The loss of even one convoy escort carrier reduced the options for protecting merchant shipping. Organic aircraft offered the prospect of detecting an approaching enemy farther away and giving escorts more time to react. Their presence could also improve submarine suppression. With that aviation support, a convoy could need less support from major distant-escort units, allowing those ships to be used elsewhere.
Notable Point · 7:45-8:17
Escort carriers multiplied convoy protection
An escort carrier could help a convoy detect threats farther away, suppress submarines, and reduce the burden on scarce distant escorts.