SEPTEMBER, 1939 – MAY, 1945. BASIC FACTS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS MILITARY CAMPAIGN OF WWII...
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THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC SEPTEMBER, 1939 – MAY, 1945
SEPTEMBER, 1939 – MAY, 1945. BASIC FACTS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS MILITARY CAMPAIGN OF WWII (September 1939-May, 1945) WHERE? N.ATLANTIC S. ATLANTIC CARIBBEAN
BASIC FACTS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS MILITARY CAMPAIGN OF WWII
(September 1939-May, 1945) WHERE? N.ATLANTIC S. ATLANTIC CARIBBEAN
SEA GULF OF MEXICO WHO? AXIS: GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE (GERMAN NAVY )
ALLIES: ROYAL NAVY (U.K.) ROYAL NAVY (CANADA) U.S. NAVY WHAT? 100+
CONVOY BATTLES 1000 SINGLE-SHIP BATTLES
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MAJOR PHASES -BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
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MAJOR ADVANCES & WEAPONS GERMANS: U-BOATS (UNTERZEEBOOT):
GERMAN SUBMARINES SURFACE RAIDERS: SURFACE SHIPS USED TO ATTACK
CONVOYS POCKET BATTLESHIPS: SMALLER-SIZED BATTLESHIPS USED TO
ATTACK CONVOYS ENIGMA MACHINES: MESSAGE ENCODING MACHINE SCHNORKEL:
SUBMARINE-MOUNTED AIR /VENTILATION DEVICE ALLIES: DESTROYERS:
SMALL, FAST, AGILE WARSHIPS USED FOR CONVOY ESCORTING AND SUBMARINE
HUNTING A.S.D.I.C.: ALLIED SONAR DEPTH CHARGE: PRESSURE / DEPTH
DETONATED UNDERWATER EXPLOSIVE ESCORT CARRIERS: SMALL-SIZED
ARICRAFT CARRIERS USED FOR SUBMARINE HUNTING M.A.C. SHIPS: MERCHANT
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS HF/DF (ALSO CALLED HUFF-DUFF): HIGH FREQUENCY
DIRECTION FINDER (RADAR) HEDGEHOG: SHIP-MOUNTED UNDERWATER
EXPLOSIVE MORTAR LEIGH-LIGHT: RADAR-GUIDED AERIAL SEARCH LIGHT B-24
LIBERATOR: LONG-RANGE U.S. BOMBER USED FOR SUBMARINE HUNTING
Slide 5
KEY INDIVIDUALS & STRATEGY GERMANS: GRAND ADMIRAL ERICH
RADER: COMMANDER, KRIEGSMARINE VICE-ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ: COMMANDER
OF U-BOATS ALLIES: U.K.: ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE ADMIRAL SIR MAX
HORTON U.S: ADMIRAL ERNEST KING, COMMANDER, U.S. FLEET STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES: GERMANS: DISRUPT/CUT OFF SUPPLIES & SHIPPING THAT
ALLOWED BRITAIN TO FIGHT FORCE BRITS. TO SIGN PEACE TREATY PREVENT
SECOND FRONT ALLIES: KEEP ATLANTIC SHIPPING LANES OPEN KEEP BRITS.
SUPPLIED U.S. WANTS TO KEEP BRITS. ALIVE UNTIL U.S. ENTERS WAR
ELIMINATE GERMAN NAVAL THREAT BEFORE EVENTUAL INVASION OF
EUROPE
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THE NORTH ATLANTIC & MAJOR PORTS
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS: AXIS: EXPERIENCED NAVAL
CREWS GOOD NAVAL SHIP DESIGNS INITIATIVE / MOMENTUM AFTER GERMAN
SUCCESS OF 1939 ALLIES: NUMBER OF SHIPS IMPROVING ANTI-SUBMARINE
TECHNOLOGY (ex. A.S.D.I.C. sonar) AERIAL SUPREMACY AIRCRAFT
CARRIERS WEAKNESSES: AXIS: LACK OF AERIAL COVER LACK OF SURFACE
SHIPS ALLIES: DISTANCE OF VOYAGE SIZE OF CONVOYS VULNERABILITY OF
MERCHANT SHIPS AIR GAP IN ATLANTIC
Slide 8
GRAND ADMIRAL ERICH RAEDER, COMMANDING OFFICER,
KRIEGSMARINE
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GRAND ADMIRAL ERICH RAEDER ON TIME COVER, 1940
Slide 10
VICE-ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ, KRIEGSMARINE COMMANDER OF
U-BOATS
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ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING, U.S.N. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, U.S.
FLEET
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WINSTON CHURCHILL, BRITISH P.M. ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE,
R.N.
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ADMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE, ROYAL NAVY (U.K.) Commander, Western
Approaches, 1941-43
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ADMIRAL SIR MAX HORTON, ROYAL NAVY (U.K.), Commander, Western
Approaches, 1943-45
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ADMIRAL LEONARD MURRAY, ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY, COMMANDER,
CANADIAN NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FLEET
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REAR ADMIRAL ROYAL INGERSOLL, U.S. NAVY, COMMANDING OFFICER,
ATLANTIC FLEET, 1941-44
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FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
1933-45
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FDR & CHURCHILL DURING WWII
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WWII WAR BOND POSTERS
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COURSE OF BATTLE INITIAL BASIC TACTICS (Sept.,39 May,40)
GERMANS: ATTACK MERCHANT SHIPS HOW? U-BOATS, SURFACE RAIDERS,
PLANES, etc. WHY? U-BOAT FLEET IS SMALL AT FIRST ALSO MINE BRITISH
PORT CITIES BRITISH: 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 STRATEGY RESULT? ANTI-SUBMARINE HUNTING
GROUPS FORMED AIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUPS USED TO HUNT U-BOATS PROBLEM
(again): U-BOATS TOO ELUSIVE FOR A.C. GROUPS ALLIED SONAR NOT
ADVANCED ENOUGH YET
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ALLIED ATLANTIC CONVOY
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WWII ROYAL NAVY DESTROYER
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ROYAL NAVY DESTROYERS
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WATCH DUTY, NORTH ATLANTIC CONVOY
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U.S. EC2 TRANSPORT SHIP, a.k.a. LIBERTY SHIP DESIGN
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U.S. NAVY SB2U VINDICATOR DIVE BOMBER
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GERMAN SUCCESS THE HAPPY TIME: JUNE, 1940-FEB., 1941 OCCUPATION
OF FRANCE = DIRECT ACCESS TO ATLANTIC PORTS FOR KRIEGSMARINE
EFFECT? U-BOAT RANGE INTO ATLANTIC INCREASES BRITS LOSE BIGGEST
ALLY (AT THAT TIME) BRITS. HAVE TO DIVERT MORE FORCES TO
MEDITERRANEAN SEA RESULT? FEWER SHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CONVOY ESCORT
U-BOATS ATTACKS VERY SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE: JUNE OCT., 1940 = 270
ALLIED SHIPS SUNK WHY? GERMAN WOLFPACK SYSTEM
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INTERIOR DESIGN-WWII SUBMARINE
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CROSS-SECTION OF BASIC SUBMARINE
Slide 41
SUBMARINE DESIGN / CROSS- SECTION IN HIGHER DETAIL
Slide 42
BASIC SUBMERGING AND SURFACING PROCESS ON A SUBMARINE
Slide 43
THE WOLFPACK SYSTEM DEFINITION: MULTIPLE U-BOAT ATTACKS ON
CONVOYS ORIGIN: GERMANS HAD DECYPHERED BRIT. NAVAL CODES MOVEMENT /
LOCATION OF CONVOYS COULD BE MORE EASILY PREDICTED TACTIC: U-BOATS
SPREAD OUT IN LINE ACROSS EXPECTED PATH OF CONVOY U-BOAT FIRST TO
SIGHT CONVOY SIGNALS TO OTHER U- BOATS U-BOATS MOVE TO GATHER FOR
ATTACK ATTACKS OFTEN MADE AT NIGHT RESULT? VERY SUCCESSFUL BECOMES
PRIMARY GERMAN ATTACK METHOD EX.: 9/21/40 CONVOY HX 72 (42 MERCHANT
SHIPS) ATTACKED 4 U-BOATS LOSSES = 11 SHIPS, 2 BADLY DAMAGED
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U-BOAT STARTING ATLANTIC PATROL
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U-BOAT OFFICERS ON OBSERVATION DECK
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WORLD WAR II GERMAN U-BOAT SCHNORKEL
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U-BOAT DURING ATTACK ON CONVOY
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BASIC WORLD WAR II TORPEDO DESIGN
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WWII TORPEDO, U.S. NAVAL BASE, PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII,
U.S.A.
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TORPEDO STRIKE ON TARGET VESSEL
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U-BOAT CREWMEN AFTER RETURN FROM LONG-RANGE PATROL
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U-BOAT CREWMEN CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL HUNT
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GERMAN U-BOAT ACE, OTTO KRETSCHMER 47 SHIPS SUNK 274,333 TONS
OF SHIPPING
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U-BOAT PENS, La ROCHELLE, FRANCE
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U-BOAT REFITTING, La ROCHELLE, FRANCE
Slide 65
SURFACE RAIDERS DEFINE: SURFACE SHIPS (naval and disguised
merchant ships) USED TO ATTACK CONVOYS USED MOSTLY FROM LATE 1940
EARLY 1942 NOMRALLY 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 SHIPS GERMAN BATTLESHIPS WERE
BOTH FAST & HAD EXCELLENT NAVAL ARTILLERY (GUNNERY) EX.: BATTLE
OF THE DENMARK STRAIT, May 1941 BISMARCK SINKS H.M.S. HOOD 1415 KIA
ON H.M.S HOOD, 3 SURVIVORS SURFACE RAIDER THREAT EFFECTIVELY ENDS
W/ SINKING OF BISMARCK, May 1941 2200 KIA ON BISMARCK, 100
P.O.W.
Slide 66
GERMAN POCKET BATTLESHIP GRAF SPEE
Slide 67
GERMAN SURFACE RAIDER
Slide 68
GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK
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BATTLESHIP BISMARCK
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BISMARCK FIRING SALVO AT H.M.S. HOOD, BATTLE OF THE DENMARK
STRAIT MAY 24, 1941
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STANDARD WWII NAVAL RANGE FINDER
Slide 73
ROYAL NAVY SAILORS USING RANGE FINDER, WORLD WAR II
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ROYAL NAVY BATTLESHIP H.M.S. HOOD
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H.M.S. HOOD, ROYAL NAVY (U.K.)
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HMS HOOD(R) EXPLODES AFTER BEING HIT BY BISMARKS SHELLS
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ROYAL NAVY SWORDFISH TORPEDO PLANE
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ROYAL NAVY SWORDFISH TOPRPEDO PLANES, FLEET AIR ARM
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ROYAL NAVY (U.K.)SWORDFISH TORPEDO PLANE
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BATTLESHIP BISMARCK SINKING BY HER STERN, MAY 27, 1941
Slide 91
WRECKAGE OF BISMARCK ON FLOOR OF NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
Slide 92
ALLIED ADVANCES SONAR: A.S.D.I.C. ALLIED SUBMARINE DETECTION
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE USED BY DESTROYERS TO FIX U-BOAT LOCATION
BEFORE ATTACK BEGAN M.A.C.s: MERCHANT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS MERCHANT
SHIPS CONVERTED INTO CATAPULT- LAUNCHING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
HEDGEHOG: SHIP-MOUNTED, MULTIPLE WARHEAD, ANTI-SUB MORTAR LAUNCHER
LEIGH-LIGHT: AIRCRAFT-MOUNTED, RADAR OPERATED SEARCHLIGHT HF/DF
(HUFF-DUFF) HIGH FREQUENCY, DIRECTION FINDER; RADAR SYSYEM USED TO
LOCATE U-BOATS
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DEPTH CHARGE HEDGEHOG
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DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK
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ALLIED AERIAL ATTACK ON U-BOAT
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LEIGH-LIGHT ATTACK ON U-BOAT
Slide 107
OPERATION DRUMBEAT JAN. JUNE, 1942 WHAT? EXTENSION OF U-BOAT
ATTACKS TO N. AMERICAN COAST & MED. SEA CAUSES? ALLIED
SUCCESSES IN MID/LATE 1941 U.S. ENTERS WAR AFTER PEARL HARBOR
ATTACK GERMANS HAVE TO CHANGE TACTICS RESULTS: GERMANS ATTACK U.S.
COAST SUCCESS MERCHANT SHIPS HEAVILY TARGETED 157,000 TONS OF
SHIPPING SUNK U.S. FORCED TO USE CONVOYS W/ BRITS. &
CANADA
Slide 108
ALLIES GAIN THE UPPER HAND WHY? IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS MORE
ACCURATE ANTI-SUB. ATTACKS GROWING INVOLVEMENT OF U.S. NAVY
CANADIAN ROYAL NAVY U.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. ATLANTIC
MARCH MAY = 70 U-BOATS SUNK DONITZ HALTS U-BOAT OPS. IN N. ATLANTIC
BATTLE OF ATLANTIC IS NOW IN ALLIES FAVOR
Slide 109
WHY THE ALLIES WON ALLIED TECHNOLOGY BEGAN TO IMPROVE AND BEGAN
TO SIMULTANEOUSLY EFFECT U-BOATS INCREASED ALLIED RESOURCES (Ships,
Aircraft, Aircraft Carriers, Anti-Sub. Weapons, etc.) MORE AERIAL
SUCCESS (Long-Range Planes, Escort Carriers, Leigh-Light, etc.) THE
AIR GAP IS CLOSED DECODING OF GERMAN ENIGMA MACHINE MESSAGES
EFFECT? INCREASE IN U-BOAT LOSSES THE GERMANS CANT REPLACE RESULTS?
GERMANS FAIL TO STRANGLE SUPPLIES TO BRITAIN BRITAIN BECOMES FOCUS
OF BUILD-UP FOR INVASION OF EUROPE 2-FRONT WAR WILL HAPPEN (AFTER
GERMANS INVADE RUSSIA)
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WORLD WAR II ESCORT CARRIER
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U.S. NAVY ESCORT CARRIER (CVE) [note flight deck loaded
w/aircraft]
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AUGUST, 1942 MAY, 1943
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Grumman F-4-F Fighters on deck of U.S.S. Santee
Slide 117
GRUMMAN F-4-F WILDCAT FIGHTER,U.S.NAVY
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GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER TORPEDDO PLANE, U.S.NAVY
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TBF AVENGERS IN FORMATION AVENGERS IN CARRIER LAUNCH
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U.S. NAVY PBY CATALINA SEAPLANE
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ROYAL NAVY PBY CATALINA
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GERMAN ENIGMA MACHINE
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CASUALTIES & FINAL TOLL ALLIES: 30,248 KIA / LOST AT SEA**
3500 MERCHANT SHIPS SUNK 175 NAVAL SHIPS SUNK 14.5 MILLION TONS OF
SUPPLIES LOST **SOME SOURCES CLAIM MUCH HIGHER TOTAL (50,000+)
GERMANS: 25,870 KIA OUT OF TOTAL FORCE OF 40,900 5000 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 WWII 63% FATAL 75% OVERALL
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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
Slide 134
DISCUSSION QUESTION WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EFFECT IF THE
GERMANS, NOT THE ALLIES, HAD WON THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC?