A convoy places many ships at one point in a large ocean, while dispersed merchant ships create many separate points an enemy can encounter. In the Atlantic or Pacific, the convoy can disappear within the available search area. Enclosed or nearly enclosed waters offer much less room to manoeuvre and make routes easier to observe. The contrast helps explain why protecting trade in the Red Sea presents a different problem. Distance also affects which sensors and weapons can find and engage the ships.
Notable Point · 27:22-28:26
Why a convoy can be harder to find in an ocean
Convoy concentration can help ships avoid discovery in a wide ocean, while enclosed seas make movement easier to track.