THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTICSEPTEMBER, 1939 MAY, 1945

BASIC FACTSTHE LONGEST CONTINUOUS MILITARY CAMPAIGN OF WWII (September 1939-May, 1945)WHERE?N.ATLANTICS. ATLANTICCARIBBEAN SEAGULF OF MEXICOWHO?AXIS: GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE (GERMAN NAVY )ALLIES: ROYAL NAVY (U.K.) ROYAL NAVY (CANADA) U.S. NAVYWHAT?100+ CONVOY BATTLES1000 SINGLE-SHIP BATTLES POLITICAL MAP OF THE WORLD

MAJOR PHASES -BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

MAJOR ADVANCES & WEAPONSGERMANS:U-BOATS (UNTERZEEBOOT): GERMAN SUBMARINESSURFACE RAIDERS: SURFACE SHIPS USED TO ATTACK CONVOYSPOCKET BATTLESHIPS: SMALLER-SIZED BATTLESHIPS USED TO ATTACK CONVOYSENIGMA MACHINES: MESSAGE ENCODING MACHINESCHNORKEL: SUBMARINE-MOUNTED AIR /VENTILATION DEVICE ALLIES:DESTROYERS: SMALL, FAST, AGILE WARSHIPS USED FOR CONVOY ESCORTING AND SUBMARINE HUNTINGA.S.D.I.C.: ALLIED SONARDEPTH CHARGE: PRESSURE / DEPTH DETONATED UNDERWATER EXPLOSIVEESCORT CARRIERS: SMALL-SIZED ARICRAFT CARRIERS USED FOR SUBMARINE HUNTINGM.A.C. SHIPS: MERCHANT AIRCRAFT CARRIERSHF/DF (ALSO CALLED HUFF-DUFF): HIGH FREQUENCY DIRECTION FINDER (RADAR)HEDGEHOG: SHIP-MOUNTED UNDERWATER EXPLOSIVE MORTARLEIGH-LIGHT: RADAR-GUIDED AERIAL SEARCH LIGHTB-24 LIBERATOR: LONG-RANGE U.S. BOMBER USED FOR SUBMARINE HUNTING KEY INDIVIDUALS & STRATEGYGERMANS:GRAND ADMIRAL ERICH RADER: COMMANDER, KRIEGSMARINEVICE-ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ: COMMANDER OF U-BOATSALLIES:U.K.:ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLEADMIRAL SIR MAX HORTONU.S: ADMIRAL ERNEST KING, COMMANDER, U.S. FLEETSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:GERMANS:DISRUPT/CUT OFF SUPPLIES & SHIPPING THAT ALLOWED BRITAIN TO FIGHTFORCE BRITS. TO SIGN PEACE TREATYPREVENT SECOND FRONTALLIES:KEEP ATLANTIC SHIPPING LANES OPENKEEP BRITS. SUPPLIEDU.S. WANTS TO KEEP BRITS. ALIVE UNTIL U.S. ENTERS WARELIMINATE GERMAN NAVAL THREAT BEFORE EVENTUAL INVASION OF EUROPETHE NORTH ATLANTIC & MAJOR PORTS

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSESSTRENGTHS:AXIS:EXPERIENCED NAVAL CREWSGOOD NAVAL SHIP DESIGNSINITIATIVE / MOMENTUM AFTER GERMAN SUCCESS OF 1939ALLIES:NUMBER OF SHIPSIMPROVING ANTI-SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY (ex. A.S.D.I.C. sonar)AERIAL SUPREMACYAIRCRAFT CARRIERSWEAKNESSES:AXIS:LACK OF AERIAL COVERLACK OF SURFACE SHIPSALLIES:DISTANCE OF VOYAGESIZE OF CONVOYSVULNERABILITY OF MERCHANT SHIPSAIR GAP IN ATLANTIC

GRAND ADMIRALERICH RAEDER,COMMANDING OFFICER,KRIEGSMARINE

GRAND ADMIRAL ERICH RAEDER ON TIME COVER, 1940

VICE-ADMIRALKARL DONITZ,KRIEGSMARINECOMMANDER OFU-BOATS

ADM. SIR JOHN TOVEY, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, HOME FLEET, ROYAL NAVY, 1941 43

ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING, U.S.N. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, U.S. FLEET

WINSTON CHURCHILL, BRITISH P.M. ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE, R.N.

WE SHALL FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES, WE SHALL FIGHT THEM ON THE SEASWE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.

ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE,ROYAL NAVY (U.K.)Commander,Western Approaches,1941-43

ADMIRAL SIR MAX HORTON,ROYAL NAVY (U.K.),Commander,Western Approaches,1943-45

ADMIRALLEONARD MURRAY,ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY,COMMANDER,CANADIAN NORTHWESTATLANTIC FLEET

REAR ADMIRALROYAL INGERSOLL,U.S. NAVY,COMMANDING OFFICER, ATLANTIC FLEET, 1941-44

FRANKLIND. ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1933-45

FDR & CHURCHILL DURING WWII

WWII WAR BOND POSTERS

COURSE OF BATTLEINITIAL BASIC TACTICS (Sept.,39 May,40)GERMANS:ATTACK MERCHANT SHIPSHOW? U-BOATS, SURFACE RAIDERS, PLANES, etc.WHY? U-BOAT FLEET IS SMALL AT FIRSTALSO MINE BRITISH PORT CITIESBRITISH:CONVOY SYSTEM CREATED***ESCORT SHIPS USED TO PROTECT CONVOYS***DEFINE ESCORT: SMALLER, FASTER NAVAL SHIPS USED TO HUNT / ATTACK SUBMARINES(EX.: DESTROYERS)PROBLEM: CHURCHILL WANTS MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGYRESULT? ANTI-SUBMARINE HUNTING GROUPS FORMEDAIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUPS USED TO HUNT U-BOATSPROBLEM (again): U-BOATS TOO ELUSIVE FOR A.C. GROUPSALLIED SONAR NOT ADVANCED ENOUGH YET ALLIED ATLANTIC CONVOY

WWII ROYAL NAVY DESTROYER

WORLD WAR II DESTROYERS

WATCH DUTY, NORTH ATLANTIC CONVOY

U.S. EC2 TRANSPORT SHIP, a.k.a. LIBERTY SHIP DESIGN

THE ATLANTIC AIR GAP,MARCH DECEMBER, 1941

GREEN: MAJOR CONVOY ROUTESBLUE: ALLIED SHIPS SUNKRED: U-BOATS SUNK

U.S. NAVY SB2U VINDICATOR DIVE BOMBER

GERMAN SUCCESSTHE HAPPY TIME: JUNE, 1940-FEB., 1941OCCUPATION OF FRANCE = DIRECT ACCESS TO ATLANTIC PORTS FOR KRIEGSMARINEEFFECT?U-BOAT RANGE INTO ATLANTIC INCREASESBRITS LOSE BIGGEST ALLY (AT THAT TIME)BRITS. HAVE TO DIVERT MORE FORCES TO MEDITERRANEAN SEARESULT? FEWER SHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CONVOY ESCORTU-BOATS ATTACKS VERY SUCCESSFULEXAMPLE:JUNE OCT., 1940 = 270 ALLIED SHIPS SUNKWHY? GERMAN WOLFPACK SYSTEM

INTERIOR DESIGN-WWII SUBMARINE

CROSS-SECTION OF BASIC SUBMARINE

SUBMARINE DESIGN / CROSS-SECTION IN HIGHER DETAIL

BASIC SUBMERGING AND SURFACING PROCESS ON A SUBMARINE

THE WOLFPACK SYSTEMDEFINITION:MULTIPLE U-BOAT ATTACKS ON CONVOYSORIGIN:GERMANS HAD DECYPHERED BRIT. NAVAL CODESMOVEMENT / LOCATION OF CONVOYS COULD BE MORE EASILY PREDICTEDTACTIC:U-BOATS SPREAD OUT IN LINE ACROSS EXPECTED PATH OF CONVOYU-BOAT FIRST TO SIGHT CONVOY SIGNALS TO OTHER U-BOATSU-BOATS MOVE TO GATHER FOR ATTACKATTACKS OFTEN MADE AT NIGHTRESULT?VERY SUCCESSFUL BECOMES PRIMARY GERMAN ATTACK METHODEX.: 9/21/40 CONVOY HX 72 (42 MERCHANT SHIPS) ATTACKED BY 4 U-BOATSLOSSES = 11 SHIPS, 2 BADLY DAMAGED NAUTICAL SPEED KEY AND COMPARISON CHART VESSEL TYPE NAUTICAL SPEED (Knotts) NAUTICAL SPEED (Miles Per Hour)WWII GERMAN U-BOAT(Type VII Boat Surfaced)17 Knotts20 MPHWWII GERMAN U-BOAT(Type VII Boat Submerged)7.6 Knotts9 MPHWWII DESTROYER U.S.35 Knotts40 MPHWWII DESTROYER U.K.34 Knotts39 MPH2012 DESTROYER U.S.(Guided Missile Ship U.S.S. LABOON)In Excess of 30 KnottsIn Excess of 35 MPHGERMAN BATTLESHIPBISMARCK Sea Trials30 Knotts34 MPHGERMAN BATTLESHIPBISMARCK 194119 Knotts22 MPH U-BOAT STARTING ATLANTIC PATROL

U-BOAT OFFICERS ON OBSERVATION DECK

WORLD WAR II GERMAN U-BOATSCHNORKEL

BASIC WORLD WAR II TORPEDO DESIGN

WWII TORPEDO, U.S. NAVAL BASE, PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, U.S.A.

TORPEDO STRIKE ON TARGET VESSEL

U-BOAT CREWMEN AFTER RETURN FROM LONG-RANGE PATROL

U-BOAT CREWMEN CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL HUNT

GERMAN U-BOATACE, OTTO KRETSCHMER47 SHIPS SUNK274,333 TONS OF SHIPPING

U-BOAT PENS, La ROCHELLE, FRANCE

U-BOAT REFITTING, La ROCHELLE, FRANCE

GERMAN SURFACE SHIPSDEFINE: SURFACE SHIPS (naval and disguised merchant ships) USED TO ATTACK CONVOYSUSED MOSTLY FROM LATE 1940 EARLY 1942NOMRALLY OPERATED IN GROUPS OF 2-3 TYPES OF SURFACE RAIDERS:POCKET BATTLESHIPS (smaller, less heavily armed naval versions of full-scale battleships)FULL SIZED BATTLESHIPS (ex. BATTLESHIP BISMARCK)ARMED MERCHANT SHIPSGERMAN BATTLESHIPS WERE BOTH FAST & HAD EXCELLENT NAVAL ARTILLERY (GUNNERY)EX.: BATTLE OF THE DENMARK STRAIT, May 1941BISMARCK SINKS H.M.S. HOOD1415 KIA ON H.M.S HOOD, 3 SURVIVORSSURFACE RAIDER THREAT EFFECTIVELY ENDS W/ SINKING OF BISMARCK, May 19412200 KIA ON BISMARCK, 100 P.O.W. GERMAN POCKET BATTLESHIP GRAF SPEE

GERMAN SURFACE RAIDER

GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK

BATTLESHIP BISMARCK

THE HUNT FOR THE BISMARCK, MAY, 1941

BISMARCK FIRING SALVO AT H.M.S. HOOD, BATTLE OF THE DENMARK STRAIT MAY 24, 1941

STANDARD WWII NAVAL RANGE FINDER

ROYAL NAVY SAILORS USING RANGE FINDER,WORLD WAR II

ROYAL NAVY BATTLESHIP H.M.S. HOOD

H.M.S. HOOD, ROYAL NAVY (U.K.)

HMS HOOD(R) EXPLODES AFTER BEING HIT BY BISMARKS SHELLS

ROYAL NAVY SWORDFISH TORPEDO PLANE

ROYAL NAVY SWORDFISH TOPRPEDO PLANES, FLEET AIR ARM

BATTLESHIP BISMARCK SINKING BY HER STERN, MAY 27, 1941

WRECKAGE OF BISMARCK ON FLOOR OF NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

ALLIED ADVANCESSONAR: A.S.D.I.C.ALLIED SUBMARINE DETECTION INVESTIGATION COMMITTEEUSED BY DESTROYERS TO FIX U-BOAT LOCATION BEFORE ATTACK BEGANM.A.C.s: MERCHANT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS MERCHANT SHIPS CONVERTED INTO CATAPULT-LAUNCHING AIRCRAFT CARRIERSHEDGEHOG: SHIP-MOUNTED, MULTIPLE WARHEAD, ANTI-SUB MORTAR LAUNCHERLEIGH-LIGHT: AIRCRAFT-MOUNTED, RADAR OPERATED SEARCHLIGHTHF/DF (HUFF-DUFF) HIGH FREQUENCY, DIRECTION FINDER; RADAR SYSYEM USED TO LOCATE U-BOATS

DEPTH CHARGE

HEDGEHOG

DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK

ALLIED AERIAL ATTACK ON U-BOAT

B-24 LIBERATOR HEAVY BOMBER

LEIGH-LIGHT ATTACK ON U-BOAT

OPERATION DRUMBEATJAN. JUNE, 1942WHAT? EXTENSION OF U-BOAT ATTACKS TO N. AMERICAN COAST & MED. SEACAUSES?ALLIED SUCCESSES IN MID/LATE 1941U.S. ENTERS WAR AFTER PEARL HARBOR ATTACKGERMANS HAVE TO CHANGE TACTICSRESULTS:GERMANS ATTACK U.S. COASTSUCCESS MERCHANT SHIPS HEAVILY TARGETED157,000 TONS OF SHIPPING SUNKU.S. FORCED TO USE CONVOYS W/ BRITS. & CANADA ALLIES GAIN THE UPPER HAND WHY?IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS MORE ACCURATE ANTI-SUB. ATTACKSGROWING INVOLVEMENT OFU.S. NAVYCANADIAN ROYAL NAVYU.S. ENTRY INTO WAR (& MILITARY POWER & SUPPLIES )U-BOAT LOSSES INCREASE (ESPECIALLY AFTER MID-1942)BLACK MAY, MARCH MAY, 1943 SERIES OF VISCIOUS BATTLES IN N. ATLANTICMARCH MAY = 70 U-BOATS SUNKDONITZ HALTS U-BOAT OPS. IN N. ATLANTICBATTLE OF ATLANTIC IS NOW IN ALLIES FAVOR

ALLIES GAIN THE UPPER HANDBLACK MAY, MARCH-MAY, 1943Series of battles in N. Atlantic70 U-Boats SunkDonitz halts U-Boat ops. in N. AtlanticBattle of the Atlantic is now in Allies favorINCREASE IN U-BOAT LOSSES THE GERMANS CANT REPLACERESULTS?GERMANS FAIL TO STRANGLE SUPPLIES TO BRITAINBRITAIN BECOMES FOCUS OF BUILD-UP FOR INVASION OF EUROPE2-FRONT WAR WILL HAPPEN (AFTER GERMANS INVADE RUSSIA)

WORLD WAR II ESCORT CARRIER

U.S. NAVY ESCORT CARRIER (CVE) [note flight deck loaded w/aircraft]

AUGUST, 1942 MAY, 1943

Grumman F-4-FFighters on deck of U.S.S. Santee

GRUMMAN F-4-F WILDCAT FIGHTER,U.S.NAVY

GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER TORPEDDO PLANE, U.S.NAVY

TBF AVENGERS IN FORMATION

AVENGERS IN CARRIER LAUNCH

U.S. NAVY PBY CATALINA SEAPLANE

ROYAL NAVY PBY CATALINA

GERMAN ENIGMAMACHINE

CASUALTIES & FINAL TOLLALLIES:30,248 KIA / LOST AT SEA**3500 MERCHANT SHIPS SUNK175 NAVAL SHIPS SUNK14.5 MILLION TONS OF SUPPLIES LOST**SOME SOURCES CLAIM MUCH HIGHER TOTAL (50,000+)GERMANS:25,870 KIA OUT OF TOTAL FORCE OF 40,9005000 POW 696 U-BOATS SUNK / DESTROYED OUT OF TOTAL U-BOAT FORCE OF 830 CASUALTY RATE: HIGHEST CASUALTY RATE FOR ANY BRANCH OF ANY MILITARY FORCE OF ANY NATION IN WWII63% FATAL75% OVERALL

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: FACTORS IN ALLIED VICTORY

THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY FRIGHTENED ME DURING THE WAR WAS THE U-BOAT PERILIT DID NOT TAKE THE FORM OF FLARING BATTLES AND GLITTERING ACHIEVEMENTS IT MANIFESTED ITSELF THROUGH STATISTICS, DIAGRAMS, AND CURVES UNKNOWN TO THE NATION, AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.WINSTON CHURCHILL DISCUSSION QUESTIONWHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EFFECT IF THE GERMANS, NOT THE ALLIES, HAD WON THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC?