It is difficult to overestimate the importance of control over the sea or the ocean in a war. That is why the Battle of the Atlantic is so crucial, and it cannot be omitted when mentioning the most remarkable events in the history of Canada. It was the longest battle during World War II and the terrible event that changed the Canadian Navy completely. In this article, the FortRoddHill analysts will explore the course of events in the battle and its impact on Canada.
The Battle of the Atlantic: Basic Data
The battle for the North Atlantic started soon after World War II began and ended when the victory was announced. It took place in the north near the British coast as German submarines attacked Allied forces trying to leave Europe without essential supplies. If Germany had won this battle, the outcome of the entire war might have been completely different. The victory over the Germans was costly. 70,000 seamen, airmen, and merchant miners were killed in the battle. 4,400 Canadians were among them. Thus, this battle shows how heroic and fearless the soldiers were.
| Date | September 3, 1939 – May 8, 1945 |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Who Was Involved | Allied forces: UK, Canada, US, Brazil, and Norway against Germany and Italy |
| Who Won | Allied Forces |
| Total Consequences | Allies managed to restrain Germans from taking control over the Atlantic.2,200 merchant ships (around 13 million tons of supplies) and also around 30,000 merchant seamen were killed. |
| Canadian Consequences | The Navy force increased and became better equipped.2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy were killed. 752 of them died while in the sea operations. Furthermore, around 1,600 Canadian merchants lost their lives. |
Historical Background
Just a couple of days after the Second World War broke out, Germany and its allies initiated a sea attack in the north of the Atlantic Ocean. This was strategically wise, as this area had important routes that helped allies send supplies and soldiers. Therefore, it was one of those areas that would suffer from the war sooner or later. It happened sooner – just a couple of hours after Great Britain declared war on Germany. The first events happened on the coast of Ireland as the German navy used U-30 to torpedo a passenger ship with 1,400 passengers en route to Montreal. 112 people died, including four Canadians.
The aim of the Germans was clear: to deprive the opposite side of supplies, oil, equipment, and food. The German Admiral Karl Dönitz believed it would help Germany win the war. He was the one to coordinate the blitz, which wasn’t really quick, as the battle continued until the very last day of the war.
How Canada Joined the Battle
For Canada, the Battle of the Atlantic began on September 10, 1939, when Canada declared war on Germany. Right after that, Canadian Navy forces joined the battle. Those were the navy, merchant marine, and air force that were involved in the battle. Their primary task was escort duty of convoys in Halifax, Sydney, and Nova Scotia for a journey across the Atlantic. You can see their route on the Battle of the Atlantic map. The first convoy was sent just six days after the war declaration.
At that time, Canada’s navy was far from powerful. There were only six destroyers and around 3,500 personnel. Many of them were reservists with practically no experience. To provide the necessary help, Canada started a massive shipbuilding. Instead of focusing on destroyers, much smaller ships, known as corvettes, were built. Armed with a single gun and depth charges, those ships were half the size of a destroyer. Given the weapons installed and the size, corvettes were inexpensive and quick to build. They showed themselves quite good in meeting the convoy duties. They were covered by the Royal Air Force Coastal Command from the air. It consisted of seven squadrons. By the end of the war, those planes managed to sink 19 German U-boats. The Royal Air Force Coastal Command crew that flew British planes had over 20 U-boat kills on its account.
What Was the Battle of the Atlantic Like?
The Battle of the North Atlantic was one of the longest, so its events are tightly connected to everything that happened on shore. There were dark and happy times for both sides, so let’s take a detailed look at the chronology of events.
The Early Battles
In April 1940, the war in Europe was escalating, and Germany had already occupied many European countries in the north. German troops seized Denmark in April 1940, launched a military operation in Norway, and isolated Sweden. At the beginning of May 1940, a blitzkrieg started in Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. On June 22, 1940, France surrendered, and Britain, along with its dominations, stood alone against the enemy.
Even though Britain was victorious in the Battle of the Atlantic, its cities, ports, and channels were bombed unmercifully. At the same time, U-boats with their new French bases attacked convoys. Independently routed ships had no chance against German forces. The period from July to September 1940 is described by German naval commanders as the “happy times.”
Desperate Times
Starting in September 1940, Germans used so-called “wolf packs” tactics (six or more U-boats attacked convoys at night). This tactic was so successful that around 20% of convoys going from North America to Britain were destroyed. Meanwhile, London was under heavy attack as the enemy strived for the destruction of the biggest London port. Therefore, ships were transported to Liverpool and Northern Ireland.
Such German tactics led to the desperate lack of ships for Britain, so Cannada rolled out a massive shipbuilding program. However, by the time those ships were assembled and transported, things worsened significantly for Britain.
The War Intensifies (1941)
In the spring of 1941, Germany launched a new serious wave of attacks in the Atlantic. In June alone, more than 454,000 tonnes of shipping were lost because of U-boats. However, the Allies constantly worked on the way to resist U-boats. Canada and its famous corvette ships played a significant role in this. This ship model was cheap and quick to build. It could maneuver well, so the crew managed to avoid U-boat attacks successfully. Thus, out of 153 ships, only 10 were lost to the enemy.
Bases and Patrols
As U-boats began to move west, Britain had to establish new bases for ships and aircraft. It was decided to build bases in Iceland and Newfoundland. The latter were Canadian responsibility. In May 1941, the first Canadian corvettes appeared in Newfoundland bases. The next month, 12 groups of warships were escorting convoys.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) patrolled Newfoundland’s waters and provided air support. Most of the coastline territory of the Atlantic was covered by Allied Forces, but there was a “Black Pit” in the central part of the Atlantic Ocean. This area was the most vulnerable, and the Germans did the biggest damage there.
Moving to North American Waters
Despite being officially neutral, the US got involved in the Battle of the Atlantic. In September 1941, Canadian convoys went into the ocean under the coordinated supervision of Americans. This improved the situation, but the United States withdrew many of its ships as soon as Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. This weakened the Allies again. Furthermore, casualties also increased because of winter storms.
German U-Boats
In January 1942, the epicentre of the battle shifted to Canadian and the US coastlines, as the Germans suspected that those areas should be less protected. However, Canadians, who had already had two years of experience in the war, managed to organize quickly and showed excellent defence. This made Germans shift to the US and Caribbean coasts. Protection was much weaker there, and U-boats had another “happy time.”
The Triangle Run
From January to July 1942, nearly 400 ships of the Allies were sunk, while the Germans lost only seven U-boats. Thus, Germans were far more successful in the battle for the North Atlantic during that period until a so-called Triangle Run was established. The US started to use the convoy system and, with Canadian help, successfully escorted much of the transatlantic shipping from New York north.
The Triangle Run means that Canadian groups shuttled convoys between New York, Boston, and Halifax. From there, Canadian and British escort groups took over and ran to the British Islands. Canadian warships also protected fuel tankers in the Caribbean.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence
Even though RCN and RCAF managed to limit losses in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in the first half of 1942, there still was an area that was vulnerable to German attacks. It was the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This inland sea was poorly protected as Allied forces lacked aircraft and warships.
Sinking of the Caribou
The Allies continued to consolidate efforts to protect and save as many convoys as they could. However, numerous factors made all the defence methods ineffective. Constricted ship routes, virtual blindness of underwater detection, and deep-water hiding places were among those factors, and U-boats continued to have a significant advantage. Thus, seven U-boats managed to sink 19 merchant ships and 2 escorts in the Gulf. In October 1942, the ferry Caribou sank with 237 passengers on board. 136 of them perished. This tragedy took place only 64 kilometres away from the shore near Newfoundland.
After that, there was a firm decision to close the Gulf to overseas shipping. Given the necessity for Canadian vessels to support invasion in North Africa, this decision was implemented. At that time, the Allies were discouraged from continuing to fight in the Gulf because of the advantage of U-boats. Records nowadays show that U-boats had plenty of challenges at that time, and hitting a ferry was sheer luck.
The Grimmest Period
By the summer of 1942, the Royal Canadian Navy had its responsibilities on the North American coast, as well as in the Mediterranean. It was also involved in the transatlantic run between Newfoundland and Northern Ireland, being often responsible for the slowest convoys that were an easy target for U-boats. In the fall of 1942, Germans weakened their attacks on the North American coast as the defence improved. Thus, the larger numbers of German submarines were concentrated in the central part of the Atlantic.
Allies organized constant attacks on German boat construction sites, but the number of U-boats continued to grow. Thus, there were over 300 submarines available, which allowed Germans to send 20 U-boats to pursue a single convoy.
“Wolf Packs” and the “Black Pit”
By late 1942, Canadians started to experience more challenges with convoying vessels across the Atlantic as the number of “wolf packs” had grown. The Canadian Navy suffered several serious losses during that period. There was no other choice but to mobilize more people and expand the navy force to be successful in the enormous commitment. Thus, the RCN increased to 16,000 members serving on 188 ships.
A Canadian airmу managed to destroy and damage U-boats 500 miles away in the Atlantic. Still, the Air Force did not have aircraft powerful enough to reach out to the “Black Pit,” where U-boats attacked freely. In March 1943, the climax of the Battle of the Atlantic happened, as U-boats destroyed 108 ships with 569,000 tonnes of vital shipping.
The Tide Turns
Starting in May 1943, the Allies had noticeable success in the Atlantic, as the Navy got better ships and air forces received upgraded aircraft, allowing them to close the “Black Pit.” Additionally, there were new weapons, radars, and code-breaking developments that contributed to the turning of the tide against the U-boats.
The Normandy Invasions
Canadian navy and air forces increased their presence in the North Atlantic to release British warships and air forces that prepared for the invasion of France. In the last month before the Normandy Invasion, the North Atlantic was protected completely by the Canadian RCN.
The Battle of the Atlantic Photos
Explore the Battle of the Atlantic photos to see how the ships, convoys, and fire clashes looked like during World War II. Not so many of them are available, but they illustrate perfectly what happened during all those long years of war.
Consequences of the Battle of the Atlantic
As the Germans were not able to control the north of the Atlantic and the Allies were not deprived of food, oil, and supplies, the Battle of the Atlantic certainly was one of the key points for the future victory. However, it was at a truly high cost for both sides (especially given how long the battle lasted).
Thus, Britain and the Allies lost over 2,200 merchant ships (around 13 million tons of supplies), and also around 30,000 merchant seamen were killed. Thousands of men from the Allied navy and air force also died. The Allies lost 100 vessels and 600 RAF Coastal Command aircraft. A significant part of them were sunk by German U-boats.
Germany lost 510 U-boats in the battle, and most of them were destroyed in the last two years of the war. Most often, those were sunk by aircraft and escort ships. 18,000 U-boat men who served in the sea died, along with thousands of sailors who were killed while serving on surface warships. Statistics show that Germany lost around 2/3 of its U-boats and sailors during the Battle of the North Atlantic.
Consequences for Canada
The victory in the battle came at a high cost for Canada. 2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy were killed. 752 of them died while in the sea operations. Furthermore, around 1,600 Canadian merchants lost their lives. Moreover, 136 civilians were killed when the Germans attacked the SS Caribou ferry that sank in Cabot Strait.
Significance of the Battle for Canada
Canada managed to expand its Navy forces and make them much stronger. Thus, its fleet expanded to 400 ships with around 90,000 sailors. 6,000 of them were women. Moreover, the shipbuilding industry thrived after the war. The Canadian navy also became one of the strongest in the world, being able to show resistance to big threats that might have come.
Modern Memorials and Memorial Signs
Unfortunately, many of those who died in the Battle of the Atlantic gave their bodies to the ocean, so they had no gravesites. However, their sacrifice was commemorated diligently, and all their names can be found on the Sailors’ Memorial in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. There is also a special ceremony to honour those who have fallen in the battle. It takes place each year on the first Sunday in May.
Sailors’ Memorial in Point Pleasant Park has been the only big memorial to those Canadians who died in the Atlantic for many years. However, another one is to be opened in May 2025. The site is at HMCS Prevost, the Royal Canadian Navy reserve division on the Thames River in London, Ontario. The opening of the new memorial is planned to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the longest battle in WW2. The name of each sailor who has lost their life in this fierce battle will be listed on a 1.8-meter-tall panel.
Summary
We have explored one of the fiercest and the longest battles in World War II. Canadians played one of the key roles in this event, and their dedication and fearless spirit are among the factors that helped the Allies defeat the Germans and finish the war. The FortRoddHill analysts have included the map of the Battle of the Atlantic and illustrated the events that happened during the six years with the pictures. The Canadian navy grew a lot through the years of the battle, so in the post-war period, it was the fourth most powerful navy in the world.
FAQ
Why Did the Battle of the Atlantic Happen?
Germans wanted to leave Europe without supply and oil, so they planned to control the marine route for merchant seas.
What Happened in the Battle of the Atlantic?
Germans and the Allied Forces fought with each other for control over the north of the Atlantic.
Why Was the Battle of the Atlantic Important for Canada?
The Battle of the Atlantic allowed Canada to make a major contribution to the victory over the Germans. Furthermore, it developed its Navy and increased the number of personnel and ships.
What If Germany Won the Battle of the Atlantic?
The Germans could deprive the Allies of supplies and military help from the US, which would complicate the opposition of the Allied Forces significantly.