The U-boat Peril
U-boats using forward bases in France and Norway
U-boats begin hunting in "Wolf Packs"
Germans fight a Tonnage War.
It was the fall of 1944 and the Canadian navy corvette HMCS Arrowhead had just finished escorting a convoy into Goose Bay, Labrador when its skipper, Lester Hickey, ordered the vessel to stop outside the Inuit community of Rigolet.
The skipper tossed an explosive over the side and when a school of stunned cod rose to the surface, he scooped them up, cut off their heads and threw the prime fillets and the rest of the fish back into the sea. All he wanted was the critical ingredient for his signature cod head soup.
U-boats begin hunting in "Wolf Packs"
Germans fight a Tonnage War.
It was the fall of 1944 and the Canadian navy corvette HMCS Arrowhead had just finished escorting a convoy into Goose Bay, Labrador when its skipper, Lester Hickey, ordered the vessel to stop outside the Inuit community of Rigolet.
The skipper tossed an explosive over the side and when a school of stunned cod rose to the surface, he scooped them up, cut off their heads and threw the prime fillets and the rest of the fish back into the sea. All he wanted was the critical ingredient for his signature cod head soup.
The Convoy System, Depth Charges and Escorts
Convoys are used to get ships safely across the atlantic
Protected by destroyers
Depth charges, Asdic, Hedgehog, Radar and long range Aircraft.The convoy system, which can be defined as a group of merchant vessels sailing together, with or without naval escort, for mutual security and protection, has a much longer history than sometimes suggested. It was commonly employed during the Age of Sail, notably by British vessels under threat from French and US commerce raiders, and indeed probably has its origins in ancient times.
Protected by destroyers
Depth charges, Asdic, Hedgehog, Radar and long range Aircraft.The convoy system, which can be defined as a group of merchant vessels sailing together, with or without naval escort, for mutual security and protection, has a much longer history than sometimes suggested. It was commonly employed during the Age of Sail, notably by British vessels under threat from French and US commerce raiders, and indeed probably has its origins in ancient times.
The mid atlantic gap
With an air gap (hole in the sky) was during the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of the Atlantic, an area above sea meant by the Allies, which the Air Force could not come to protect ships from attack by German submarines offer.
Closing the air gap, the area between the actieradiussen of aircraft stationed on shore on both sides of the Atlantic, was important. Before the Allies In the air gap the U-boats still had free reign. In May 1943 the allies managed with B-24 Liberator s in, close the air gap and the corresponding operations for the U-boats difficult. Before these aircraft had sufficient range.
A similar air gap existed near the Azores and the Canary Islands, where convoys from Sierra Leone and Gibraltar, flying north, were out of range of air cover.
Closing the air gap, the area between the actieradiussen of aircraft stationed on shore on both sides of the Atlantic, was important. Before the Allies In the air gap the U-boats still had free reign. In May 1943 the allies managed with B-24 Liberator s in, close the air gap and the corresponding operations for the U-boats difficult. Before these aircraft had sufficient range.
A similar air gap existed near the Azores and the Canary Islands, where convoys from Sierra Leone and Gibraltar, flying north, were out of range of air cover.