All language subtitles for hdfjhfdjhy

Narrator: MARCH 16, 1943.

NAZI U‐BOAT U‐653
LIMPS BACK TO BASE

AFTER A MONTH OF COMBAT
ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THE SUBMARINE
IS HAVING ENGINE TROUBLES.

THE BRIDGE WATCHMAN
SEES A BRIEF SPARK,

THEN A RED GLOW
AGAINST THE DARKNESS.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

A SAILOR ON DECK
LIGHTING HIS CIGARETTE

HAS REVEALED THE PRESENCE
OF AN ALLIED SHIP.

LOOKOUTS SCAN
THE SURROUNDING SEAS

AND FIND THEMSELVES SURROUNDED

BY THE GHOSTLY SHADOWS
OF DOZENS MORE.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

U‐653 HAS SOMEHOW
MANAGED TO SAIL

INTO THE MIDST
OF AN ALLIED CONVOY.

IT IS A LUCKY ACCIDENT
THAT SETS THE STAGE

FOR THE LARGEST CONVOY BATTLE
OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

IN WORLD WAR II,

A SUBSEA WEAPON ALLOWS WARRIORS
TO FIGHT FROM BENEATH THE WAVES.

WITH CUNNING, FORCE...

AND TENACITY,

THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.

REVOLUTIONARY BUT STILL
SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,

IT'S A DESPERATE BID

TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.

THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.

♪

AFTER BLUNDERING INTO THE MIDDLE
OF AN ALLIED CONVOY...

KAPITÄNLEUTNANT GERHARD FEILER

ORDERS A CRASH DIVE
TO ESCAPE DETECTION.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

SAFELY SUBMERGED,

U‐653 TRACKS THE VESSELS
THAT PASS OVERHEAD.

[SPEAKING SOFTLY]

♪

HOURS LATER, FEILER RESURFACES

JUST BEHIND THE COLUMNS
OF SHIPS...

TO SEND A CONVOY SIGHTING SIGNAL
TO U‐BOAT HEADQUARTERS.

WITHIN AN HOUR,
28 U‐BOATS HOME IN ON U‐653

TO FORM ONE OF THE LARGEST
WOLFPACK FORCES EVER.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THE DESTRUCTION
INFLICTED BY NAZI U‐BOATS

OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS

WILL BRING THEM
TO THE BRINK OF VICTORY

IN THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC.

♪

MARCH 15, 1943.

ALLIED CONVOY HX.229
PLOWS THROUGH STORMY SEAS

ON A NORTH‐NORTHEASTERLY COURSE.

THE MERCHANT SHIPS ARE ESCORTED
BY WARSHIPS FOR PROTECTION.

MORE THAN THREE YEARS
INTO THE WAR,

MOST OF THE GOODS
AND RAW MATERIALS

REQUIRED BY THE WAR EFFORT

TRAVEL IN CONVOYS
FROM NORTH AMERICA TO BRITAIN.

Marc Milner: THE GREAT BENEFIT
OF PUTTING SHIPS IN CONVOYS

IS YOU MAKE
THE REST OF THE SEA EMPTY,

AND THEN YOU CONCENTRATE
YOUR DEFENSES

AROUND THE ONLY TARGET
THAT MATTERS,

SO THE SUBMARINERS
HAVE TO FIGHT THEIR WAY IN.

Narrator: ALL CONVOYS ARE GIVEN
NAMES FOR IDENTIFICATION.

"HX" ORIGINALLY INDICATED
A DEPARTURE FROM HALIFAX.

"229" MEANS THAT 228 CONVOYS
LEFT BEFORE IT.

♪

HX.229 GRADUALLY ADVANCES
ON ANOTHER CONVOY,

A SLOW CONVOY:

SC.122, WHICH LEFT
FROM NEW YORK.

TOGETHER THEY CONTAIN
NEARLY 100 MERCHANT SHIPS.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
GORDON JOHN LUTHER

LEADS THE ESCORT GROUP
PROTECTING HX.229

AS IT CROSSES
2,500 MILES OF OCEAN.

WITH JUST FIVE WARSHIPS
TO PROTECT 40 SHIPS,

THE ESCORT GROUP HAS
LIMITED CAPABILITY.

Eric Grove: HE HASN'T GOT
THE ASSETS TO GIVE THE CONVOY

ANYTHING LIKE THE DEGREE
OF PROTECTION IT NEEDS.

Narrator: IT IS
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LUTHER'S

SECOND TRANS‐ATLANTIC ESCORT.

HIS FIRST WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT;

THIS TIME HE WON'T BE SO LUCKY.

NAZI NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
IS EXPECTING HIM.

Jann Witt:
WHEN THESE TWO CONVOYS

WERE LEAVING NORTH AMERICA,

THE GERMAN B‐DIENST,
GERMAN INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT,

WAS ABLE TO READ
THE ALLIED CONVOY SIGNALS.

AND THIS, OF COURSE,
GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO SEND OUT THE U‐BOATS TO FIND
AND TO FIGHT THAT CONVOY.

Narrator:
FOR GROSSADMIRAL KARL DÖNITZ,

CUTTING OFF ALLIED SHIPPING
TO BRITAIN

IS THE KEY TO WINNING THE WAR.

Milner: IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT
DÖNITZ WANTED 300 SUBMARINES

TO GO TO WAR
AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN.

AND IN JANUARY OF 1943,
HE'S GOT 300 SUBMARINES.

Grove:
THE BIG DIFFERENCE BY 1943

IS THAT THE PRODUCTION
HAS COME ON STREAM

AND NOW THERE ARE VERY LARGE
NUMBERS OF U‐BOATS.

DÖNITZ CAN DEPLOY 50 OR MORE
IN SEVERAL PACKS

AGAINST INDIVIDUAL CONVOYS.

AND SO THE U‐BOATS
HAVE NEVER BEEN STRONGER.

Narrator: DÖNITZ THINKS
HE NOW HAS THE U‐BOAT FLEET

TO KNOCK BRITAIN OUT OF THE WAR.

BY EARLY 1943,
NEARLY 11 MILLION TONS

OF RAW MATERIALS,
SUPPLIES AND FOOD

HAS BEEN SUNK IN THE ATLANTIC.

[BOOM]

BRITAIN IS REACHING
A TIPPING POINT.

Milner: SOMETHING LIKE 22%
OF ALL THE SHIPPING THAT SAILED

FROM THE 1st OF MARCH
TO THE 21st OF MARCH

FAILS TO MAKE IT
TO THE OTHER SIDE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY
THE LOW POINT OF THE WAR.

IT'S NEARLY CATASTROPHIC.

Narrator: HOWEVER, FOR DÖNITZ,

THE CHALLENGE REMAINS
LOCATING ALLIED SHIPS.

HIS CREWS PRACTICE
THE WOLFPACK TACTIC.

A WOLFPACK IS
A GROUP OF SUBMARINES

LINED UP ACROSS
A KNOWN CONVOY ROUTE,

SO THE SHIPS PASS IN BETWEEN
AND ARE DETECTED.

IF A CONVOY IS SIGHTED,

A LOCATING SIGNAL MESSAGE
IS SENT TO U‐BOAT HEADQUARTERS.

NEARBY SUBMARINES ARE ORDERED TO
CONVERGE AND PREPARE FOR ATTACK.

Witt: THE ONLY CHANCE
TO FIGHT A CONVOY WITH U‐BOATS

WOULD BE THE SIMULTANEOUS ATTACK
OF A NUMBER OF U‐BOATS,

JUST TO KEEP THE ESCORTS BUSY

AND SO GIVING OTHER BOATS
THE CHANCE

TO ACTUALLY TORPEDO
THE MERCHANT VESSELS.

Narrator: DÖNITZ POSITIONS
A WOLPACK‐‐GRUPPE RAUBGRAF‐‐

NORTHEAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

Christian Jentzsch:
SO AT THIS TIME,

DÖNITZ GOT THE INFORMATION
OF A VERY LARGE CONVOY

MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST

WITH SUPPLIES
FOR THE ALLIED FORCES.

AND HE PUT HIS SUBMARINE
BATTLE GROUPS EN ROUTE

TO INTERCEPT THIS CONVOY.

Narrator:
BUT A DIFFERENT ALLIED CONVOY

GETS ATTACKED
BY RAUBGRAF FIRST...

[BOOM]

AND GIVES AWAY
THE WOLFPACK'S POSITION.

THE ALLIES IMMEDIATELY
CHANGE COURSE FOR BOTH CONVOYS:

HX.229 AND SC.122.

WITH THE HELP OF STORMY WEATHER,

THEY SQUEAK PAST THE SOUTH END
OF THE RAUBGRAF WOLFPACK.

THEY ARE SAFE...FOR NOW.

♪

BUT GERMAN INTELLIGENCE

ALSO INTERCEPTS THE ADMIRALTY'S
REROUTING SIGNAL.

♪

Witt: LIKE A CHESS PLAYER,
DÖNITZ THEN MOVED HIS BOATS

LIKE YOU MOVE YOUR CHESS FIGURES

AND TRIED TO GATHER
AS MANY U‐BOATS AS POSSIBLE

FOR ATTACK ON CONVOYS.

Narrator: DÖNITZ ACTIVATES
TWO MORE WOLFPACKS‐‐

GRUPPES STÜRMER AND DRÄNGER‐‐

TO LOCATE AND DESTROY
THE MERCHANT SHIPS.

STILL FIVE DAYS FROM ITS
DESTINATION IN LIVERPOOL,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LUTHER'S
CONVOY APPROACHES

THE MOST DANGEROUS PART
OF ITS JOURNEY:

WHAT SOME CALL
THE DEVIL'S GORGE.

Grove: THE GERMANS WOULD TEND
TO CONCENTRATE THEIR WOLFPACKS

IN THIS AREA, IN MID‐ATLANTIC.

AND BY EARLY 1943,
THERE ARE A LOT OF U‐BOATS.

Narrator: IMPORTANT PROTECTION
TO ALLIED SHIPPING

COMES FROM AIR COVERAGE.

LONG‐RANGE AIRCRAFT
EQUIPPED WITH RADAR

AND ARMED WITH DEPTH CHARGES

DRIVE U‐BOATS UNDERWATER

TO DETER ATTACKS
AGAINST MERCHANT SHIPPING.

♪

BUT FAR OUT IN THE ATLANTIC
IS AN EXPANSE OF OCEAN

BEYOND THE RANGE OF AIR SUPPORT.

THE ALLIES CALL IT
THE "AIR GAP."

Grove: THERE IS A GAP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC

WHICH CANNOT BE COVERED
BY AIRCRAFT

FLYING FROM CANADA OR ICELAND
OR FLYING FROM NORTHERN IRELAND,

GIVEN THE RANGE
OF MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT.

ESSENTIALLY THEREFORE, SENSIBLY,
THE U‐BOATS CONCENTRATE

ON THAT AREA WHERE
THE THREAT TO THEM IS LEAST.

Narrator:
IT TAKES TWO OR THREE DAYS

FOR SHIPS TO PASS
THROUGH THE AIR GAP.

WITHOUT AERIAL COVERAGE

AND ONLY FIVE WARSHIPS
TO PROTECT CONVOY HX.229,

LUTHER STEAMS AHEAD UNPREPARED
FOR WHAT DÖNITZ HAS IN STORE.

Milner:
SOMEWHERE ALONG THAT STRETCH

BETWEEN THE GRAND BANKS
OF NEWFOUNDLAND

AND THE APPROACHES TO IRELAND,

THEY'RE GONNA FIND YOU.

♪

Narrator: MARCH 1943
IN THE MID‐ATLANTIC.

ALLIED CONVOY HX.229
PASSES JUST SOUTH

OF A U‐BOAT WOLFPACK
CONSISTING OF EIGHT SUBS‐‐

CODENAMED "GRUPPE RAUBGRAF,"
THE "ROBBER BARONS."

THE CONVOY IS HEADED
TO BRITAIN FROM CANADA.

ITS 40 MERCHANT VESSELS

ARE DEFENDED BY AN ESCORT
OF JUST FIVE WARSHIPS.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
GORDON JOHN LUTHER

KNOWS IT WON'T BE ENOUGH
IF A WOLFPACK FINDS THEM.

LUTHER'S JOB IS FURTHER
COMPLICATED BY HEAVY SEAS.

♪

U‐BOATS FROM GRUPPE RAUBGRAF

CONTINUE TO SEARCH
FOR THE CONVOY,

BATTERED BY A WINTER STORM.

Jentzsch: YOU HAVE WIND BLOWING

WITH UP TO 60, 70
MILES PER HOUR,

SOMETIMES INTO THE FACE
OF THE CREWS.

TEMPERATURE'S A LITTLE BIT
ABOVE ZERO CENTIGRADE.

AND YOU HAVE THE WATER
SPILLING OVER THE OPEN BRIDGE.

THEY HAVE TO BE THERE
ON THE CONNING TOWER

WITH THEIR BINOCULARS

AND SPOTTING
INTO THE THREE DIRECTIONS

TO GET ANY POSSIBLE CONTACT.

Narrator: FINDING SHIPS IS NOT
EASY AT THE BEST OF TIMES.

Jentzsch: IT WAS REALLY HARD
FOR A SUBMARINE

TO SPOT AN ALLIED CONVOY;

IT'S STILL LIKE THE SEARCH
FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

♪

Narrator: AFTER OPERATING WITH
GRUPPE RAUBGRAF FOR A MONTH...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

U‐653'S STARBOARD ENGINE
IS FAILING.

LOW ON DIESEL,
KAPITÄNLEUTNANT GERHARD FEILER

MUST RENDEZVOUS
WITH A FUEL TANKER

BEFORE RETURNING TO BASE
FOR REPAIRS.

DESPITE THEIR DWINDLING CAPACITY
TO ATTACK,

THE LOOKOUTS REMAIN POSTED.

AS THEY HOBBLE AWAY...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THE BRIDGE WATCH MAKES
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

Grove: VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR,

BUT UNFORTUNATELY
IN ONE OF THE SHIPS,

SOMEBODY LIGHTS A CIGARETTE,
AND THIS SHOWS THROUGH THE MIST,

AND IT TELLS THE SUBMARINE THAT,
OH, THERE'S A TARGET OVER THERE.

Narrator: U‐653 HAS CRUISED
RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE

OF AN ALLIED CONVOY.

FEILER DOES NOT HAVE
THE TORPEDOES TO ATTACK,

BUT HE COMMANDS THE MOST
POWERFUL U‐BOAT IN THE ATLANTIC.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

HE MUST KEEP THE CONVOY
WITHIN REACH,

WITHOUT BEING DISCOVERED.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

FEILER ORDERS A CRASH DIVE...

[SHOUTING IN GERMAN]

TO PRESERVE THEIR INVISIBILITY.

NON‐ESSENTIAL CREW RUSH FORWARD
TO GET THE BOW DOWN, FAST.

♪

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

♪

THEY LISTEN, DISCERNING
DIFFERENT SHIPS OF THE CONVOY

THAT PASS OVERHEAD...

[SPEAKING SOFTLY]

THEN USE THE SOUNDS
OF THE PROPELLERS TO TRACK THEM,

WITHOUT REVEALING THE SUB.

♪

HOURS LATER FEILER SURFACES
BEHIND THE COLUMNS

OF MERCHANT SHIPS
AND THEIR ESCORTS,

STILL UNDETECTED.

THE RADIO OPERATOR ISSUES
A CODED SIGHTING REPORT

TO U‐BOAT HEADQUARTERS.

THREE LETTERS IN MORSE CODE.

Jentzsch: IF ONE SUBMARINE
IN THE OPERATIONAL AREA

IS IN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY,

IT REPORTS THE POSITION

SO THEY COULD PLOT
AN INTERCEPTION COURSE

TO MAKE A COORDINATED
NIGHT ATTACK

WHEN THERE ARE ENOUGH
SUBMARINES.

Milner: THE WOLFPACK
IS PREDICATED ENTIRELY

ON THE FREE USE OF THE RADIO.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

Narrator: KARL DÖNITZ
IS THE MASTERMIND.

Milner: HE CONTROLS THEM

ON A HIGH FREQUENCY
RADIO LINK LEAD

SO HE CAN MOVE THE PACK AROUND,

UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT,
FORWARD, BACKWARDS,

BASED ON THE INTELLIGENCE.

Narrator: THE SIGHTING REPORT
THRILLS DÖNITZ.

HE NOW HAS A PRECISE TARGET.

THE REST OF GRUPPE RAUBGRAF
IS JUST 80 MILES AWAY.

DÖNITZ ORDERS THEM TO PROCEED
AT TOP SPEED TOWARDS THE CONVOY.

♪

U‐653 CONTINUES TO TRANSMIT
LOCATION UPDATES

AS IT SHADOWS THE CONVOY.

11 U‐BOATS FROM THE
STÜRMER AND DRÄNGER WOLFPACKS

ALSO SET COURSE FROM THE EAST.

BY NIGHTFALL, 38 U‐BOATS ADVANCE
ON THE LIGHTLY DEFENDED SHIPS.

Witt: ONE OF THE LARGEST NUMBERS
OF U‐BOATS

WAS GATHERED FOR ATTACK
ON THOSE CONVOYS.

Narrator: VERY LOW ON DIESEL,

FEILER IS RELEASED TO REFUEL
AND RETURN TO PORT...

BUT NOW U‐615
AND THREE OTHER U‐BOATS

STALK CONVOY HX.229

AND THE THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF ALLIED SHIPPING IT PROTECTS.

THEY SEND THE SHORT CODED SIGNAL

TO UPDATE THEIR LOCATION
EVERY TWO HOURS.

THE INFORMATION IS RELAYED
TO OTHER U‐BOATS

TO UPDATE THEIR BEARINGS.

THE WOLFPACK GATHERS,

BUT THEY NEED MORE U‐BOATS
TO LAUNCH A FULL ATTACK.

THEY FOLLOW LUTHER'S CONVOY
INTO THE AIR GAP.

Milner: THE LARGEST NUMBER
OF SINKINGS

AND THE GREATEST AREA
OF OPERATIONS

IS THE NORTH ATLANTIC AIR GAP,

'CAUSE THAT'S THE PLACE
BY THE END OF '42 AND EARLY '43

THAT THEY CAN USE SUBMARINES
WITH IMPUNITY.

Narrator:
THE U‐BOAT COMMANDERS KNOW

THEY ONLY HAVE TWO OR THREE DAYS
TO EXECUTE THEIR ASSAULT

BEFORE ALLIED AIR COVERAGE
ARRIVES TO DRIVE THEM OFF.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

MARCH 16, 1943,
THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

U‐BOATS HAVE BEEN TRAILING
CONVOY HX.229

AND RELAYING COORDINATES
BY WIRELESS

TO ALLOW NEIGHBORING WOLFPACKS
TO CLOSE IN.

[DIAL CLICKING]

BUT RADIO OPERATORS
AT U‐BOAT HEADQUARTERS

AREN'T THE ONLY ONES LISTENING.

THE ALLIES ALSO
INTERCEPT THE MESSAGES

VIA STATIONS ALONG THE COASTS.

WHILE DETAILS
OF THE SIGNAL REPORTS

CANNOT BE DECODED
BY ALLIED NAVAL INTELLIGENCE,

THE TRANSMISSIONS PROVIDE
CRITICAL INFORMATION.

Grove: EVEN IF YOU CAN'T
READ THE CODES

OF WHAT THE SUBMARINES
ARE SAYING,

YOU CAN TELL IT'S A SUBMARINE

BY WHAT'S CALLING DFing,
DIRECTION FINDING.

Narrator:
THE ALLIES INTERCEPT SIGNALS

USING TWO OR MORE SHORE STATIONS

EQUIPPED WITH HIGH FREQUENCY
DIRECTION‐FINDING TECHNOLOGY.

THEN, WITH BASIC TRIANGULATION,
THE ALLIES CAN DETERMINE

THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION
OF THE U‐BOAT.

Grove: ANY RADIO MESSAGE
COULD BE PICKED UP,

COULD BE TRIANGULATED,

AND YOU KNEW THERE
WAS A SUBMARINE THERE.

SO THE OPERATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE CENTER

COULD KEEP A PRETTY GOOD TAB
ON WHERE GERMAN SUBMARINES WERE.

♪

Narrator: THE ADMIRALTY RELAYS
THE CALCULATIONS TO LUTHER

ABOARD HMS VOLUNTEER.

Grove:
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LUTHER

IS IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

HE KNOWS FROM
HIS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS

THAT HE'S SURROUNDED
BY A HUGE NUMBER OF U‐BOATS.

HE ONLY HAS THREE
OF HIS OWN SHIPS

PLUS A DESTROYER,

BUT HE KNOWS
IT'S TOTALLY INADEQUATE

FOR THE SCALE OF THE ATTACK
THAT IS COMING.

Narrator:
LUTHER'S SITUATION IS BLEAK.

GERMAN U‐BOATS OFTEN WAIT TO
EXPLOIT THE COVER OF DARKNESS,

AND THE SUN HAS BEGUN TO SET.

♪

Milner: THE ATTACK USUALLY COMES
AT NIGHT OUT OF THE DARK,

WITH THE SUBMARINE
SLIGHTLY AWASH,

SO ONLY THE CONNING TOWER
REALLY SHOWING ABOVE.

AND YOU COME IN AT FULL SPEED,

AND IT'S BASICALLY
BEING ATTACKED

BY MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS
ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Narrator: EXPECTING AN ATTACK
FROM THE NORTH,

LUTHER POSITIONS HIS SHIP,
HMS VOLUNTEER,

ON THE PORT COLUMN
OF THE MERCHANT SHIPS.

HE ORDERS THE OTHER ESCORTS

TO ADOPT DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

AROUND THE CONVOY.

SEVEN NAZI U‐BOATS
ALREADY DRAW NEAR.

Milner: DÖNITZ ON OCCASION
WOULD ACTUALLY HOLD OFF,

UNTIL HE'S GOT SIX, EIGHT,

IN SOME CASES, UH, 15 OR 20
ASSEMBLED AROUND THE CONVOY.

AND THEN THE ORDER
WOULD BE GIVEN

THAT AT THE RIGHT MOMENT
IN THE DARK OF NIGHT,

YOU'RE FREE TO ATTACK.

Narrator: ABOARD U‐603...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

OBERLEUTNANT ZUR SEE BERTELSMANN
PREPARES FOR A SURFACE ATTACK.

Grove: BERTELSMANN,
HE MANAGES TO GET

BETWEEN TWO
OF THE ESCORT VESSELS,

ONE OF THEM HMS BEVERLEY,

AN AMERICAN‐BUILT DESTROYER
IN ROYAL NAVY SERVICE,

AND ONE OF THE CORVETTES.

AND HE SKILLFULLY MANEUVERS
BETWEEN THE ESCORTS

SO THAT HE CAN FIRE HIS TORPEDO
INTO THE CONVOY.

Narrator: WHILE BERTELSMANN
LINES UP HIS SHOT,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LUTHER

ORDERS THE CONVOY
TO TURN SOUTH‐‐

HOPING TO EVADE U‐BOATS DETECTED
TO THE NORTH AND WEST.

Jentzsch: YOU NEED LUCK,

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE
MOVING INTO A POSITION,

WHICH IS PERFECT,

AS SOON AS THE CONVOY
ZIGZAGS AWAY FROM YOU,

YOUR POSITION IS TOTALLY WASTED

AND ANOTHER SUBMARINE,

BEFORE THAT BEING
IN A STUPID POSITION,

IS ALL OF A SUDDEN
IN A PERFECT POSITION.

Narrator: LUTHER'S DETOUR
PUTS BERTELSMANN

IN A POSITION TO ATTACK
SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED.

U‐603 AND ITS CREW HAVE BEEN
AT SEA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

THEY'VE ALREADY SUNK TWO SHIPS
FROM ANOTHER CONVOY.

THEY ONLY HAVE
FOUR TORPEDOES LEFT.

BUT SOME ARE ARMED WITH
NEW TECHNOLOGY CALLED F. A. T.

Grove: THE GERMANS HAD DEVELOPED
A NEW PATTERN‐RUNNING TORPEDO

KNOWN AS THE F. A. T.

YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO
PENETRATE THE CONVOY.

YOU ACTUALLY COULD
FIRE A TORPEDO

FROM OUTSIDE INTO THE CONVOY
AND IT WOULD RUN IN A PATTERN.

Narrator: A TORPEDO ARMED
WITH F. A. T. GUIDANCE SYSTEM

MAKES REGULAR TURNS
AND SWEEPS THROUGH,

UNTIL IT RUNS OUT OF FUEL
OR MAKES A HIT.

Grove: AND IT ALSO
GAVE THE APPEARANCE

THAT THE U‐BOAT
WAS INSIDE THE CONVOY

EVEN WHEN IT WAS OUTSIDE.

Narrator: BUT IT'S RISKY.

F.A.T. TORPEDOES
DO NOT DISCRIMINATE

BETWEEN ALLIED SHIPS
AND GERMAN U‐BOATS.

BOTH ARE IN DANGER.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

BERTELSMANN'S RADIO OPERATOR

SENDS OUT A WARNING
TO OTHER U‐BOATS

THAT F. A. T.‐ARMED TORPEDOES
ARE ABOUT TO BE LAUNCHED.

Jentzsch: WHEN THE SUBMARINE
GETS THE INFORMATION

ABOUT ONE SUBMARINE FIRING
THE F. A. T. TORPEDO,

THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE AREA
THAT THE TORPEDO IS MOVING

OR THEY HAVE TO GET DEEPER

SO THAT THE TORPEDO
WOULD PASS ABOVE THEM.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

Narrator:
THEN ORDERS THE CREW TO FIRE

THE FOUR REMAINING TORPEDOES.

♪

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[EXPLOSIONS]

Grove: OF COURSE IT WAS TENDED
TO BE CHANCE

WHAT ONE OF THESE TORPEDOES DID,

AND IT ACTUALLY MISSED
TWO SHIPS,

BUT EVENTUALLY
IT FOUND ITS MARK.

Narrator: LOADED WITH A FULL
CARGO OF WHEAT AND MANGANESE...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THE ELIN K SUFFERS
A CRIPPLING BLOW.

WHEN LUTHER REALIZES ONE
OF HIS SHIPS HAS BEEN STRUCK...

Luther: PORT TO CONTACT.

Narrator: HE ORDERS WHAT THE
NAVY CALLS A "HALF RASPBERRY."

ALL ESCORTS TURN OUTWARDS
TO SWEEP THEIR SECTOR‐‐

FOLLOWING A TRIANGULAR ROUTE,

TO LOCATE THE SUBMARINE
THAT HAS FIRED THE TORPEDO.

RADAR IS USED TO DETECT U‐BOATS
ON THE SURFACE.

[PING]

A TYPE OF SONAR, CALLED ASDIC,

SWEEPS FOR SUBMARINES BELOW.

BUT BERTELSMANN DIVES
WITHOUT BEING DETECTED

AND RETURNS TO BASE.

LUTHER'S ESCORTS FAIL
TO LOCATE ANY U‐BOATS

AS EACH SCANS ITS SECTOR.

[PING]

BUT DURING ITS SWEEP,

HMS PENNYWORTH DISCOVERS
THE LIFEBOATS OF THE ELIN K,

THE SHIP SUNK BY BERTELSMANN.

LUTHER'S CONVOY LACKS
A DESIGNATED RESCUE SHIP.

STANDARD CONVOY PROCEDURE

THEN REQUIRES THE LAST
MERCHANT SHIP IN THE COLUMN

TO RECOVER THE SURVIVORS.

BUT THE SAILORS FROM THE ELIN K
HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

NOW ONE OF LUTHER'S
FEW PRECIOUS ESCORT SHIPS

IS OCCUPIED WITH RESCUE.

AS MIDNIGHT APPROACHES,

ONLY THREE ESCORTS
ARE POSITIONED TO DEFEND

THE SHIPS, GOODS AND CREWS
OF CONVOY HX.229.

MORE U‐BOATS CONVERGE
AND ADOPT ATTACK POSITIONS.

U‐758, COMMANDED
BY HELMUT MANSECK,

HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THE CONVOY FOR OVER 12 HOURS.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

HE MOVES IN ON THE UNPROTECTED
STARBOARD SIDE.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

HE FIRES FOUR TORPEDOES
INTO THE CONVOY.

[BOOM]

TWO MERCHANT SHIPS ARE STRUCK.

Milner: ONCE THEY GET
THE BATTLE TO TUMBLE,

IT'S CHAOS FOR THE ALLIES.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

Narrator: ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY,
ANOTHER U‐BOAT FIRES.

[BOOM]

THE EFFECT IS DEVASTATING.

THE CARGO SHIP
S. S. HARRY LUCKENBACH IS HIT.

Milner: SUBMARINERS ARE
COMING IN FROM ALL DIRECTIONS,

SHIPS ARE GOING DOWN
HITHER AND YON.

IT'S JUST PURE CHAOS,
BUT MANAGED CHAOS

IN A WAY THAT WORKS
FOR THE GERMANS.

Narrator:
THEN SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT,

KAPITÄNLEUTNANT
SIEGFRIED STRELOW

LAUNCHES HIS OWN ATTACK.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THE AMERICAN LIBERTY SHIP
WILLIAM EUSTIS,

CARRYING 7,000 TONS OF SUGAR,
IS STRUCK.

AGAIN, THE LAST MERCHANT SHIP
IN THE COLUMN

FAILS TO RETRIEVE
THE LIFEBOATS.

WITH THE OTHER ESCORTS
ALREADY PERFORMING RESCUES,

TO LUTHER'S DISMAY,
HE MUST NOW CHOOSE.

Grove: IN AN ATTACK LIKE THIS
WHERE SHIPS ARE GOING DOWN,

THE ESCORT COMMANDER
IS ALWAYS ON THE HORNS

OF A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

DOES HE PICK UP SURVIVORS
OR DOES HE GO AFTER SUBMARINES?

AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE

WHEN THERE WASN'T A DEDICATED
RESCUE SHIP ON THIS CONVOY.

SO THEREFORE HE IS FACED
WITH A TERRIBLE CHOICE.

Narrator: LUTHER DOES NOT
HESITATE FOR LONG.

HE, TOO, FALLS BACK
TO RESCUE SURVIVORS.

THE REMAINING SHIPS
OF CONVOY HX.229 CARRY ON,

COMPLETELY UNPROTECTED.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

CREWS HOPE THAT
THE U‐BOAT ATTACKS HAVE ENDED,

BUT IN FACT THE CARNAGE
HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

♪

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
OF MARCH 17, 1943,

ALLIED CONVOY HX.229 REGROUPS

AFTER A SERIES OF ASSAULTS
BY NAZI U‐BOATS.

FOUR MERCHANT SHIPS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUNK.

WHILE THE DESTROYERS
AND CORVETTES

THAT MAKE UP THE ESCORT
SCRAMBLE TO RESCUE SURVIVORS...

THE REMAINING MERCHANT SHIPS
ARE LEFT ENTIRELY UNDEFENDED.

HOWEVER, AS THE MINUTES PASS,
NO ATTACK COMES.

HMS VOLUNTEER
IS THE FIRST ESCORT

TO RETAKE ITS POSITION
ON THE PERIMETER OF THE CONVOY.

SOON AFTERWARDS
HMS BEVERLEY AND MANSFIELD

ALSO RESUME DEFENSIVE POSITIONS.

BUT THE REPRIEVE PROVES
SHORT‐LIVED.

ABOARD U‐600, KAPITÄNLEUTNANT
BERNHARD ZURMUHLEN...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

HAS FOLLOWED SILENTLY
FOR FOUR HOURS,

MONITORING THE ASSAULT.

HAVING COMPLETED HIS U‐BOAT
TRAINING IN SEPTEMBER OF 1941,

ZURMUHLEN WOULD COMMISSION

AND SERVE AS THE ONLY COMMANDER
OF U‐600.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

HE MANEUVERS HIS U‐BOAT
AHEAD OF THE CONVOY...

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THEN FIRES A SALVO
OF FIVE TORPEDOES.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

[EXPLOSIONS]

THREE SHIPS ARE STRUCK,
INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN PRINCESS,

A TANKER CARRYING
10,000 TONS OF FUEL OIL.

Grove: THE U‐BOATS
CONSISTENTLY OVER TIME

NIBBLE AWAY AT THE CONVOY,

LIKE U‐600,
WHICH SINKS A TANKER,

AND VERY SATISFACTORILY
FOR THE SUBMARINE,

NOT SO MUCH FOR THE CONVOY,

IT HAS A TYPICAL
TANKER EXPLOSION.

♪

Narrator:
LUTHER ORDERS TWO ESCORTS

TO CARRY OUT SWEEPS
ALONG THE STARBOARD SIDE.

HIS OWN SHIP, HMS VOLUNTEER,
PROWLS THE PORT SIDE.

♪

TWO SUBMARINES ARE DETECTED
ON THE SURFACE AND DRIVEN AWAY.

Grove: LUTHER, HE DOES
THE BEST HE CAN.

HE CHASES SUBMARINES AWAY,

BUT HE JUST HASN'T GOT
THE ASSETS

FOR THE DANGER
INTO WHICH HE'S SAILING.

[PING]

Sailor: ECHO BEARING 3‐2‐0.
DRAWING RIGHT.

Narrator: ALTHOUGH ESCORTS
DETECT U‐BOATS WITH THEIR ASDIC,

THEY HUNT WITHOUT SUCCESS.

BUT ZURMUHLEN'S ATTACK
IS THE LAST OF THE NIGHT.

♪

WHEN DAWN COMES, THE SUN RISES
ON A DECIMATED CONVOY.

447 OF 590 SAILORS
HAVE BEEN RESCUED

THANKS TO THE QUICK RESPONSE
BY LUTHER'S MEN.

THE RAUBGRAF U‐BOATS
SUCCESSFULLY SINK

EIGHT MERCHANT SHIPS
FROM HX.229.

ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES AHEAD,

SLOW CONVOY 122 HAS ALSO BEEN
ATTACKED OVERNIGHT.

ONE OF THE FIRST STÜRMER GRUPPE
U‐BOATS MAKES CONTACT,

AND FOUR MORE SHIPS ARE LOST.

Grove: THE FIRST ATTACK
BY THE U‐BOATS OF THE FIRST PACK

SINKS 12 ALLIED SHIPS,
QUITE A GOOD RATIO.

Narrator:
IT'S A ONE‐SIDED FIGHT.

JUST TWO U‐BOATS ARE DAMAGED
IN THE BATTLE.

A STREAM OF SIGNALS ARRIVES
AT U‐BOAT HEADQUARTERS,

CLAIMING ALMOST 90,000 TONS OF
MERCHANT SHIPPING HAS BEEN SUNK.

EVENTUALLY DÖNITZ REALIZES
THAT HIS U‐BOATS HAVE LOCATED

NOT ONE, BUT TWO ALLIED CONVOYS.

Jentzsch: IN THIS CASE, THEY HAD
A BAD OPERATIONAL PLANNING

IN SENDING THE CONVOYS
ON THE SAME ROUTE

SO THAT THEY HAD TO PASS
ALL THROUGH THE CONTESTED AREA

WITH THE GERMAN SUBMARINES.

AND IT WAS A MISTAKE
THEY REASSESSED LATER ON,

AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT
THE SECOND TIME.

Narrator: DÖNITZ SENDS A MESSAGE
TO THE U‐BOATS

TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THE ATTACK.

Grove: BECAUSE OF THIS HX CONVOY
IN PARTICULAR

SUFFERING THE GREATEST LOSSES
OF ANY CONVOY OF THE WAR,

THERE ARE RUMBLINGS IN LONDON

THAT PERHAPS CONVOY
ISN'T PROTECTING MERCHANT SHIPS.

SO PERHAPS AN ALTERNATIVE
WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUND.

BUT THE TROUBLE IS
THERE ISN'T ONE.

Narrator:
DURING THE DAY THAT FOLLOWS,

THE CRISIS ONLY WORSENS
FOR THE ALLIES.

PREVIOUSLY WELL BEHIND,
HX.229 IS CATCHING UP

WITH SLOW‐MOVING
ALLIED CONVOY SC.122.

NAZI U‐BOATS HAVE TRAPPED

NEARLY A HUNDRED SPARSELY
DEFENDED MERCHANT SHIPS...

IN JUST OVER 100 SQUARE MILES.

MOST OF THE EARLY
RAUBGRAF BOATS,

LOW ON FUEL AND TORPEDOES,
DROP OUT OF THE BATTLE.

BUT STÜRMER AND DRÄNGER BOATS
BEGIN TO ASSERT THEIR PRESENCE.

HX.229 IS STILL WELL BEYOND
RANGE OF MOST AIRCRAFT.

IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DIVERTED
SO FAR TO THE SOUTH,

AIR SUPPORT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

BUT AS OF MARCH 17th,

THE CONVOY IS STILL
FAR OUT IN THE AIR GAP.

Grove:
BASICALLY THE ADMIRALTY SAYS

TO THE ESCORT GROUP
AND THE CONVOY COMMODORE,

BASH YOUR WAY THROUGH UNTIL
WE CAN GET AIR SUPPORT TO YOU.

Narrator:
WITH MORE U‐BOATS CONVERGING,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LUTHER'S
ESCORTS

WILL HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR THEMSELVES.

38 U‐BOATS FROM
THE STÜRMER AND DRÄNGER GRUPPES

SURROUND THE TWO CONVOYS.

RISKING THE DAYLIGHT
OF MARCH 17th,

THEY CONTINUE TO PICK OFF
MERCHANT SHIPS ONE BY ONE.

♪

[EXPLOSIONS]

Grove: THE SIZE OF THIS BATTLE
IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

I MEAN, WELL OVER 100 ASSETS
INVOLVED ON BOTH SIDES‐‐

ESCORTS, MERCHANT SHIPS,
U‐BOATS.

OVER 50 U‐BOATS WERE ACTUALLY
DEPLOYED BY DÖNITZ IN THIS,

OF WHICH 40 MADE CONTACT.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY
SCALE OF BATTLE.

♪

Narrator: BUT AS THE DAY
GOES ON, THE WEATHER IMPROVES,

ALLOWING THE ALLIED CORVETTES
AND DESTROYERS

TO GO ON THE OFFENSE:

TO LOCATE AND ATTACK U‐BOATS.

THEIR MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPONS
ARE DEPTH CHARGES‐‐

UNDERWATER BOMBS DESIGNED
ESPECIALLY TO SINK SUBMARINES.

THEY CAN BE SET TO EXPLODE
AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS

TO CREATE A SANDWICH EFFECT

OF EXPLOSIONS
ABOVE AND BELOW THE U‐BOAT.

Milner: WHAT DESTROYS THE SUB
IS THE OVERPRESSURE.

SO YOU'RE NOT BLOWING IT UP

IN THE SENSE THAT YOU
STRIKE IT WITH A SHELL

AND THE SHELL PENETRATES IT
AND DETONATES IT.

YOU JUST NEED TO SQUEEZE IT.

♪

Narrator: ON HIS FIRST PATROL,

KAPITÄNLEUTNANT KURT LANGE
COMMANDS U‐530.

HE HAS JUST LOCATED HX.229
AND TRANSMITS A SIGHTING REPORT.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

WHEN HE SUBMERGES
TO AVOID BEING SPOTTED...

[PING]

THE DESTROYER HMS BEVERLEY...

Sailor: NEW CONTACT.

Narrator: PICKS HIM UP
ON HER ASDIC AND CHARGES.

U‐530 CRASH DIVES
TO EVADE AN ATTACK.

[PING]

[PING]

[PING]

BEVERLEY'S SONAR CONTINUES
TO PING OFF THE U‐BOAT.

[PING]

♪

GUIDED INTO POSITION
BY THE CONTACTS,

HMS BEVERLEY DROPS
ITS DEPTH CHARGES OVERBOARD.

[EXPLOSIONS]

Jentzsch: IT'S QUITE HARD
FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER

TO KEEP HIS CREW CALM

AND EVERYBODY IS ONLY
SUPPOSED TO WAIT AND TO HOPE,

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

[WATER SPRAYING]

Narrator: OUTER STRUCTURES
ARE DAMAGED IN THE BLASTS

AND BEGIN TO FILL WITH WATER.

THE ADDED WEIGHT
DRAGS THE U‐BOAT DOWN.

THE BOAT SINKS
TO NEARLY 800 FEET.

[CREAKING]

Jentzsch:
EVERYBODY IS UNDER STRESS.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF ADRENALINE
IN YOURSELF

AND YOU CAN'T GET RID OF
YOUR ADRENALINE, YOU CAN'T MOVE.

Narrator: WATER SWIRLING IN
AROUND THEIR FEET,

BOAT CREAKING UNDER PRESSURE,

KAPITÄNLEUTNANT LANGE
AND HIS CREW

HEAR THE DESTROYER
DIRECTLY OVERHEAD.

[PING]

Jentzsch: HE HAD TO REALIZE

THAT NOW HE IS IN THE POSITION
OF THE PREY,

AND HE IS DEPENDING ON LUCK

BECAUSE HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING
AGAINST THE ESCORTS.

[CREAKING]

Milner:
THE THING ABOUT SUBMARINES

IS THERE ARE NOT
A LOT A WOUNDED.

IF THE SUB GOES DOWN,
EVERYBODY GOES WITH IT.

NOBODY'S WALKING HOME.

[CREAKING]

Narrator: MARCH 17, 1943.

NAZI U‐BOATS HAVE SUNK MORE
THAN A DOZEN MERCHANT SHIPS,

BUT U‐530 IS BEING HUNTED
BY AN ALLIED ESCORT.

Jentzsch: IT'S PROBABLY LIKE
GOING FROM POSITIVE ADRENALINE,

LIKE YOU ARE HUNTING YOUR PREY
IN THE WOODS,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
A BEAR OR A WOLF

WOULD STAND IN FRONT OF YOU,

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RUN AWAY.

Narrator:
BUT IT'S U‐530'S LUCKY DAY.

HMS BEVERLEY LOSES CONTACT
WITH THE U‐BOAT.

[CREAKING]

♪

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

Narrator:
WHEN THE SEAS FALL SILENT,

THE CREW JUMPS INTO ACTION.

CAREFULLY MANAGING
THEIR REMAINING BATTERY POWER,

THEY ASCEND
IN 30‐FOOT INTERVALS.

Jentzsch: HE HAS TO CONSERVE
HIS BATTERY FUEL

BECAUSE HE NEEDS IT
FOR PROPULSION.

OTHERWISE THE SUBMARINE
WOULD SINK DEEPER AND DEEPER.

♪

Narrator:
AFTER THE TWO‐HOUR ATTACK,

LANGE'S CRIPPLED U‐BOAT
BREAKS THE SURFACE.

THEIR ORDEAL IS OVER.

[LAUGHTER]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE.

ADDITIONAL ALLIED ATTACKS

THROUGHOUT THE DAY
OF MARCH 17th...

Sailor: LET'S GO,
LET'S GO, LET'S GO!

Narrator:
FORCE 12 GERMAN U‐BOATS

TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE CONVOY.

Milner: WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
AS THE ESCORT COMMANDER...

Sailor: SAILORS, CLEAR!

Milner: IS TO BREAK CONTACT.

IT'S A BONUS
IF YOU CAN ATTACK IT.

IT'S EVEN BETTER
IF YOU CAN SINK IT.

♪

Narrator: GRADUALLY, THE SCALES
TIP IN THE ALLIES' FAVOR.

ALTHOUGH U‐BOATS CONTINUE
TO PICK AWAY,

THE TWO CONVOYS APPROACH
THE EDGE OF THE AIR GAP.

[AIRCRAFT APPROACHING]

ALLIED AIRCRAFT CAN REACH
THE CONVOYS FROM EUROPE.

THE WOLFPACKS ARE NOW ALSO
BEING HUNTED FROM THE SKY.

LONG‐RANGE AIR PATROLS‐‐

LIBERATORS, SUNDERLANDS
AND FORTRESSES‐‐

PROVIDE COVER FOR THE CONVOY,

RELIEVING PRESSURE
OFF THE EXHAUSTED ESCORTS.

Grove: LIKE THE CAVALRY
COMING OVER THE HILL,

THE ARRIVAL
OF COASTAL COMMAND AIRCRAFT

ALTERS THE SITUATION
VERY SIGNIFICANTLY.

AIRCRAFT CAN FORCE
SUBMARINES DOWN.

ONCE SUBMARINES ARE SUBMERGED,

THEIR MOBILITY
IS GREATLY REDUCED.

Narrator: A 206 SQUADRON
FLYING FORTRESS

FLIES INTO A SQUALL
ASTERN OF THE CONVOY

HOPING TO CATCH
A U‐BOAT UNAWARE.

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

Narrator: U‐384 DOESN'T HAVE
A CHANCE TO DIVE

BEFORE FOUR DEPTH CHARGES
ARE DROPPED.

EXPLOSIONS ARE SPOTTED
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE U‐BOAT.

U‐384 SINKS TO THE OCEAN FLOOR,
TAKING WITH IT THE CREW OF 47.

THE NAZIS' LETHAL WEAPON
HAS BECOME THEIR IRON COFFIN.

[THUD]

Grove: NOW THE CONVOY
IS UNDER THE AIR UMBRELLA,

WHICH CAN BE QUITE AGGRESSIVE,

SO THE SENSIBLE THING TO DO
IS TO WITHDRAW THE U‐BOATS

SO THAT THEY CAN GO
BACK INTO THE GAPS

AND FIND ANOTHER CONVOY
WITHOUT AIR COVER.

Narrator: DÖNITZ FINALLY
CALLS OFF THE ATTACK.

HX.229 AND SC.122 HAVE ENDURED
A THREE‐DAY ASSAULT,

SUFFERING A RECORD AMOUNT
OF DESTRUCTION.

[SHOUTING IN GERMAN]

Narrator:
BETWEEN THE TWO CONVOYS,

22 SHIPS TOTALING
MORE THAN 146,000 TONS

HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

ON THE REMAINING VESSELS,

11 CARRIED MORE THAN 1,100
SURVIVORS BETWEEN THEM.

DURING THE U‐BOAT ATTACKS
OF MARCH 1943,

DÖNITZ'S WOLFPACK STRATEGY
WORKS PERFECTLY.

THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS
PROVIDE REASON

TO BELIEVE GERMANY
IS ON THE BRINK

OF WINNING THE WAR
FOR THE ATLANTIC.

Milner: FOR THE FIRST
THREE WEEKS IN MARCH OF 1943,

100% OF THE CONVOYS
CROSSING THE NORTH ATLANTIC

WERE INTERCEPTED.

OVER 50% OF THEM WERE
ACTUALLY ATTACKED BY U‐BOATS.

Narrator:
BUT AT THE END OF MARCH,

CIRCUMSTANCES SHIFT AGAIN.

Milner: THE RESOURCES
ARE, ARE ON THE HORIZON,

AND SO IS BETTER WEATHER.

AND IT ALL CHANGES
ALMOST IN A HEARTBEAT

AT THE END OF MARCH.

Narrator: LONGER SPRING DAYS,

BETTER TECHNOLOGY
AND MORE AIRPLANES

ALLOW THE ALLIES
TO CLOSE THE AIR GAP.

Milner: WHEN AIR POWER
BECOMES REALLY OPPRESSIVE

IN THE SPRING OF '43,

WHEN THE NORTH ATLANTIC
AIR GAP DISAPPEARS

BECAUSE OF SMALL
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,

FOUR‐ENGINE AIRCRAFT,
ALL RADAR‐EQUIPPED,

THERE'S NO PLACE LEFT
FOR DÖNITZ TO GO.

HE HAS TO QUIT AT THE END OF MAY

'CAUSE HE HAS LITERALLY
NOTHING LEFT.

THE GERMANS GO
FROM NEAR VICTORY,

WHATEVER THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN,

TO CATASTROPHIC DEFEAT
IN ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS.

Jentzsch: THE BATTLE AGAINST
CONVOYS SC.122 AND HX.229

IS A MINOR BATTLE IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE WHOLE WAR,

BUT IT MARKS THE SHIFT
OF THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC.

Narrator: BUT INCREASED
AIR COVER IS NOT THE ONLY REASON

GERMAN U‐BOATS
MEET TOUGHER TIMES.

Grove: THE KEY TO THE WOLFPACK
TACTICS WAS RADIO CONTROL,

CENTRALIZED RADIO CONTROL,
FROM, FROM BDU.

THE PROBLEM WAS IT GAVE AWAY
THE POSITION OF THE SUBMARINES.

AND SO IT CONTAINED THE SEEDS
OF ITS OWN DESTRUCTION.

Narrator: THE ALLIES REGAIN
THEIR INTELLIGENCE EDGE,

THE WEATHER IMPROVES
AND THE AIR GAP DISAPPEARS.

THE NAZIS HAVE
NOWHERE LEFT TO HIDE.

IN MAY, ADMIRAL DÖNITZ
ORDERS HIS U‐BOATS

OUT OF THE NORTH
ATLANTIC.

THE WOLFPACKS WOULD
NEVER AGAIN COME

AS CLOSE TO CUTTING
OFF THE ALLIES

AS THEY DID DURING THE LONG,
DARK NIGHTS OF MARCH 1943.

♪