Battle of the Atlantic

U-Boat Wolf Packs

• Early WWII, U-boats were successful, led by Admiral Dnitz.
• Developed deadly wolf pack strategy.
  • Submarines spread across convoy routes.
  • Upon spotting, wolf pack converges for attack.
  • First used on 18 October 1940 against convoy SC-7.
  • Resulted in sinking 20 merchant ships and 140 sailor deaths.
• Lt. Cmdr. Desmond Piers recounted attacks by U-boats, losing a third of his convoy.

"Black Pit"

• Mid-Atlantic area, beyond Allied aircraft range, known as "Black Pit."
• German success led U-boats to Canadian and US coasts.
• 1942: U-boats entered Gulf of St. Lawrence, sinking 21 ships.
• 1942: U-boats sank nearly 100 merchant ships per month.

Tide Turns (1943)

• British intelligence cracked Enigma code, tracking U-boats.
• Long-range aircraft for full Atlantic coverage.
• Royal Navy's aggressive anti-submarine tactics.
  • Created elite hunter groups.
• Canada expanded escort duties.
  • New, faster frigates led to sinking 8 U-boats (Nov 1943 - Spring 1944).

Northwest Command

• Northwest Atlantic under Canadian control.
• Rear Admiral Leonard Murray led as commander-in-chief.
• U-boats equipped with new tech by 1944.
  • New acoustic torpedoes.
  • HMCS St. Croix sunk by U-305.
• Canadian navy losses continued till war end.

Merchant Navy

• Merchant navy critical in supply efforts.
• Canada built over 400 merchant vessels.
• 12,000 sailors served; high casualty rate.
• 1992: Merchant navy veterans recognized.
• 2003: September 3rd proclaimed Merchant Navy Veterans Day.

Significance

• Crucial to Allied victory in WWII.
• RCN grew to fourth-largest navy.
• Shipbuilding industry delivered ships rapidly.
  • 487 warships, 400 cargo vessels, 3,000 landing crafts built.

Casualties and Remembrance

• Heavy losses: 36,000 Allied and merchant seamen lost.
• Canadian losses: 2,000 RCN, 1,600 merchants, 752 airmen.
• Commemorated at Sailors Memorial in Halifax.
• Annual ceremonies on the first Sunday in May.

Notable Ship

• HMCS Halifax, a corvette, built in 1942 to counteract U-boats.