Arctic convoys used the familiar principle of merchantmen inside an outer screen of cruisers, destroyers, and other escorts. Later formations such as PQ 18 could become exceptionally resource-intensive and even include the escort carrier HMS Avenger. Edinburgh's earlier PQ 6 and QP 4 voyages faced attacks, but the opposition was sporadic compared with the harder battles to come. One notable duty was recovering survivors from ships lost after a German destroyer engagement. These early runs show how convoy protection and opposition intensified before Edinburgh's PQ 14 and QP 11 service.
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Arctic convoy organization and Edinburgh's early runs
The Arctic convoy system placed merchant ships inside layered warship protection, while Edinburgh's PQ 6 and QP 4 voyages show the comparatively lighter opposition of the early runs.