The German U-boat Command under the able leadership of Admiral Karl Doenitz, wasted little time in taking advantage of the opportunity to pile up the tonnage-sunk figures. Coastal convoys were the eventual answer, but without escorts or adequate air cover, a convoy was merely a massing of targets for the U-boats. The United States had been involved, however, for some time before December 1941, as American vessels were being sunk on the high seas enroute across the Atlantic.ĭesperately short of escorts for the trans-Atlantic convoys, the United States was now faced with the tremendous problem of also protecting coastal shipping along the eastern seaboard. When the United States formally entered the Atlantic war in December of 1941, Great Britain had been struggling to survive against German U-boat for over two years.
KITE LIBERATOR EPISODE 1 SPACE STATION SERIES
Some information has been declassified, such as the OP-20G final report series volumes. Second, two trips to the National Security Agency were made where information was sought that could be used in an unclassified report. The research procedure consisted first of extensive reading on the Battle of the Atlantic, both newer and older treatments of the subject. In order to keep the study within manageable proportions, the study is directed at United States involvement and how United States forces fought the Battle of the Atlantic with Ultra. The problem was to discover how much special intelligence was available, how it was used and its impact on the battle. The existence of Ultra must have had an impact on the conduct and outcome of the campaign to counter the German U-boat force in World War II. This study is an attempt to look at the Battle of the Atlantic and the part that Ultra played in its outcome. The question for historians is how much must be rewritten in light of this knowledge? An examination of some campaigns of the war and the effect of Ultra on them certainly needs to be undertaken. This information, called special intelligence, became known as Ultra. It has only in the last few years been generally known that at certain periods during World War II the allies were able to read German message traffic. Further, and most importantly, we must strive to regain superiority of forces in those ocean areas where our interests are at stake.ĬHAPTER III. If the United States intends to oppose the Soviet submarine force at sea anywhere in the world, then we must maintain the lead in intelligence, tactics and technology. The United States Navy used Ultra along with technology, tactics, brilliant leadership and courageous men at sea to win the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. The Battle of the Atlantic was long and gruesome rather than short and spectacular. Many factors are involved in the final outcome of the war and Ultra is only one. Through a chronological approach, United States Navy involvement is traced from entry into the war until its conclusion. Information was gathered through published and unpublished sources. The problem addressed is the extent to which the United States Navy used Ultra, or Special Intelligence, in the campaign against the German U-boats. Title: Ultra and the Campaign Against the U-boats in World War IIĭate: - Pages 38 - Classification: Unclassified US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, 17013 The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense or any of its agencies. Record Group 457, Records of the National Security Agency. Studies in Cryptology, NSA, Document SRH-142.