Could convoy ships use their sirens?

Insignificant question probably, but I am curious.

I am working on a painting of troopship Queen Mary being spotted by RAF coastal command, and on a whim I put her blasting her horns in a salute.

But I thought I would ask if there was any regulations for a ship in a convoy about where and when they could sound their sirens/whistles?

I was wondering about the noise factor. Those sirens on ocean liners could be heard for over ten miles in some instances.

Would using them put a convoy in any more danger from a Uboat hearing them? Or would the engines in a convoy make enough noise that it didn't really matter?

 

Not that I'm aware of. For the most part such noise wouldn't carry much beyond a couple thousand yards at most. There really wasn't any danger of a U-boat finding a ship using just some noise from it. Both sonar and visual range exceed that for a U-boat. If they were that close its too late anyway......

 

Darren, do you need any source photos of the Queen Mary I? I have a couple of post cards from the time period as it was the ship on which my mother came to Canada to join my Dad after the war in June of 1946.

 

Cool Michelle! Your mom was part of "Operation Diaper"? Yeah, I would love to see them if you could post them when you have time.

Also, this weekend I am heading out to California for a NASCAR race, and I am going to try to see the Mary in Long Beach. I'm gonna take tons of photos, so if you would like anything specific please let me know!