Battle of Atlantic: An Introduction to The Convoy war & the Perfect Storm of PQ17… P1/3

The opening frames PQ 17 as one episode within the far wider Battle of the Atlantic convoy campaign.

Bedford Basin illustrates the large North American gathering points that made Atlantic convoy movement possible in both world wars.

Loss figures show why the Battle of the Atlantic was a prolonged contest of sailors, merchant crews, escorts, aircraft, and submarines.

The campaign depended on whether U-boats could sink shipping faster than the Allies could replace it and sustain essential imports.

Operation Torch demonstrates the Allies' ability to move and join major trans-Atlantic convoys without alerting Axis forces.

Tonnage charts illustrate the brief peaks of U-boat success and the sharp effect of improved anti-submarine capability in 1943.

Wolf packs were only one part of a convoy problem that also included lone submarines, mines, aircraft, and surface raiders.

Reconnaissance and minelaying made Axis aircraft important even when their direct attacks were concentrated near Britain.

The evolution from ramming and hand-dropped grenades to ASDIC and depth charges still left attackers with difficult depth-setting, pattern, and final-approach problems.

Peacetime exercises rewarded spectacular capital-ship attacks, whereas wartime submarines could weaken a whole convoy by sinking a destroyer.

Hunter groups could pursue submarines effectively, but exposed ASW work suited escort carriers better than fleet carriers.

Aircraft range left a vulnerable mid-ocean gap, making escort carriers, basing, northern routes, and weather important parts of convoy defence.

PQ 18's close screen shows how many destroyers, corvettes, and trawlers were needed to surround merchant ships with detection and protective fire.

Cruiser or battleship cover was needed beyond the close screen because destroyers could challenge raiders only at serious risk to themselves and the convoy.