fast U. S. troop convoys and to the "Monster Ships" which sail independently.
10. Officers Commanding the Battleships or Cruisers mentioned above all Officers in charge of Convoys and Commodores of Convoy to be instructed in the sense of this plan and also be informed that on the receipt of the raider warning they should listen in for radio instructions, but in their absence, the following general principles should govern their action in the event of immediate danger:-
(a) Notwithstanding the general instructions that follow, special vessels and convoys are given full discretion as to action taken to evade the enemy, when danger is imminent.
(b) When practicable convoys should seek to escape in the general direction of their destination.
(c) As a final resort Convoy Commanders when insufficiently protected may disperse their convoys.
(d) Maintain radio silence except that Senior Officer's Ship shall:
(1) Report position and movements of raiding force if sighted.
(2) Relay to shore stations such reports if deemed necessary.
(3) Answer calls from a Dreadnought Battleship endeavouring to make contact, unless safety of Convoy is thereby endangered.
11. No special plan will be adopted at present for West bound traffic and such traffic will proceed independently after dispersal from Outward Convoy. In default of other instructions the aim of each ship should be to continue her voyage, but ships should be guided by warning received by them and also by any instructions which may be broadcasted.
ADMIRALTY. S. W. 1.
4th November, 1918.
M. 025090.
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