When convoys began and why technology has not made them obsolete

When were convoys first used, and by whom?

Convoy-like protection is ancient rather than the invention of one modern navy: Chinese, Greek, and Roman forces all grouped merchant ships under warship escort.

Grouping merchant ships under warship escort appears in ancient Greek, Roman, and Chinese practice, making convoying an old answer to a recurring protection problem. The panel argues that every generation is tempted to believe a new technology has finally made concentration unnecessary. Containerized defenses would still need sensors, trained crews, and enough installations across many merchant hulls to matter. A convoy instead concentrates scarce escorts and aviation around the ships that must pass through the threatened area.