The Battle of the Atlantic What was the

The Battle of the Atlantic

What was the Battle of the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic is the name given to the battle for control of the North Atlantic Ocean. It lasted from 1939 until 1944.

Why did the Battle of the Atlantic Happen? �Britain needs raw materials. �In WWI, Germans use U-boats � “Britain’s ability to maintain her supply lines is the decisive factor for the outcome of the war” Admiral Raeder, Chief of German Naval Staff �The Germans thought that this tactic would be even more effective in WWII “The only thing that ever frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril. “ Winston Churchill

What Happened � British convoys protected by warships… � Germans defeated France gaining French-Atlantic ports. � US gave Britain 50 destroyers in exchange for Atlantic naval bases. � The U-boats attacked in ‘Wolf packs’ � Atlantic Charter … British convoys were now defended by the US Navy… � Slowly the tide did turn in the Battle of the Atlantic. � Losses continued. The worst period was from the beginning of 1942 to March 1943 when 7 million tons of merchant shipping was sunk. � After May 1943, the U-boats were on the defensive, and Allied shipping losses fell significantly.

Why the Allies Won �Intelligence Enigma Machine �Aircraft �Sonar �Radar �Increased Production �Naval Tactics