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Protecting Convoys from Surface Raiders Older and slower capital ~ ships like the World War I veteran USS New York, shown above, we re~ depl oyed to protect convoys fro m the threat of large enemy surface "" raiders in 1942 and '43. Although German surface ships caused severe damage in the early stages of the battle, they were soon bottled up in port, or hunted down and destroyed by aggress ive Allied pursuit. Kingfi sher reconnaissance aircraft mounted on the catapu 1t of the New Yo rk's number three 14- inch gun turret, top right, helped to prov ide an aerial observati on umbrella over the convoys. Unfo rtunate ly, most convoys had to cross the Atlantic witho ut the benefit of battleship protection. New York's spotter planes could onl y operate in calm seas, otherwise they would be wrecked upon recovery at sea. Destroyer Escorts: The U-boat Killers The ultimate evo lution in anti -submarine warfare during the Battle of the Atl antic was the Ameri can destroyer escort. Fast, we ll armed and seaworthy , these deadl y warships were spec ificall y built to hunt down and destroy Uboats on the high seas, at one third the cost of a fleet destroyer. Thi s view of USS Kephart (DE-207) at right as it charges o ut of New York Harbor to join the battle, clearl y shows the lethal combination of deck guns and depth charges that made these vessels so effecti ve.
SEA HISTORY 66, SU MMER 1993