> as lemmas

1914 Sphere 31 Oct. 121/2 Numerous letters have now been received from men in the torpedo boat destroyers. One writes: ‘We are doing patrolling duties...’ Another says: ‘After a period as escorts for transports we are now having a change.’

1918 Sphere 9 Mar. 223 (caption) Some British battleships at sea with their escort of protecting destroyers.

1918 Sphere 30 Mar. 273 (caption) A convoy escort returning to port.

1918 Sphere 29 June 234/2 Two British destroyers..which formed the anti-submarine escort, at once engaged the enemy vessels.

1919 L. R. Freeman Sea-hounds v. 129 As I heard one of the men put it, it was the ‘bruisiest’ bit of escort-work they had ever been..called upon to face.

1923 W. S. Churchill World Crisis I. xxi. 496 The First Cruiser Squadron..had been..employed on escort duties at sea.

1938 Jane's Fighting Ships p. v The heavily armed escort vessel Egret obviously designed to protect convoys against air attack.

1944 Jane's All World's Aircraft 1943–4 25a/2 The new class of Escort Carriers..adapted for flying operations by installing a ‘flat top’ deck.

1948 Jane's Fighting Ships 1947–8 222 New Construction Programme, 1948–50. Six escort destroyers to be laid down.

1954 S. W. Roskill War at Sea I. xvii. 358 The tactical employment of air escorts was now being improved steadily.

1954 S. W. Roskill War at Sea I. xvii. 358 Aircraft employed as convoy escorts or on anti~submarine patrols.

1954 S. W. Roskill War at Sea I. xvii. 358 Surface escorts..were being formed into Escort Groups in the Western Approaches Command.

1954 S. W. Roskill War at Sea I. xxi. 464 It was now possible to provide convoys with an average strength of five anti-submarine escorts.