The Battle of the Atlantic was a long and hard-fought battle of the sea, both on the surface and deep below the ocean waves.  There are many books covering the subject in detail, so I have only provided a general overview of key facts to provide an insight for interested readers to explore further.

Background

 

The sinking of the British passenger liner the Athenia was arguable the catalyst of what would turn out to be the longest campaign of the second world war.  It would mark the beginning of many convoys and the ongoing battle with the ever-present menace of the U-boats and the German battlefleet although even at a more depleted capacity as were their subs due to restrictions imposed after the first world war it still had its heavy hitters such as the Scharnhost, and Bismark amongst others.

 

 

© IWM (HU 376)

 

Coastal Command were struggling with lack of aircraft whilst our carriers aimed at hunting down the U-boats also fell victim to the very prey were looking to destroy.   Firstly, the Ark Royal narrowly escaping the torpedoes of U-39 had some success when her accompanying escort managed to sink the first U-boat of the campaign but carrier HMS Courageous was not so lucky when struck by the torpedoes of U-29 and sank.  Considering this was the early stages of the war it was looking like it was going to be a very long haul and arduous affair.

 

Examples of the aging aircraft the carriers had was the Blackburn Skua but like other aircraft this suffered with the use of anti-submarine bombs, and there were many instances of the bombs exploding mid-air (normally by skipping off the sea surface) before impacting the target and bringing the aircraft down with them.

 

 

© IWM (MH 5980)

 

With regards to detecting the menacing subs unlike the seas of the Mediterranean where it could be easier to see them due to clearer waters the Atlantic was not as easy and although depth charges had been in use or invented prior to the war they also had their flaws.  Despite being able to in effect concuss a sub, it was a matter of detecting their location in the first place let alone equating the right depth to hit them.

 

The reliance of technology and sound location devices was a must with the use of asdic or sonar as it is now known but this could also be distorted by various factors such as sea temperatures, or shoals of fish being mistakenly identified so it was by no means a given solution to be able to successfully locate the menacing subs.

 

Instead, various naval technicians devised their own proven techniques on the surface, our subs would prowl underwater, our aircraft would carry out their fight from the skies and our intelligence agencies would all combine with other allied forces to fight the great battle that would lie ahead.

 

Timeline of events -1940

 

The use of convoys and most importantly the escorts protecting them did mean that losses were kept to a minimum in the early part of the war, but the seas were still dangerous, the power of mother nature alone, mines and U-boats were always still a threat that could not be ignored.  However, U-boat numbers were still at a minimum which helped.  1940 however would see Germany starting to put of an emphasis on building more subs.

 

As German occupation in Europe took a foothold it also meant that they had easier access to the Atlantic waters let alone more air bases enabling more methods of attack.  It was during the Norwegian campaign around May 1940 that the U-boats were suffering with failing torpedoes.  Italy as their ally enabled them to increase the number of submarine patrols although Donitz was never convinced that they operated to the standards of his German fleet or were best suited to the Atlantic conditions.  Several factors contributed to this included different vessels, tactics and training.

After the fall of France, the few U-boats on patrol could really make an impact on the British shipping convoys and it was at this time that the German sub aces made their mark, and the wolf packs technique was deployed.  At least two years of torment picking off the convoys would follow.  They used B-Dienst German Location system to detect the unsuspecting convoys.  A common tactic being for the U-Boats to slip undetected between the columns of the convoys and pick ships off at will before once again slipping away again leaving untold damage and carnage in their wake.

 

The British needed more air power assigned to Coastal Command, better radar systems and more skill and experience for those protecting the convoys of the merchant vessels desperately trying to traverse the open seas carrying much needed supplies.

 

Coastal Command would eventually start to see its outdated aircraft such as the Anson being replaced by the likes of the Hudson, Beaufort and other aircraft, plus their locations expanded having a presence in Iceland. Convoys would see retired Navy admirals assigned to protecting them.   Convoy escort commanders would make their mark such as Commander Donald Macintyre and anti-submarine Commanders such as Captain Walker would develop their own techniques to outwit the submarines.

 

1941

 
By March 1941 the Atlantic battle had started to change direction and the British were fighting back with the loss of firstly one of the great German sub aces, Prien in U-47 which were then followed by more, the Germans were stunned and shocked.  U-100 under the command of Schepke was lost and U-99 with Kretsche captured.  Tactics employed by the British included ramming, improved depth charging and benefited from better radar technology which had gradually been improving over the course of the war.

 

Ironically Lemp responsible for taking out Athenia and the catalyst for the war in the Atlantic would not only lose his life but in the taking of his U-110 the Enigma and vital secret documents was obtained by the crew of the Bulldog destroyer.  Bletchley must have been rubbing their hands together in glee.  Until a fourth rotor was added to the enigma machine all intel gathered helped make very decisive and key decisions predicting U-boat activity that undoubtedly must have saved many lives.

 

On the 27th May between surface ships and RAF Swordfish (also known as Stringbag) the Bismarck was finally claimed, a great que for the British.

 

It has to be noted that both the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force were playing their part in assisting the Atlantic Convoys and the Coastal Command now operating out of Iceland had less fortune in sub detection, but their air cover alone was also greatly assisting the convoys.

 

August 41 with the Russians onboard as allies convoys began to run into Russia taking them deep into the perilous artic waters which that alone was hard to survive.  In fact, many forces were now uniting, the Canadians who had already been heavily involved, the US, the courageous Captains with their wisdom and brave manoeuvres (Captain Walker), and even more firepower with carriers and more aircraft e.g., HMS Audicity although this was to unfortunately succumb to the peril of the U-boat in December 42.

 

In terms of U-boats Donitz would eventually find himself deploying these to the Med, or Norway (as it was believed Britain may attack there) and even America because the war was changing.

 

To enable the U-Boats to travel further e.g., further around US coastline - milche -fuel subs were being used.

 

Milch Cows

 

U-Tankers or Milch Cows were first introduced in March 1942 (after being commissioned in 1941) and were used for assisting the U-Boats on the longer journeys needed to reach the coast of the US.  They were twice as large as the standard submarines and carried large quantities of fuel and provisions to aid the U-Boats on patrol.

 

It quickly became obvious that by targeting these subs would delay and disrupt German planned attacks and movements.  The US were very successful in this tactic and soon had a very devasting effect on the subs sinking the majority with just a few remaining the following spring after their initial deployment the previous march.

 

 

© IWM (C 3780)

 

1942

 

1942 would see further improvements being made particularly regarding air support, not only further advances in radar but back to basics of simply having new paint schemes helping to disguise their presence, better and deeper depth charging and more inventions from the active personnel themselves such as the Leigh light often used on Wellingtons.

 

During 1942 convoy tactics were still being perfected but there were also some air gaps remaining which slow convoys were having to traverse and were picked off by the U-boats realising their vulnerability.  Canadian Naval forces were still heavily involved in the battle of the Atlantic despite their own resources, equipment and training being stretched to full capacity.

 

1943

 

January 1943 would see Donitz become chief of the German Navy Kriegsmarine.

Breaking the Germans code was at a point of struggle which had an adverse effect on predicting U-boat movements whereas before they had been ahead on that area.

 

However, May 1943 really saw a change in events yet again in this long battle which ebbed and flowed like the very scene it was set in.  This month saw high losses for the U-boat fleet and for Donitz personally this was a huge blow with his son being one of the victims that would be lost to the sea.  The great offensive against the U-boats was now in full force and intelligent forces combined across the seas sharing information for the task ahead, greater combined force of surface vessels, whilst in the air coastal command expanded to more airfields closing the airspace gap, and with more aircraft, and weapon technology improvements across all services.  In The Bay of Biscay, the battles intensified, with the likes of a determined Walker on the prowl ready to ram U-boats, amongst many determined air personnel taking on the U-boats with force and success.

 

German technical advances brought in the introduction of the GNAT torpedo - Canadians employed a system called CAT to defend this, the British a more complex and harder to use system called Foxer Gear.  Germans were also developing a new sub but potentially that materialised too late.

 

By the end of the year 1943 it could be said that the allies finally had the upper hand, with more ships, better equipment and more aircraft the subs were being pushed away forced to lurk in the deep (some aided by schnorkel fitting) giving them better protection but certainly less effective in attack. 

 

1944

 

1944 would bring successes in attacking the German surface vessels following on from the triumph of sinking the mighty Scharnhost (late December 1943).  The battles particularly in the arctic would continue but Donitz was really relying on the new sub to be developed and brought into production but thankfully it was not to fully develop in time else things could have been so different.  So, like many things keeping ahead with tech, and most importantly intelligence enabling the prediction of enemy locations proved to be so vital in this long lingering war, and in some cases sheer determination and fighting spirit to battle through.

 

Early in the war perhaps the dangers of the U-boats arguably were not fully realised (exactly like the war before it) now daily the allies were out actively searching for them and their vulnerable weak spot of surfacing would be met with peril, if they were there the allies now had a better chance of finding them and so they did.  If the aircraft did not catch up with them then there were many skilful Commodores, Captains and reliable crew working tirelessly on the surface of the waves to seek them out.   They were waiting to deploy their skilful well mastered strategic routines which proved so effective on many occasions earning their reputations.  Captain Walker by now had sadly passed away but others were taking on similar roles and developing training an example being Captain J D Prentice of the Royal Canadian Navy but there of course were many more examples of great characters leading the way.

 

So, the final year of the war of the Atlantic would play out with the U-boats still on the prowl around the UK shores never failing to give up but carrying out their duties at a deeper depth, but only eventually to be driven out.  They did have a big advantage running deep though as detecting them was hard and distorted radar results.

 

As the war closes

 
Intensified bombing hampered development of new German subs although a type XXI did manage to make a maiden voyage, but the war was finally beginning to come to an end.  April would see the U-boats being ordered to return to base with defeat almost being in sight and whilst doing so they would be under constant attack from the dominant aircraft patrolling the skies above.  As things deteriorated the order was given to skuttle their vessels rather than surrender which many did.  Perhaps to avoid history repeating itself after the mass U-Boat surrender of WW1.  There were also some cases of U-Boats escaping further afield for example one that ended up in Argentina.

 

The German U-Boats were not all going to give up without a last fight though and U-2336 certainly did this by sinking two vessels in early May 1945.

Operation Deadlight and Big Bang

 
From November 1945 several U-Boats that had previously been surrendered were destroyed, although some sank on route to the scuttling areas.

There was also a mass operation following the war to clear mines, some of which have still been found many years later.

April 1947 would see operation Big bang where excess ammunition and various military installations were destroyed around Heligoland.

 

Convoys – The hunter and the prey

 
Life as a German submariner was not that dissimilar to any other.  It could be unimaginable, contained in a mass of metal, suffocating with the stale air and amid so many bodies stuck in the same environment for so long.  The smell of body odour, the oil, the creaking of the metal around you and as the vessel submerges deep into the abyss, as you do so the shaking and random leaks as the depth charges drop just above your head.  At any moment knowing you could become a ghost of the seabed only to be discovered many years later as drivers explore your stricken wreckage in their quest to discover the history gone before them.

 

As to sleeping arrangements, these were ever changeable like we are used to hot desking in places of work, cots as they were referred as were similar, always occupied depending on shift arrangements, and folded away at mealtimes or when space was needed for maintenance etc.  Food provisions had to be stored not only to keep freshness in mind but also so they would not move around as the sub when dived.

 

In a sub space was very limited and the sea sickness of inexperienced recruits made for very unpleasant experiences.  Sea sickness was not the only complaint they must have longed for home to, and for those left at home, should the worst happen then missing seaman was only posted when a boat was six months overdue.

The only thing they had was comradery, team spirit and perhaps the old game of skat (a card game originating in Germany)

When surfaced those on the bridge would gaze through the eyes of their binoculars surveying the ocean surface looking eagerly to catch a glimpse of the shadows of the next convoy zig zagging, bows slicing and cutting through the ocean waves.  The biting cold gradually working its way right to the very bone.  The hours spent on bridge watch merely provided an unpleasant experience of the bitter cold as the waves would sweep over leaking through the layers of clothing, all contributing to that forever cold, damp feeling.  Any lack of concentration though could result in an aircraft coming through unnoticed ready for attack.

As the shadows approach of the unsuspecting convoy then the bridge watch would leap down the hatch, both hands and feet slipping down the ladders into the open hatch.

 

Once the vessel was in the correct state often signaled by a lamp board, then only then it was a status of clear to dive and a methodical procedure of filling the dive tanks systematically would occur.  Blood, sweat and tears in a heightened state of alarm not knowing what the tense moments ahead could bring.  The shudder of depth charges, the bombing from the air, who knew what fate could bring in the proceeding hours but at this stage there was no time to contemplate.

 

Now it was time for patience, there was no need to hurry, the importance was to get into a position and wait for the assembly of other accompanying U-boats to form the wolf packs ready for firing.  It was a matter of holding the vessel and trim it to periscope depth without being noticed.  The motors had to be run slowly, the propellers leaving no swirl and the periscope no sign of bubbles.

 

The whole ethos and success of a U-Boat attack was in the surfaced night attacks where the darkness would shield their presence giving them the upper-hand.  So, they would proceed aided by a brilliant moonlight sky, breaking into the middle of the convoy picking of their prey at will.

 

However once discovered life was not as easy diving down to depths trying to hide for many hours at a time whilst their hunters in the surface tracked them constantly dropping their deadly depth charges.  Silence was a must and there was a nervous tension in the air and drops of sweat tingled down the face whilst waiting for the tension to end.

 

Meanwhile on the surface the convoys of merchant ships were making their way, ever aware of the impeding dangers awaiting them but unsuspecting of the attack about to happen.  Their speed was dictated by the slowest ships which all played into the U-boats hands.  The technique of zig zagging increased distance traversed and meant their journeys across the dangerous unforgiving seas lasted longer leaver them more open to sustained attacks however in turn it also caused the U-boats issues in targeting them.  Communication between them often only being by lamps.

 

To help the convoys several admirals were brought out of retirement, to be ranked as Commodores who would be responsible for escorting the convoys across their dangerous routes.

 

However, there was also another mighty protector on the prowl who had great expertise in anti-submarine warfare.  Taking control of the 36th Escort group he would certainly make his mark with his much-loved sloop ‘Stork’ and later ‘Starling’.  He was responsible for developing several attack techniques including the ‘Creeping Attack’ and a sheer determination that led him to win the honour and respect of those who sailed with him.  He was also to suffer the hardships of war losing his own son who perished aboard HMS Parthian a submarine lost in the Mediterranean, only to then have his own life cut short in 1944.

 

Undoubtedly Captain Walker left his mark, and many new techniques were created from the foundations he left behind for many other great Captains to take on the defending role.  A role so vital in the protection of the merchant vessels and their crew.  The merchant crew who would suffer at the hands of U-boats if not by scarifying their lives but also hardships financially if their vessels were lost as they would not be paid.

 

 

© IWM (FL 22540)

 

 

© IWM (A 15582)

 

Rescue Ships

 
Despite the best efforts of those protectors on the surface the skill and tenacity of the U-Boats commanders would take their toll and many merchant or naval ships were attacked and sunk.  On hand we had several rescue ships who came to the aid of those in peril.

Picking up the survivors they would be able to offer, warmth, respite and medical attention to those who needed it but did so at great risk, some being attacked themselves, damaged or sunk and suffered loss of life of crew as well.

It must also be remembered that the Merchant Seamen had a very vital role in the war efforts and paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to ensure not only goods but essential equipment in the war as a whole was delivered to the front lines, however it should therefore be remembered that were also working on the frontline themselves facing the daily brutal battles on the sea.

 

When a merchant ship went down sailors not only lost all their possessions, but their pay would also cease.  This continued until later in the war.

 

The first rescue ship to be introduced in 1940 was the Beachy, and many more followed including the Copeland and sister ships Zamalek and Zaafaran.   They not only picked up crew from our own ships but from our enemies to.  Their work was so valued and vital and the role they played cannot be understated.

 

© Unknown