Battle Of The Atlantic:September, 1939
The Treaty of Versailles, which was composed after WWI, forbade Germany from having possession of any submarines, more specifically, U- boats. Nevertheless, the U-boat still played an important factor in the Battle of the Atlantic. After Britain declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939, the German navy immediately began attacking British merchant ships. Beginning with the sinking of the SS Athenia, a Montreal- bound passenger ship (killing 1400 passengers, 118 crew and 4 Canadians), the Battle of the Atlantic is known as the longest and most important military campaign of WWII.
Under the command of Admiral Karl Dönitz, the German navy adopted the "wolf pack" strategy of attack in the August of 1940. This tactic involved German submarines travelling through the Atlantic in "packs" until they spotted an Allied convoy ship, usually containing supplies needed in Europe. Once a convoy ship was spotted, the whole pack of submarines was notified, and ordered to zero in on their target. Once a command was given, all U- boats were to attack the convoy. By this time, captains were able to use any method of attack they pleased. Some submarines attack from a short- range while others kept their distance. The sheer surprise of attack usually overwhelmed the British vessels leading them to defeat.
In March 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill established a Royal Navy Naval Base in Iceland in attempt to counter German U- boat attack on Allied convoys . He made sure that vulnerable Allied convoy ships were escorted by corvettes, which were small, warships that were mainly manufactured in Canada. The Battle of the Atlantic was in full swing and was in much need of Canadian contribution. So in early 1941, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took on the vital role of escorting convoys to their destinations.
Even with escorts, German submarines were able to overpower Allied convoys and their escorts. Germany usually attacked at night and sent more reinforcements when Allied ships were discovered in the Atlantic. Things were not looking so well for the Allies with the Battle on the Atlantic until 1942, when two German codes were cracked. The Allies were now able to track U- boat movements with ease. Eventually U- boat attacks became less effective by 1943, and more convoy ships were able deliver their supplies to their destinations efficiently and almost effortlessly. Approximately 2, 000 Royal Canadian Navy members were lost during WWII with 24 vessels sunk. The Battle of the Atlantic was an astonishing win for the Allies and is conceived to have ended in 1945.
Through this battle, the Royal Canadian Navy gained much more recognition and grew in size as well as responsibility throughout the war. By 1945, the RCN was the 3rd largest navy in the world with 400 fighting ships and more than 110, 000 members, all whom were volunteers and 6, 500 being women. These were outstanding numbers, as the RCN only began with 13 vessels and 3,500 personnel. The Royal Canadian Navy helped 25, 000 merchant ships successfully and safely pass the Atlantic during the war under Canadian escort, and to this day still receives recognition.
“The only thing that ever frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.”- Winston Churchill.
Under the command of Admiral Karl Dönitz, the German navy adopted the "wolf pack" strategy of attack in the August of 1940. This tactic involved German submarines travelling through the Atlantic in "packs" until they spotted an Allied convoy ship, usually containing supplies needed in Europe. Once a convoy ship was spotted, the whole pack of submarines was notified, and ordered to zero in on their target. Once a command was given, all U- boats were to attack the convoy. By this time, captains were able to use any method of attack they pleased. Some submarines attack from a short- range while others kept their distance. The sheer surprise of attack usually overwhelmed the British vessels leading them to defeat.
In March 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill established a Royal Navy Naval Base in Iceland in attempt to counter German U- boat attack on Allied convoys . He made sure that vulnerable Allied convoy ships were escorted by corvettes, which were small, warships that were mainly manufactured in Canada. The Battle of the Atlantic was in full swing and was in much need of Canadian contribution. So in early 1941, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took on the vital role of escorting convoys to their destinations.
Even with escorts, German submarines were able to overpower Allied convoys and their escorts. Germany usually attacked at night and sent more reinforcements when Allied ships were discovered in the Atlantic. Things were not looking so well for the Allies with the Battle on the Atlantic until 1942, when two German codes were cracked. The Allies were now able to track U- boat movements with ease. Eventually U- boat attacks became less effective by 1943, and more convoy ships were able deliver their supplies to their destinations efficiently and almost effortlessly. Approximately 2, 000 Royal Canadian Navy members were lost during WWII with 24 vessels sunk. The Battle of the Atlantic was an astonishing win for the Allies and is conceived to have ended in 1945.
Through this battle, the Royal Canadian Navy gained much more recognition and grew in size as well as responsibility throughout the war. By 1945, the RCN was the 3rd largest navy in the world with 400 fighting ships and more than 110, 000 members, all whom were volunteers and 6, 500 being women. These were outstanding numbers, as the RCN only began with 13 vessels and 3,500 personnel. The Royal Canadian Navy helped 25, 000 merchant ships successfully and safely pass the Atlantic during the war under Canadian escort, and to this day still receives recognition.
“The only thing that ever frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.”- Winston Churchill.