US Coast Guard Cutters' Role in WWI Convoy Escort Duty

What was the role of USCG cutters in convoy escort duty during WWI?

How many USCG cutters went overseas to perform convoy escort duty between Gibraltar and Great Britain?

The Role of USCG Cutters in WWI Convoy Escort Duty

The provided text does not specify the exact number of USCG cutters that served on convoy escort duty during WWI. However, it does highlight the integral role of the US Coast Guard and the convoy system in reducing shipping losses and combating German U-boat threats.

During World War I, the US Coast Guard (USCG) played a significant role in the implementation of the convoy system, which was critical in combating German U-boat threats and securing the Atlantic shipping lanes. The convoy system, as championed by U.S. Navy Rear Admiral William S. Sims, drastically reduced shipping losses by midsummer of 1917.

Despite the cutters' involvement, the exact number of USCG cutters that served escort duty between Gibraltar and Great Britain is not specified in the provided text. The text does emphasize, however, the importance of the convoy system and how U.S. involvement bolstered the security of Allied shipping, particularly from the spring of 1917 onward, when the American naval escorts joined the British surface fleet.

The convoy system effectively countered the deadly German submarine attacks. In addition to these efforts, the US military participated in laying mines in the North Sea to trap German U-boats and provide a safer passage for ships traveling through the Atlantic.