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Convoy systems for merchant vessels were introduced during war and against pirates and privateers in medieval times, a merchant convoy of several merchant ships was protected by warships.

During World War II the convoy system was again used to counteract the submarine and surface raider attacks, now the convoy was also harassed by aircraft. Special the convoys proceeding to Malta and the Arctic convoys to Northern Russia.

In the first years of World War II, the losses on ships and men in the convoys were very high, but the number of losses gradually decreased later in the war.

The Canadian stamp shows us a warship in the foreground with a convoy of merchant ships during World War II.

Canada 1989 38c sg1349, scott1262
Germany 1943 3pf + 2pf sg819, scott?
Norway 1943 30 ore sg346, scott?, 1970 100 ore sg649, scott?
Samoa 1981 32s sg591, scott?

Canada Post Corporation's on-going tribute to heroic achievements and sacrifices of Canadians during the Second World War continues with a set of four stamps marking 1942 as the "darkest days" of the war. By 1942, German U-boats had battled their way across the Atlantic to invade the coastal waters of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and into the Gulf St. Lawrence. Five U-boats attacked five convoys, sank 17 merchant ships, a loaded troop ship and two warships. But it was the sinking of the CARIBOU, the North Sydney-Port aux Basques passenger ferry, with the loss of 136 civilian lives, http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=7028 that finally brought the reality of war to Canada's shores. In September, the St. Lawrence was closed to all shipping except the coastal trade. With Canadian air superiority and less shipping, by the next month the U-boats had all but disappeared. But it was a coup for the Germans for it forced the Allies to re-route war material.
Canadian Mail.

On this two stamps issued by Canada on the end of 1992 is shown the important roll the Canadian escort vessels and crew played which were used to escort the merchant convoys over the North Atlantic and the crew of the merchant ships for the voyages during World War II.

The convoys were compiled in the ports and bays of the East Coast of Canada and Newfoundland and when the convoys left port it took sometimes a whole day before all ships had passed the harbour mouth with course for Great Britain.
Many times the escort vessels were only a few corvettes.
During the 2,060 days of the Second World War duration, 25,343 voyages were made by merchant marine vessels over the North Atlantic, and in that time 182 million ton cargo and troops transported. 3500 Merchant ships were lost and 36000 merchant seaman killed.
The first part of the voyage were the merchant ships escorted by Canadian warships, after the USA took part in this war, the two navies united the escort services. Most of the escort vessels were corvettes and she escorted the convoys to Iceland before the British and their allies warships took over the escort for the last part of the voyage.
During World War II the Canadian navy was the second largest in the North Atlantic and during this time she lost 24 warships.
The European countries have to thank the merchant marine and their crews, not only they had to battle bad weather but also enemy warships mostly submarines which were patrolling the area and long range enemy bomber airplanes the last part.
Due to few warships available in the beginning of the war many merchant ships were lost.
The top stamp of 1992 shows the convoy is leaving the port, with RAF planes above the ships for protection.
The lower stamp of 1992 shows a merchant ship in a convoy attacked and hit by a torpedo from an enemy submarine.


Canada 1989 38c sg1349, scott1262. 1992 42c sg1576 and 1578, scott1449 and 1451.
Source: Various internet sites.