World War II Convoys

A question was asked 'What did the ships in convoys bring back from England/Europe?' When I saw the question I did not know, however, I am a member of the Silvergate (San Diego) Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. We meet the first Saturday of each month. This past Saturday I posed this question to the group. As an aside, I am a junior member of the group. My 'war' was Vietnam.

Prior to D-Day the bulk of return cargo's consisted of liquor, mostly scotch and beer. After D-Day Italian and German prisoners of war were the main cargo on return trips. After the end of the war prisoners of war were carried on east bound voyages and returning US troops and equipment on west bound voyages.

I sailed on the Liberty ship 'Virginia Dare' in 1943. We brought war material ( P 38's, locomotives, etc ) to Egypt. On the return voyage we carried captured war material (field guns, tanks, etc).