The Royal Navy maintained an office studying economic warfare and producing annual charts of major ships and commercial routes. That accumulated knowledge helped HMS Liverpool intercept Asama Maru off Japan in January 1940. Knowing where the liner would pass allowed the cruiser to wait for it and remove passengers before Japanese forces could intervene. Shipping intelligence supported an operation far from Britain through information collected before the immediate encounter.
Notable Point · 35:15-37:18
Shipping intelligence enabled the Asama Maru interception
A Royal Navy office tracking global shipping routes supplied the knowledge needed for HMS Liverpool to intercept Asama Maru near Japan.