admin. review lesson 16 the us navy in north africa, the mediterranean, and the atlantic 1941-1942
TRANSCRIPT
Admin
Review
Lesson 16
The US Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the
Atlantic
1941-1942
Learning Objectives
• Comprehend the absolute priority given to keeping the sea lanes to Britain open.
• Know the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill in the establishment of the United Nations and the broad concepts of Allied strategy.
• Comprehend the confrontation between German U-boat strategy versus Allied convoy Antisubmarine (ASW) strategy in the Atlantic.
• Know German surface raider effectiveness .• Comprehend the differences between British “War of Attrition”
versus American plans for a direct confrontation with Germany.• Comprehend how Allied amphibious landings assisted in
ending the war in Europe.
Remember our Themes!
• The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy• Interaction between Congress and the Navy• Interservice Relations• Technology• Leadership• Strategy and Tactics• Evolution of Naval Doctrine
British Convoy Strategy• Strategy adopted from the
outset• Recognizes the
importance of keeping the lines of communications open with the U.S.
• Dönitz organizes U-boats to hunt in “Wolfpacks” to prey on convoys. Was very effective when based out of France and Normandy.
17 Sep 1939: U-29 sinks carrier HMS Courageous;U-47 sinks Royal Oak.
HMS Courageous
HMS Courageous sinking
HMS Royal Oak
HMS Royal Oak
Enlisting American Help
• British acquire more escorts and the ability to break the German Ultra Code
• The U.S. drifts into undeclared war with Germany; attempts to maintain neutrality, 1939-1941– FDR an internationalist/ interventionist– Congress influenced by isolationist and “America First”
propaganda.– FDR runs for third term under isolationist platform. Later passes
the first peacetime draft. – FDR knows a German victory would threaten US security
because it would destroy British sea power which was thought to be the “Shield of the Republic.”
Enlisting American Help
• US sends “Neutrality Patrols” to help British ASW.
• “All aid to Britain short of war” includes “destroyer-bases deal” and “Lend-Lease” program.
• FDR concedes this is not Wilson’s neutrality in thought and deed.
U.S. Enters War• U.S. officially enters war after attack on Pearl Harbor• Germany U-boat offensive moves to the U.S. East Coast• As the Convoy Strategy becomes more effective, Doenitz
moved his U-boats south (“tonnage strategy”)• Doenitz shifts U-boats back to North Atlantic in 1942. U.S.
counteracts with escort carriers and HF/DF locations of Wolfpack
• Doenitz forced into Central Atlantic as allies strengthened convoys and developed ASW tactics. Hunter-Killer groups run out of U-boats to sink
Germany’s Surface Fleet
• Germany used surface raiders with moderate success. No large surface battles in Atlantic, as German surface fleets had a hard time breaking out into the Atlantic.
Competing Allied Strategies.
• British preferred a peripheral strategy– War of Attrition
• North Africa• Egypt• Sicily
• U.S. preferred direct attack on Germany through western France– Op ROUNDUP– Op SLEDGEHAMMER
US went with Brits
• Allowed U.S. to pursue Pacific War
• Drew German resources off the Western Front, weakening them for an eventual cross channel invasion
• Allies checked German advances in Egypt; stalemated on Russian front; attacked Italy beginning in July 1943
Competing Allied Strategies
• Sequence for pursuing peripheral strategy in the Mediterranean– Operation Torch– Operation Husky
Operation Torch
• General Dwight D. Eisenhower• Western Naval Task Force
– Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt– Major General George S. Patton
• D-Day 8 November 1942• Target is Casablanca
Jean Bart V. USS Massachusetts
Operation Husky
• Invasion of Sicily• Same General Officers as “Torch”• More sophisticated amphibious landing
– LSTs, LCTs, LCIs• Night landing• Mussolini falls from power
LVT
• The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) • Originally intended solely as cargo carriers
for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well.
• The types were all widely known as amphtrack, amtrak, amtrac etc.
LCVP
• Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat
• Similar to larger size LCM
LCT / LCI
• Capable of extended sea voyages
LST
