Chronology of Events for World War 2 in the Atlantic Ocean

Updated: 26 April 2006

  Click to email me

Chronology

Battle of the Atlantic - The first UK/Gibraltar convoy, OG1, sailed in October. Partly because of the loss of "U-42" and "U-45", only three of the intended nine U-boats were available for the first U-boat group attack on a convoy using an on-board tactical commander. Three ships out of the 27 in unescorted convoy HG3 were sunk, but the experiment is repeated only a few times. The first wolf-pack attacks conducted personally by Admiral Doenitz from onshore did not start for another year.

Monthly Loss Summary
22 British, Allied and neutral ships of 133,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes.
2 German U-boats

NOVEMBER 1939

Battle of the Atlantic - RAF Coastal Command continued to patrol for U-boats on passage into the Atlantic. Equal priority was then given to attacks, but the crews were not trained and lack effective anti-submarine bombs. The first success was a joint action with the Royal Navy at the end of January 1940.

Monthly Loss Summary
6 British, Allied and neutral ships of 18,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 armed merchant cruiser
1 German U-boat.

Victim of the Graf Spee sinking, overlooked by German crew members

DECEMBER 1939

Monthly Loss Summary
7 British, Allied and Neutral ships of 38,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes.
1 German pocket battleship - "Graf Spee" after the Battle of the River Plate.

JANUARY 1940

Monthly Loss Summary
9 British, Allied and neutral ships of 36,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes.
1 German U-boat.

FEBRUARY 1940

Monthly Loss Summary
17 British, Allied and neutral ships of 75,000 tons from all causes
2 German U-boats.

MARCH 1940

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats started withdrawing from the Western Approaches in preparation for the German invasion of Norway. In preparation for the vital transport role Queen Mary and other fast liners play in the Allies strategic moves, the nearly completed Queen Elizabeth sailed independently on her maiden voyage from Scotland to New York for conversion to a troopship.

Monthly Loss Summary
2 British, Allied and neutral ships of 11,000 tons from all causes
1 U-boat

APRIL 1940

Faeroe Islands - On the 13th April, following the German invasion of Norway, an advance guard of Royal Marines were landed on the Faeroe Islands, northwest of the Shetland Islands with the eventual agreement of the Danish Governor.

Monthly Loss Summary
4 British, Allied and neutral ships of 25,000 tons from all causes
1 German U-boat.

MAY 1940

Iceland - On the 10th as Germany attacks France and the Low Countries, British Royal Marines landed from two cruisers at Reykjavik, Iceland then part of the Danish Crown. More troops followed to set up air and sea bases that became vital to Britain's defence of the Atlantic supply routes.

To avoid any possibility of confusion, Winston Churchill always insists on differentiating between Iceland (C) and Ireland (R).

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats started returning to the Western Approaches and as they did, one of the first ‘Flower’ class corvettes “Arabis” makes a depth-charge attack in defence of a Gibraltar/UK convoy. With the closure of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping, the trade routes around Africa and the ports en route took on a new importance. Particularly vital was the West African base at Freetown, Sierra Leone

Monthly Loss Summary
10 British, Allied and neutral ships of 55,000 tons from all causes.

JUNE 1940

Battle of the Atlantic - The Allied loss of Norway brings German warships and U-boats many hundreds of miles closer to the Atlantic convoy routes and in time within close range of the Russian convoys that follow the June 1941 German invasion. Britain's blockade line from the Orkneys to southern Norway was simply outflanked and a new one had to be established between the Shetlands and Iceland. The Royal Navy started the massive task of laying a mine barrage along this line. Within a matter of days the first U-boats were sailing from the Norwegian port of Bergen, while others were sent to patrol as far south as the Canary and Cape Verde Islands off northwest Africa. Italian submarines joined them in this area, but without any early successes.

Towards the end of the month, “U-122” and “U-102” were lost off the North Channel separating Northern Ireland from Scotland, possibly on mines according to German sources. It was in this area and throughout the North Western Approaches to the British Isles that such U-boat commanders as Endras, Kretschmer, Prien and Schepke enjoyed the ‘Happy Time' until early 1941. U-boat strength was no greater than at the beginning of the war, and there were never more than 15 boats on patrol out of the 25 operational; the rest were training or on trials. Yet from now until the end of December 1940 they accounted for most of the 315 ships of 1,659,000 tons lost in the Atlantic. Many of these were stragglers, independents or in unescorted convoys, yet it was among the escorted convoys that U-boat tactics were particularly threatening. Instead of attacking submerged where they can be detected by ASDIC, they operated on the surface at night as 18kt torpedo boats, faster than most of the escorts. And there were few enough of these as many were held back in British waters on anti-invasion duties.

German Codes - 'Ultra' is now breaking the Luftwaffe Enigma codes with some regularity, and early in the month had its first major breakthrough when supporting evidence for the Knickebein navigation aid for bombers is obtained. Army codes were more secure because of the greater use of land lines for communications, and the Naval ones will not be penetrated until mid-1941.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 53 British, Allied and neutral ships of 297,000 tons from all causes; 3 armed merchant cruisers
- 2 German U-boats, dates and causes of loss uncertain.

JULY 1940

French Navy in the Atlantic - Carrier “Hermes” and cruisers “Dorsetshire” and Australian sister-ship “Australia” lay off Dakar, French West Africa on the 8th after negotiations were refused on the future of French battleship “Richelieu”. Attacks made with depth-charges from a fast motorboat fail and a torpedo strike by Swordfish inflicted only minor damage.

No action was taken against “Richelieu’s” sister ship “Jean Bart” laying further north at Casablanca, Morocco.

In the French West Indies, carrier “Bearn” and two cruisers were immobilised by mainly diplomatic means.

Battle of the Atlantic - Convoys were now being re-routed through the North Western Approaches to the British Isles instead of the south of Ireland and through the Irish Sea. North Channel and the sea lanes leading to it became a focal point for all shipping leaving or arriving in British waters.

The following convoys continue:
Liverpool out - OB
UK/Gibraltar- OG
Fast Halifax/UK - HX
Gibraltar/UK - HG
Sierra Leone/UK - SL

Thames-out OA convoys were now joining FN East Coast coastal convoys and passing around the north of Scotland before going out through the North Western Approaches. They stopped altogether in October 1940.

Slow Sydney, Cape Breton, Canada to UK convoys start in August 1940 with SC1.

The limits of the few escorts available were only now pushed out from 15'W to 17'W where they stay until October 1940. U-boats are patrolling well beyond this range and so many sinkings take place in unescorted convoys or when the ships have dispersed.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 34 British, Allied and neutral ships of 173,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 destroyer
- 1 German U-boat.

AUGUST 1940

Radar - A British scientific mission carries to the United States details of many important developments. Amongst these was the recently invented cavity magnetron, vital for short wavelength radar and the eventual defeat of conventional U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Battle of the Atlantic - Long range Focke-wulf Kondor bombers start patrols off the coast of Ireland from a base near Bordeaux. As well as spotting for U-boats they attacked and sank many ships, and continued to be a major threat until the introduction of ship-borne aircraft in late 1941 started to counteract them.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 39 British, Allied and neutral ships of 190,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 2 armed merchant cruisers, 1 sloop
- 1 German U-boat.

SEPTEMBER 1940

US Destroyers for British Bases Deal - After months of negotiations, an agreement was announced on the 5th for the transfer of 50 old but valuable US destroyers to the Royal Navy in exchange for British bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, the West lndies and British Guiana. The first of the "flushdeckers" arrived in Britain towards the end of the month.

1st - Cruiser "Fiji" is torpedoed by "U-32" out in the North Atlantic off Rockall as she escorted troop transports for the Dakar expedition. Her place was taken by Australian heavy cruiser "Australia".

23rd-25th - Dakar Expedition, Operation 'Menace' - Because of Dakar's strategic importance to the North and South Atlantic shipping routes, an expedition was mounted to acquire the port for Allied use. Free French troops led by Gen de Gaulle were carried in ships escorted and supported by units of the Home Fleet and Force H under the command of Vice-Adm John Cunningham. They include battleships "Barham" and "Resolution", carrier "Ark Royal", three heavy cruisers and other smaller ships including Free French. Naval forces at Dakar included the unfinished battleship "Richelieu" and two cruisers recently arrived from Toulon (see below).

Attempts to negotiate on the 23rd soon failed and as Vichy French ships tried to leave harbour, shore batteries open fire, damaging heavy cruiser "Cumberland" and two destroyers. Shortly afterwards, the Vichy submarine "PERSEE" is sunk by gunfire and large destroyer "L'AUDACIEUX" disabled by cruiser "Australia" and beached. A Free French landing was beaten off.

Next day, on the 24th, Dakar was bombarded by the warships and "Richelieu" attacked by "Ark Royal's" aircraft. Vichy submarine "AJAX" was sunk by destroyer "Fortune".

The bombardment continued on the 25th, but battleship "Resolution" was torpedoed and badly damaged by submarine "Beveziers" and "Barham" hit by "Richelieu's" 15in gunfire. At this point the operation is abandoned and the Anglo-Free French forces withdraw.

Battle of the Atlantic - Early in the month the first wolf-pack attacks were directed by Admiral Doenitz against convoy SC2. Five of the 53 ships were sunk. A similar operation was mounted two weeks later against the 40 ships of HX72. The U-boats present included those commanded by the aces Kretschmer, Preen and Schepke. Eleven ships were lost, seven to Schepke's "U-100" in one night. The German B-Service was instrumental in directing U-boats to the convoys, where they held the advantage as they manoeuvred on the surface between the merchantmen and escorts. Radar is urgently needed so the escorts can detect the U-boats, force them to dive and lose their speed advantage. Then start hunting them with ASDIC.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 53 British, Allied and neutral ships of 272,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 2 escorts
- no German losses

OCTOBER 1940

Battle of the Atlantic - Focke-Wulf Kondor bombers continued to range the waters off Ireland and on the 26th, bomb and damage the "Empress of Britain", later sunk "U-32" (above). The Luftwaffe's long-range aircraft were now flying from bases in Norway as well as France. Inter-service rivalry between the Luftwaffe and Navy means the Kondor will never be fully integrated into the German effort in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Escort limits were now pushed out to 19W. In a series of wolf-pack attacks on lightly-defended Canada/UK convoys, U-boats sank more than 30 ships from SC7 and HX79 between the 17th and 20th, a rate of loss that would soon bring Britain to her knees. Fortunately, a number of measures were being taken to ease the dire situation and provide some of the foundations from which Britain and her Allies went on to hold the U-boat threat in check:

1. The old US destroyers are coming into service and the British building programme was starting to deliver the escorts needed.

2. The need for permanent escort groups to develop and maintain expertise was being accepted, and greater emphasis given to A/S training.

3. Co-operation between RAF Coastal Command and Western Approaches Command was steadily improving.

But there was still a long way to go, and vast areas of the Atlantic were without air or sea anti-submarine cover.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 56 British, Allied and neutral ships of 287,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 destroyer
- 1 German U-boat.

NOVEMBER 1940

Battle of the Atlantic - Outward-bound OB244 and UK-bound SC11 were attacked by two groups of U-boats west of North Channel. Fifteen merchant ships were sunk, including seven from SC11 by Schepke's "U-100"on the night of the 22nd/23rd.

In separate North Atlantic operations, German submarine "U-104" and the Italian "FAA DI BRUNO" were lost. In both cases the circumstances are uncertain, but "U-104" is claimed by corvette "Rhododendron" and the Italian by destroyer "Havelock". "U-104" is the last German U-boat lost until March although the Italians have casualties. By the end of the month they have 26 submarines operating out of Bordeaux, but were never as successful as their ally.

Important steps were taken in the air war when an RAF Sunderland equipped with 1.5m wavelength anti-surface vessel (ASV) radar locates a U-boat. This was the first success of its kind with a system that was mainly effective by day; contact was lost within two miles of the target. It is the addition of the Leigh light that will turn it into a powerful night-time weapon as well. Now Coastal Command was using depth charges instead of ineffective A/S bombs.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 38 British, Allied and neutral ships of 201,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 3 armed merchant cruisers
- 2 German and 1 Italian U-boats.

DECEMBER 1940

Monthly Loss Summary
- 42 British, Allied and neutral ships of 239,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 armed merchant cruiser
- 1 Italian U-boat

JANUARY 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - For the next few months the U-boat's 'Happy Time' continued in the Western Approaches against the poorly defended convoys. Bad weather in January and February fortunately kept the level of sinkings down. Approximately 22 U-boats were operational out of the 90 in commission, and long-range aircraft included the Focke Wulf Kondors still roamed the waters off Ireland spotting for U-boats and sinking ships.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 59 British, Allied and neutral ships of 273,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 1 Italian U-boat.

FEBRUARY 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - Admiral Sir Percy Noble takes over as Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches, just as the command moved from Plymouth to Liverpool.

On 18 Feb 1941, SS Empire Blanda was reported missing south of Iceland after straggling from Convoy HX-107. The master, 36 crewmembers and three gunners were lost. At 08.18 hours on 19 February, a lone freighter was hit by one torpedo from U-69 south of Iceland and sank in a few seconds after four heavy detonations; this must have been the Empire Blanda. The ship had been missed by a two torpedo spread at 0744 & a single torpedo at 0801. The U-boat was almost hit by falling debris.
1942

Monthly Loss Summary
- 69 British, Allied and neutral ships of 317,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 1 Italian U-boat.

MARCH 1941

US Lend-Lease - The Bill is passed into law. Britain and her Allies will be able to receive American arms and supplies without immediate payment.

Battle of the Atlantic - On 6th March 1941, faced with the mortal threat of the German U-boat and aircraft offensive in the Atlantic, Winston Churchill issued his famous Battle of the Atlantic directive. Catapult armed merchantmen (CAM) are to be fitted out, merchant ships equipped with AA weapons as a first priority, and more Coastal Command squadrons formed and fitted with radar. Port and dockyard congestion is to be dealt with and the defence of ports greatly improved.

These and numerous other matters are to be dealt with as a matter of the very highest priority. The survival of Britain depends on them. Overall direction is to be exercised by a Battle of the Atlantic Committee chaired by the Prime Minister himself.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 63 British, Allied and neutral ships of 365,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 5 German U-boats-including three of the most experienced commanders.

APRIL 1941

German Aircraft Attacks - In April 1941, aircraft sank 116 ships of 323,000 tons, the highest rate for any month of the whole war. In the first six months of 1941 alone the losses totalled 294 ships of 811,000 tons. These were not only due to the long-range aircraft operating off Ireland from bases in France and Norway, but to attacks in coastal waters where the defences were still weak. More AA weapons were needed for merchantmen, more and better controlled shore-based fighters in coastal areas, and ship-borne aircraft were vital out at sea. The needs were recognised as the Battle of the Atlantic Directive makes clear, but would take many months to meet.

Battle of the Atlantic - Over the next few months a number of long awaited ship types and weapons start to be introduced. These will contribute significantly to the eventual defeat of the U-boat.

(1) The first Auxiliary Fighter Catapult Ships flying the White Ensign and equipped with a single 'one-way' Hurricane were ready in April 1941. They shot down their first Kondor in August. In May a Hurricane was successfully launched from a Red Ensign Catapult Armed Merchantman (CAM), but they did not claim their first victim until November. CAM-ships were eventually superseded in 1943 by Merchant Aircraft Carriers (MACs) - merchantmen with full flightdecks, but sailing under the Red Ensign and also carrying oil or grain.

(2) The final step in the introduction of ship-borne aircraft into the Battle of the Atlantic comes in June when the first escort carrier was ready for service. HMS Audacity, converted from a German prize, had a short life, but proves the great value of these vessels.

(3) New scientific developments also started to play their part. In May the first high definition, 10cm radar (Type 271) was installed in a corvette. Later still, high frequency, direction finding (HF/DF or 'Huff-Duff') was introduced to supplement the work of the shore stations. It is many months before either system was widely in service, and not until 1942 did they claim their first U-boats.

(4) Inter-service co-ordination was further improved when RAF Coastal Command is placed under operational control of the Admiralty.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 48 British, Allied and neutral ships of 282,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 3 armed merchant cruisers
- 2 German U-boats

 

MAY 1941

Bismarck

This month includes a breakthrough in the capture of German Enigma coding material from "U-110", the hunt for and sinking of the "Bismarck", the fearful Royal Navy losses of Crete, continuing confirmation that Russia was about to be attacked by Germany, further deterioration in relations with Japan. One can only imagine the thoughts and feelings of Prime Minister Churchill and his senior advisers as they responded day-by-day to these momentous developments.

Battle of the Atlantic - Total U-boat strength was now over 100 with 30 operational and the rest undergoing training or trials. Most were active in the North Atlantic, but a small number were concentrated against the weakly-defended shipping off Freetown, Sierra Leone and between there and the Canary Islands to the north. In this area "U-107" (Lt-Cdr Hessler) sinks 14 ships of 87,000 tons on one patrol. Other U-boats did almost as well.

Royal Navy escort groups can provide cover from UK bases out to 18'W, and those from Iceland the mid-Atlantic gap to 35'W. With the opening of an Escort Force base at St John's, Newfoundland by the Royal Canadian Navy, the rest of the North Atlantic convoy routes can now receive protection. However, continuous escort across the Atlantic was not yet available. Then, around the 20th, unescorted convoy HX126 from Halifax, Nova Scotia is attacked at 40'W and loses heavily. Steps are immediately taken to extend protection and HX129 sailing at the end of the month was the first of the UK-bound convoys to receive regular and continuous cover.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 60 British, Allied and neutral ships of 336,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes; 1 battlecruiser, 1 destroyer, 1 armed merchant cruiser - German battleship "Bismarck" and "U-110"

U110 in tow by HMS Bulldog - it later sank.

JUNE 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - Following the capture of the “U-100” Enigma material, the Royal Navy tracked down the supply ships already in position to support the "Bismarck" as well as other raiders and U-boats. In 20 days, six tankers and three other ships were sunk or captured in the North and South Atlantic. From now, distant water U-boats would have to be supplied by U-boat 'Milchcows' although the first purpose-built ones would not be ready until 1942. U Boat Command suspected a leak but would not believe Enigma had been compromised.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 70 British, Allied and neutral ships of 329,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 4 German and 1 Italian U-boats

JULY 1941

Iceland - US forces land in Iceland to take over the defence of the island and surrounding seas from Britain.

Battle of the Atlantic - Continuous escort was now being provided for convoys to North America and from West Africa. Three new convoys were introduced:

UK/North America Fast, ONF

UK/North America Slow, ONS - the two replacing the Outward Bound, 0B convoys

UK/Sierra Leone, OS.

Air cover from Ireland, Iceland and Newfoundland was improving, but RAF Coastal Command lacked the aircraft to cover the mid-Atlantic gap. It is in this area, some 800 miles long the U-boats were now concentrating.

Between January and June 1941, North Atlantic merchant shipping losses had averaged 300,000 tons per month. From July to December 1941 they were considerably down at an average level of 104,000 tons. The reasons were varied - evasive convoy routing and more effective aircraft deployment from the 'Ultra’ work, introduction of radars and high frequency direction finding (HF/DF), the availability of more escorts, and continuous escort. Losses due to German aircraft were also well down as many were transferred to the Russian front. 

Monthly Loss Summary
23 British, Allied and neutral ships of 98,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes

AUGUST 1941

HMS Prince of Wales in Argentia, Newfoundland

US Navy Close to War - Winston Churchill crossed the Atlantic in battleship "Prince of Wales" to meet President Roosevelt off Newfoundland between the 9th and 12th. Together they drafted the Atlantic Charter setting out their aims for war and peace. Discussion also took place on US Navy involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic, which will initially revolve around the supply of US forces in Iceland.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 25 British, Allied and neutral ships of 84,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 3 escorts
- 3 German and 1 Italian U-boats

Churchill Aboard HMS Prince of Wales

SEPTEMBER 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - Escort carrier "Audacity" sails with UK/Gibraltar convoy OG74. Her American-built Martlet fighters shot down the first Kondor to fall victim to an escort carrier, but U-boats still managed to sink five merchantmen.

The US Navy started to escort HX and ON convoys between Newfoundland and Mid Ocean Meeting Point (MOMP), south of Iceland, where the Royal Navy took over. Five US destroyers began on the 17th with HX150 (50 ships). Earlier on the 4th, the first incident occurred when US destroyer "Greer" on passage to Iceland was in action with "U-652". There was no damage or loss to either ship.

The increased number of U-boats available to Admiral Doenitz (approaching 200 with 30 operational) allows him to establish patrol lines in the Atlantic. It is into these that the two SC convoys 42 and 44 (above), had stumbled with such heavy losses. Convoys SL87 and HG73 also lose badly and the four convoys between them see a total of 36 merchant ships go down.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 53 British, Allied and neutral ships of 200,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, and 1 escort
- 2 German and 2 Italian U-boats

OCTOBER 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - By now the pattern of escort in the North Atlantic with the rapidly growing Royal Canadian Navy and involvement of the US Navy was becoming established. With UK-bound convoys, for example, the RCN provided escort from Halifax to the Western Ocean Meeting Point (WOMP) south of Newfoundland. From there, as far as the Mid Ocean Meeting Point (MOMP) at 22'W, the USN escorts HX, and joint RN/RCN groups the slower SC convoys. RN ships based in Iceland then took over until the convoys were met by Western Approaches escorts operating out of Londonderry, Northern Ireland and the Clyde, Scotland.

US Navy and Army Air Force aircraft were now adding to the efforts of the RAF and RCAF by flying escort and patrols from Newfoundland and Iceland. The mid-Atlantic air-gap was narrowing.  

Monthly Loss Summary
- 33 British, Allied and neutral ships of 160,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, and 5 escorts including USS Reuben James.
- 2 German and 1 Italian U-boats

NOVEMBER 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - There was a considerable drop in U-boat sinkings in the North Atlantic in the last two months of the year; again the reasons were varied - the increasing number of escorts, the help given by the US Navy, and the increasing effectiveness of land-based aircraft. Escort carrier "Audacity" is also proving her worth. The Allies were also helped by Hitler's orders to Admiral Doenitz to transfer large numbers of U-boats to the Mediterranean. These were needed to shore up the Italians and help secure the supply lines to the Axis armies in North Africa.

This movement led to a concentration of U-boats off Gibraltar, and to the need to strengthen the HG/SL convoy escorts. After the attacks on HG75 in October, the next HG did not sail until December when "Audacity" is available to close the Britain/Gibraltar air gap.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 11 British, Allied and neutral ships of 55,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 cruiser
- 1 German raider, 1 German U-boat and 1 Italian (cause unknown)

DECEMBER 1941

Battle of the Atlantic - The sinking of five U-boats in exchange for two merchant ships in the Battle for Convoy HG76 which for the first time closes the Gibraltar/UK Air-Gap, was a significant victory for the escorts. It proved beyond any doubt the value of escort carrier aircraft against the submarine - as well as the patrolling Focke Wulf Kondors, two of which were shot down. Escort Commander - Captain Johnnie Walker!

Monthly Loss Summary
- 11 British, Allied and neutral ships of 57,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 escort carrier and 2 escorts
- 5 German U-boats plus two transferring to the Mediterranean.

JANUARY 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boat strength is up to 250 with 90 operational. Two-thirds are spread across the Atlantic, nearly a quarter in the Mediterranean, and a few on patrol in the Arctic for Russian convoys. It is at this time that Admiral Doenitz, with never more than 10 or 12 U-boats at a time, launches Operation' Paukenschlag' ('Drumroll') off the coasts of America. The U-boat commanders enjoy their second 'Happy Time', especially against the unescorted ships sailing in virtually peace-time conditions off the United States. Warship patrols are started, but the USN finds it hard to accept the long, hard-fought lessons of the Royal Navy and establish convoys immediately.

Atlantic convoys still start and end at Nova Scotia, so the first U-boats operate off the Canadian coast south of there. Over 40 merchantmen are lost in this area alone in January and February. By this time U-boats are also sinking many ships off the US east coast.

On the weapons front, the forward-firing Hedgehog with its 24 A/S mortar bombs starts to enter RN service. Its first success does not come until late in the 1942. 

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 48 British, Allied and neutral ships of 277,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 3 escorts
- 1 German U-boat.

FEBRUARY 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats extend Operation 'Paukenschlag' as far south as the Caribbean and start by shelling installations and sinking tankers off Aruba, Curacao, Trinidad and other oil ports. However, they are still active elsewhere in the Atlantic, and east of Newfoundland a pack of five attack convoy ON67 (36 ships). Eight ships are lost, of which six are the ever-valuable tankers.

The Royal Navy suffers a major setback when U-boats in the Atlantic change from the Enigma 'Hydra' code to 'Triton'. This will not be broken until December 1942 - a ten month delay. But all is not lost as 'Hydra' is still used in European waters. This, together with signals traffic analysis and the vast amount of experience built up to date, means that remarkably accurate pictures can be drawn of U-boat operations and intentions.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 73 British, Allied and neutral ships of 430,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 2 corvettes and 2 US destroyers off Newfoundland and the US east coast
- 2 German U-boats

MARCH 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - Losses continue at a high rate in US and West Indian waters with over 40 ships sunk in March, many of them valuable tankers. Over the next few months RN and RCN escorts and a RAF Coastal Command squadron are loaned to the Americans. Ten corvettes are also transferred to the US Navy.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 98 British, Allied and neutral ships of 547,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 1 German destroyer and 5 U-boats, including 2 by US aircraft off Newfoundland

APRIL 1942

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 74 British, Allied and neutral ships of 439,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 US destroyer mined off Florida
- 2 German U-boats

MAY 1942

Mexico - On the 22nd, Mexico joined most of the Central American and Caribbean republics by declaring war on the Axis powers.

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boat strength approached 300 with over 100 operational. A fairly complete convoy system was being introduced off the US east coast from Florida north, but the submarines were now concentrating in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. They can now spend more time on station assisted by 'Milchcow' supply boats. The result is that Allied losses continue at a high rate, especially among tankers. In the North Atlantic, convoy ONS92 lost seven ships in one night to a pack attack.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 122 British, Allied and neutral ships of 585,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 2 cruisers, 1 destroyer and 1 submarine
- 1 German destroyer, 1 U-boat by US Coast Guard off east coast of America

JUNE 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - In the first six months of 1942, submarines worldwide had sunk 585 ships of over 3,000,000 tons, mostly in the Atlantic - and a large proportion of these in American waters where losses remain high in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. At the same time the 108 new U-boats entering service far outweigh the 13 sunk in the Atlantic in this period.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 128 British, Allied and neutral ships of 650,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 destroyer and 1 submarine
- 2 U-boats by US forces off Cuba and Bermuda

JULY 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - Pending the setting up of support Escort Groups later in the year, vessels allocated mainly to convoy protection were designated by their nationality - "A" for American, "B" for British, "C" for Canadian.

The American convoy system was now being extended into the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and merchantmen sinkings go down as U-boat losses start to mount. Nevertheless, with 140 operational U-boats out of a total of 330, the Germans had more than enough to continue the offensive in the North Atlantic as well as maintain concentrations off Sierra Leone, Venezuela and Brazil. For some months to come it was again the tankers that lost heavily, off the coasts of Venezuela and Trinidad.

On the 1st of the month, the Change of Operational Control (CHOP) line was introduced for Atlantic convoys. Shipping to the east of 26'W (approximately south of Iceland) was controlled by the British Admiralty and to the west by the US Navy from Washington. In November 1942 it was moved to 47'W (approximately south of Greenland). 

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 101 British, Allied and neutral ships of 511,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 11 German and 1 Italian U-boats, including 2 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 by RCAF off Nova Scotia; and 3 by US forces in the Caribbean and off the east coast of America

AUGUST 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - For some time now aircraft of RAF Coastal Command had used the Leigh light searchlight in conjunction with ASV radar to illuminate and attack U-boats at night on the surface. The Germans introduced the Metox detector which enables U-boats to pick up the 1.5m wavelength transmissions of the existing ASV sets in time for them to submerge. They thus moved one step ahead of the Allies in the scientific war. The RAF's important Bay of Biscay patrols lose effectiveness accordingly.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 106 British, Allied and neutral ships of 544,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 US destroyer by collision off Nova Scotia.

- 9 U-boats including 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 3 by US aircraft in Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and off Iceland; 1 Italian by unknown causes, possibly by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols.

SEPTEMBER 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats continued to operate off Sierra Leone, West Africa and the northern coast of South America where Allied losses remain high. Off Trinidad alone 29 ships of 143,000 tons go down in September. However, the interlocking convoy system is well on the way to being established off the Americas, and is increasing in effectiveness. In September the western termini for Atlantic convoys are moved from the Canadian ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Sydney, Cape Breton down to New York. In time, pressure on the port becomes so great some convoy starts move back to Halifax in March 1943.

A long felt need starts to be met when Adm Noble forms the first convoy support groups. These highly trained flotillas are used to reinforce the escorts of convoys under heavy attack, and although called Escort Groups should not be confused with the groups of 1941, often temporary in nature and with a diversity of ship types. Some of the new Escort Groups are formed around the escort carriers now entering service - the first since "Audacity" lost in December 1941. Unfortunately none of them will be available to fight the Battle of the Atlantic for another six months: they are needed for the invasion of French North Africa.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 102 British, Allied and neutral ships of 531,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 5 escorts
- 1 German raider and 9 U-boats including 3 by US and RAF aircraft in the North Atlantic; 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 on an RAF-laid mine in the Bay of Biscay

OCTOBER 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - Losses continue high in the North Atlantic, many in the air-gaps on the transatlantic routes which aircraft cannot reach from Newfoundland, Iceland, Northern Ireland. Also on the routes to and from Sierra Leone which are remote from Gibraltar or Freetown. For example, Atlantic convoys HX212 and SC107 lose six and fifteen ships respectively, and Sierra Leone convoy SL125 around thirteen. Apart from escort carriers, more very long range (VLR) aircraft are needed by RAF Coastal Command. Only No 120 squadron is equipped with the VLR B-24 Liberators. In October there are nearly 200 operational U-boats out of a total of 365. German losses are increasing as the effectiveness of Allied air and sea escorts and patrols improves, but nowhere near enough to offset new construction.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 82 British, Allied and neutral ships of 548,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 cruiser
- 15 U-boats including 6 by RAF in North Atlantic; 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 by RAF-laid mine in the Bay of Biscay; 2 by RCAF off Newfoundland; 1 by US aircraft off French Guiana; 1 by unknown causes, possibly by US aircraft

NOVEMBER 1942

Allied Convoy Routes - New fast (F) and slow (S) convoys start in October and November between the UK and North African ports:

- UK out: KMF and KMS.

- Home to UK: MKF and MKS.

From April 1943 these convoys sail to and from the Gibraltar area mainly with OS and SL-convoyed ships.

Battle of the Atlantic - World-wide losses in tonnage due to Axis submarines are the highest of any month of the war - 119 ships of 729,000 tons, mostly in the Atlantic. By year's end, submarines in 1942 will have accounted for 1,160 ships of 6,266,000 tons or a monthly average of 522,000 tons. Losses in the North and South Atlantic will make up most of this total. To deal with this grave threat, a Cabinet Anti-U-boat Warfare Committee (not the 1941 Battle of the Atlantic Committee) is formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It sees the first need as closing the mid-Atlantic gap once and for all. Steps are taken to further expand Coastal Command and speed up the introduction of VLR aircraft. Adm Sir Max Horton, commander of home-based submarines since 1940 and a World War 1 submariner himself, succeeds Adm Noble as C-in-C, Western Approaches.

Monthly Loss Summary
- British, Allied and neutral ships of 567,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 escort carrier, 1 destroyer and 1 corvette
- 7 U-boats including one by US aircraft off Iceland, and one possibly by the RAF in the North Atlantic

DECEMBER 1942

Battle of the Atlantic - Total U-boat strength at year's end approaches 400 compared to 250 in January, and this in spite of 86 submarines being lost in 1942. Of the total, over 200 are operational. Many are on passage but the numbers on patrol are still great and increasing. Most are in the North Atlantic or west of Gibraltar although groups operate off West Africa and South America with some success. The Allies can deploy 450 escort vessels of all types against the U-boats: this is a large number but still not enough to curb the menace and go over to the offensive.

In December the Royal Navy and its Allies regain an old advantage when after a 10-month gap, the U-boat 'Triton' code for Atlantic operations is broken.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 54 British, Allied and neutral ships of 305,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 3 escorts
- 1 German destroyer and 5 U-boats including 1 each by US and indirectly by RAF aircraft in attacks on HX217; 1 by US Coast Guard in mid-Atlantic

JANUARY 1943

Battle of the Atlantic - Severe weather and evasive convoy routing keeps losses down in January 1943. However, south of the Azores, out of range of air cover, Trinidad/Gibraltar tanker convoy TM1 loses seven out of nine ships to U-boats.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 30 British, Allied and neutral ships of 189,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 4 U-boats including 1 by RAF in North Atlantic; 2 by US aircraft off Brazil; 1 by unknown causes

FEBRUARY 1943

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 50 British, Allied and neutral ships of 310,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 corvette
- 15 U-boats including 5 by RAF in North Atlantic and off Portugal and Gibraltar; 2 by RAF and US aircraft on Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 by US Navy in North Atlantic.

MARCH 1943

Battle of the Atlantic - Throughout the war a large proportion of the losses due to U-boats are among independently routed merchantmen and stragglers from convoys, but in March 1943 the Germans come close to overwhelming well escorted convoys. Between the 7th and 11th, slow convoy SC121 loses 13 ships. Worse is to come between the 16th and 20th in the largest convoy battle of the war - around HX229 and SC122. Over 40 U-boats are deployed against the two as they slowly coalesce in the mid-Atlantic air gap until there are 100 ships plus their escorts. Twenty U-boats take part in the attacks and sink 21 merchantmen before additional air and surface escorts finally drive them off. A RAF Sunderland accounts for the one U-boat destroyed. Again the German B-Service is responsible for providing Doenitz' packs with accurate convoy details and routeing.

These losses take place at another turning point in the secret war around the Enigma codes. Early in the month the U-boats change from three-rotor to the far more complex four-rotor 'Triton' code. Yet by month's end this has been broken by the men and women of Bletchley Park and their electromechanical computers. The Allies' tremendous advantage is restored. This comes at the same time as a number of other developments which together bring about a complete reversal in the war against the U-boats.

The first five Royal Navy support groups with modern radars, anti-submarine weapons and HF/DF are released for operation in the North Atlantic. Two are built around Home Fleet destroyers, two around Western Approaches escorts, including Capt Walker's 2nd Escort Group, and one with escort carrier "Biter". Escort carriers "Archer" and the American "Bogue" are also ready for action, but "Dasher" is unfortunately lost in UK waters. Nevertheless, the mid-Atlantic air gap is about to be finally closed.

Another major breakthrough is again in the air war. Aircraft are being fitted with the 10cm wavelength radar which is undetectable by U-boat Metox receivers. The new radar and the Leigh light make a powerful weapon against surfaced submarines, especially as they try to break out through the Bay of Biscay air patrols. More VLR aircraft are also joining Coastal Command to extend further the Allies grip on the convoy routes throughout their length.  

Monthly Loss Summary
- 90 British, Allied and neutral ships of 538,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 destroyer
- 12 U-boats including 4 by the RAF in North Atlantic; 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 by US aircraft off Barbados; 2 by US forces off the Azores and Canary Islands; 1 by unknown causes

APRIL 1943

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boat strength is up to 425 with 240 boats operational, and over half of them on passage through or on patrol throughout the North Atlantic. However, there is somewhat of a lull until the end of the month with the start of the ONS5 battle. A group also operates once again in the weakly defended Sierra Leone area. In just one night "U-515" sinks seven of the 18 ships in Takoradi/Sierra Leone convoy TS37.

Changes are again made in the Allies' responsibility for the North Atlantic routes. As agreed at the March 1943 Atlantic Convoy Conference in Washington:

- Royal Canadian Navy is to exercise full control of the northerly routes west of the 47-00'W CHOP line - approximately south of Greenland.

- Royal Navy takes over to the east of 47-00'W.

- US Navy is to look after the southerly convoys, and also the CU/UC tanker routes between the West lndies and UK.

With these organisational changes, the far more effective convoy Escort Groups, and the developments described in March, the scene is set for the decisive convoy battles of May 1943.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 40 British, Allied and neutral ships of 242,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 destroyer and 1 submarine
- 14 German and 1 Italian U-boats including 3 by the RAF in the North Atlantic and off the Canaries; 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrol; 1 by RAF-laid mine in the Bay of Biscay; 1 by RAAF north of the Faeroes; 3 to US forces in the North and South Atlantic, including the one Italian

MAY 1943

Victory of the Escorts - The May 1943 Convoy Battles are a major victory. Summary statistics for the main battles are:

15 convoys totalling 622 merchantmen, protected by seven British B and five Canadian C convoy groups, six British and one US supporting Escort Group, three escort carriers

Well over 70 German U-boats at sea; 23 sunk

11 convoys are unscathed, four convoys lose 19 ships - a loss rate of 3 percent

Without the heavy losses of ONS5, loss rate is 1 percent

Without the U-boats sunk in attacks on OSN5, 16 U-boats are lost in exchange for 6 merchantmen

Monthly Loss Summary
- 40 British, Allied and neutral ships of 204,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 37 German and 1 Italian U-boats. In addition to those lost in or around the convoy battles: 3 by RAF in North Atlantic; 6 by RAF and RAAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 4 by US forces in the North Atlantic, off Florida and Brazil; 2 by collision in the North Atlantic

JUNE 1943

Battle of the Atlantic - The Royal Navy has finally changed the convoy codes and made them secure against the work of the German B-Service. In contrast, the British 'Ultra' work is fully integrated into the Admiralty U-boat Tracking Room, and an almost complete picture of German Navy and U-boat operations is available. Not one North Atlantic convoy is attacked during the month although U-boats are operating around the Azores. As Allied air and sea forces grow in strength and effectiveness, especially through the use of 10cm radar and 'Ultra', Admiral Doenitz seeks other ways to regain the initiative. This he is never able to do, although right through until the last day of the war, the Allies cannot relax their efforts, and continually introduce new detection systems, weapons and tactics.

Against numerous, well-trained and effectively used escorts, the day of the conventional submarine is drawing to a close. The Germans place much faith in the Walther hydrogen peroxide boat now under development, which with its long underwater endurance and high speed, could prove a formidable foe. It does not get beyond the experimental stage by war's end. An interim step on the road towards the 'true' submarine starts at the end of 1943 with the design and building of Type XXI ocean and XXIII coastal boats. Using the streamlined hull of the Walther and high capacity batteries, their underwater speed will make them faster than most escorts. Fortunately for the Allies they do not enter service in numbers until too late in 1945.

For now the Germans must rely on the U-boats currently in service and building. Total numbers stay at around the 400 mark for the remainder of the war, in spite of a 40 boat per month construction programme, and various steps are taken to improve their offensive and defensive capability. Apart from extra AA armament, the Gnat acoustic torpedo is introduced specifically to combat the convoy escorts. Its first test comes in September 1943. Before then in July, the schnorkel, a Dutch development that allows batteries to be recharged at periscope depth, starts trials. It does not enter general service until mid-1944, but then goes quite some way to nullifying the radar of the air escorts and patrols. Even now the German Navy is unaware the Allies are using short wavelength radar, but when they do, early in 1944, an effective detector is shortly introduced.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 7 British, Allied and neutral ships of 30,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes,
- 16 German and 1 Italian U-boats including 4 by US and RAF aircraft off Iceland and the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Italian boat in the North Atlantic; 3 by the US Navy, one off the east coast of America and two to escort carrier "Bogue" off the Azores; 1 by French aircraft off Dakar.

JULY 1943

Monthly Loss Summary
- 29 ships British, Allied and neutral ships of 188,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 34 U-boats including 3 by RAF and US aircraft off Portugal; 7 by US escort carrier groups south and west of the Azores (6 of these by aircraft from "Core", "Santee" or "Bogue"); 9 by US aircraft in the Caribbean and off Brazil.

AUGUST 1943

Monthly Loss Summary
- 4 British, Allied and neutral ships of 25,000 tons, 1 escort
- 20 U-boats including 6 by aircraft of US escort carriers Card and Core off the Azores and in mid-Atlantic; 2 by US aircraft in the Caribbean area; 1 by RAF and French aircraft off Dakar; 1 by US forces in the South Atlantic

SEPTEMBER 1943

Assault on the Escorts: Convoys ONS18 and ON202 - The German wolf-packs return to the North Atlantic armed with Gnat acoustic torpedoes to home in on and disable the escorts so they can reach the merchantmen. In attacks on these convoys, three U-boats are lost in exchange for six merchant ships and escorts "LAGAN", Canadian "ST CROIX", "POLYANTHUS" and "ITCHEN". Fortunately the Allies have anticipated the introduction of acoustic torpedoes and soon put into service 'Foxer' noisemakers, towed astern to attract the Gnat away from the vessel. The U-boats do not repeat their successes.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 11 ships of 54,000 tons and 4 escorts
- 6 U-boats including one each by RAF and RCAF Bay of Biscay patrols, and one by US aircraft off Brazil

OCTOBER 1943

Battle of the Atlantic - After lengthy negotiations ending in August 1943, Portugal granted the Allies the right to establish air and sea bases in the Azores as from October. This greatly extends the Allies' ability to cover the central Atlantic and the convoy routes between Britain and North and West Africa; also between North America and the Mediterranean.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 13 ships of 61,000 tons and 1 destroyer
- 23 U-boats including 4 by RAF and US aircraft in North Atlantic and off Portugal; 6 by US escort carriers Card, Core and Block Island off the Azores and in mid-Atlantic.

NOVEMBER 1943

Monthly Loss Summary
- 7 ships of 28,000 tons and 1 US destroyer off the Azores
- 16 U-boats including 2 by RAF and US Bay of Biscay air patrols; 2 by RAF in North Atlantic and off the Azores; 3 by US forces in mid-Atlantic and off Ascension in the South Atlantic.

DECEMBER 1943

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 7 ships of 48,000 tons and 2 destroyers including one US in the North Atlantic
- 1 German battlecruiser ("Scharnhorst" in the Battle of North Cape) and 5 U-boats including 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrol; 3 by US Navy in Azores and Madeira areas; 1 scuttled after storm damage in mid-Atlantic

JANUARY 1944

Battle of the Atlantic - Over the next five months U-boat losses are so heavy that by May 1944, North Atlantic operations have virtually ceased. In this period only 25 merchant ships are lost in the North and South Atlantic at a cost of 77 U-boats from all causes. At the same time the Allies are not so successful against them as they pass through the Bay of Biscay from French bases and the Northern Transit Area from Norway and direct from Germany. Now equipped with 10cm radar detectors they only lose five of their number in the Bay, but in mid-May are badly hit by RAF Coastal Command off Norway. By then the whole complexion of the U-boat war near the shores of Europe changes with the invasion of Normandy.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 5 British, Allied and neutral ships of 36,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 2 destroyers including one US off New York, and 1 frigate
- 14 U-boats including 2 by RAF and RAAF Bay of Biscay patrols; 1 by RAF-laid mine in Bay of Biscay; 1 by US escort carrier Guadalcanal off the Azores

FEBRUARY 1944

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 2 British, Allied and neutral ships of 12,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 destroyer and 1 sloop
- 15 U-boats including 2 by RAF to the west of Scotland; 1 by US Navy aircraft off Ascension Island

MARCH 1944

Battle of the Atlantic - To make more efficient use of available tonnage, trans-Atlantic convoys are now designated Fast, Medium or Slow. All this time great numbers of US servicemen are being carried across to Britain in preparation for the invasion of Europe, many by the fast, unescorted liners "Queen Elizabeth" and "Queen Mary" each carrying 15,000 men every trip.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 8 British, Allied and neutral ships of 41,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 2 escorts and 1 US destroyer off Iceland
- 17 U-boats including 1 by RCAF off Ireland; 4 by the aircraft and ships of USS Block Island off the Azores and Cape Verde Islands; 1 by unknown causes in the North Atlantic; 1 by SAAF off South Africa

APRIL 1944

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 7 British, Allied and neutral ships of 48,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 16 U-boats including 2 by RAF in North Atlantic; 1 by RAF Bay of Biscay patrol; 6 by US Navy forces off America, Madeira, Cap Verde Islands and in North Atlantic.

MAY 1944

Battle of the Atlantic - RAF Coastal Command and one of its Norwegian squadrons are particularly successful between the 16th and 27th against the U-boats passing through the Northern Transit Area off south and west Norway. In the space of 12 days, "U-240", "U-241", "U-476", "U-675", "U-990" and "U-292" are sunk.

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 3 British, Allied and neutral ships of 17,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 frigate and 1 US escort carrier
- 15 U-boats including 1 by RCAF Bay of Biscay patrol

JUNE 1944

Battle of the Atlantic - U-boats passing through the Bay of Biscay are the target for aircraft covering the Normandy invasion, and also continue to suffer badly at the hands of the aircraft of the Northern Transit Area patrol. Throughout the month, seven are sunk and one severely damaged by RAF, RCAF and Norwegian aircraft. In the case of "U-1225" to the northwest of Bergen on the 24th, the attacking Canadian Canso (or Catalina) is badly hit and crashes but not before sinking her. + Flt Lt David Hornell RCAF, pilot of the Canso of No 162 Squadron, Coastal Command, is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Monthly Loss Summary
- 3 British, Allied and neutral ships of 7,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 13 U-boats excluding those sunk in Bay of Biscay

6th of June 1944 - Normandy Invasion: Operation 'Overlord' 

JULY 1944

Monthly Loss Summary
- 4 British, Allied and neutral ships of 29,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 7 U-boats including one each by task groups of US escort carriers "Wake Island", "Croatan" and "Card" off the Canaries, Madeira and Nova Scotia respectively

AUGUST 1944

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 1 ship of 6,000 tons, 1 escort carrier, 2 escorts, 1 US destroyer escort off Azores
- 3 U-boats including 1 by aircraft of escort carrier "Bogue" off Newfoundland  

SEPTEMBER 1944

U-boat Inshore Campaign - With the start of the British Isles Inshore Campaign, U-boats sunk off Norway and in the Western Approaches as well as the Bay of Biscay are no longer included in the Battle of the Atlantic, but in the European theatre. The same applies to the Royal Navy and German surface warships lost. See Western Europe - Normandy to Berlin

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 3 British, Allied and neutral ships of 17,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 US destroyer in a hurricane off Bahamas
- 7 U-boats including 1 cause unknown and 1 mined off Iceland; 1 by RAF off the Azores; 1 by US Navy off Cape Verde Islands; 1 by US aircraft in South Atlantic 

OCTOBER 1944

Monthly Loss Summary
- For the first time since September 1939, no merchant ships are lost throughout the length and breadth of the North and South Atlantic in October 1944
- 1 U-boat in the North Atlantic due to schnorkel defect.

Schnorkel

NOVEMBER 1944

Monthly Loss Summary
- 3 British, Allied and neutral ships of 8,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 corvette

DECEMBER 1944

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 1 merchant ship of 5,000 tons in the Atlantic
- 3 German U-boats

JANUARY 1945

Monthly Loss Summary
- 5 British, Allied and neutral ships of 29,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes
- 1 U-boat by USN in mid-Atlantic

FEBRUARY 1945

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 6 British, Allied and neutral ships of 39,000 tons in UK waters, 3 escorts
- 3 U-boats including 1 by US and French escorts off Morocco

MARCH 1945

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian convoys
- 4 British, Allied and neutral ships of 27,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 sloop
- 1 U-boat by USN off Nova Scotia

APRIL 1945

Monthly Loss Summary, including Russian Convoys
- 5 British, Allied and neutral ships of 32,000 tons in the Atlantic from all causes, 1 frigate and 1 US destroyer off the Azores
- 9 U-boats including 7 by USN off east coast of USA, off the Azores and in mid-Atlantic

MAY 1945

Monthly Loss Summary
- 1 merchant ship of 5,000 tons in the Atlantic
- 2 German U-boats

References

Every year on the first Saturday in May; the Canadians commemorate Battle of the Atlantic Day
Here in Britain, we commemorate - nothing! Is it not acceptable to remember those who died so that we may live?
If those who died could see this once great land as it is now, they would say - why did we bother!