Blackett/Williams Plan, 248–53, 259–60
casualty rate, 4
convoy system. See Convoy system, escort of Convoy ONS.5, 141–42, 161–64, 201–2, 225, 228–29, 240
Operation Derange, 257–81, 389
Operation Enclose I, 257
Operation Enclose II, 257, 258, 259
Raushenbush (Stark) Plan, 241–52, 254, 255–56. 259–60
Royal Canadian Air Force, xix
Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), 59–60
Royal Navy, xviii
casualty rate, 4, 393
convoy system of. See Convoy system.
morale in, xxv—xvi
Royal Oak (battleship), 46
Sabre, H.M.S, 117–18
Sackville, H.M.C.S, 149
St. Laurent, H.M.S, 370–71
Sandanger, 334–35
Santee, Roger “Stomp,” 365, 367
Santee, U.S.S, 392
Sapelo, 116, 125
Sauerberg, Ernst, 15, 23
Schamong, Klemens, 367
Schauffei, Heinrich, 285–88, 301, 315–17, 319, 327
Schepke, Joachim, 24, 48
Schmid, Heinrich, 271, 285
Schnee, Adalbert, 48, 388
Schoenherr, Karl, 340–41
Scholtz, Klaus, 83
Schramm, Joachim, 375
Schroeter, Horst von, xxv-xxvi, 196, 362, 375
Schröter, Karl-Ernst, 248–49, 301, 372
Schuhart, Otto, 288
Schultze, Heinz-Otto, 299
Schwaff, Werner, 244–45, 279
Searchlights, airborne, 96–100, 109, 343
Second World War, The (Churchill), 238
Seekuh (sea cow), 4–5
Seibicke, Günther, 337, 377
Selvistan, 198–201
Sennen, H.M.S, 146, 220, 222–23, 230, 355. 356–58, 361
Seven Years War, 384–85
Sherwood, Robert Evan, 120, 145–47, 158–59, 175, 177, 185–86, 188–89, 198, 199, 201–4, 214, 230–31, 234–35, 239, 240
Shillong, 120
Short, Giles E, 67–68, 363, 365–66
Sickle, H.M.S, 362
Siegmann, Paul, 274, 338
Sigint (signals intelligence), 55, 86
Silvaplana, 294–95, 313, 318, 326
Silver Ash (freighter), 26
Simpson, G. W. G. “Shrimp,” 236, 237
Sinclair, Archibald, 27
Sixth Escort Group, 366
Skinner, W., 169
Slatter, Leonard H., 106–7
Slessor, John, 75, 92, 109–10, 241, 249, 250, 252, 253–54, 256, 258, 280–81, 389–92, 394
Smith, E. C. “Bertie,” 266, 267–68
Smith, Irving H., 140–41
Snorkel, 386–87
Snowdrop, H.M.S., 190
Snowflake, H.M.S., 117, 131, 134, 136–37, 138, 141, 142, 151–54, 160, 169, 171, 177–79, 189, 202, 210–16, 222, 232, 233, 235, 353, 358
Solberg, Thorvald, 242, 247
Solomons, U.S.S., 371–72
Sonar, 62
Sorrel, H.M.S., 152
Southern Pride, 149
Spencer, U.S.C.G.C., 284
Spey, H.M.S., 146, 220, 222, 223, 224, 230, 355–56, 358
Stahl, Peter-Arthur, 272, 273
Stark, Harold R., 247, 250–52, 254–55
Starling, H.M.S., 395
Staudinger, Oskar, 187, 197
Stearns, Robert L., 368
Steinert, Hermann, 376
Stephens, Cyril, 149–50
Stephenson, Gilbert “Puggy,” 100–101
Stines, James O., 368, 369, 371
Stock, Hans, 32–41, 44, 302
Stock, Ruprecht, 270
Stone, R., 199–200
Stonehouse, H. A., 184, 209–10
Sträter, Wolfgang, 158
Strelow, Siegfried, 304–5
Stummel, Ludwig, 52–53
Suhren, Reinhard, 48, 287
Sunflower, H.M.S., 117, 133, 136, 160, 169, 171, 188–89, 197, 202, 211, 214–19, 222, 232, 233, 353
Swale, H.M.S., 352
Tang, U.S.S., 2
Task Group 92.3, 365–66
Tay, H.M.S., 69, 117–19, 120, 121, 124, 125, 130–31, 134, 139, 141, 144, 145–47, 158–60, 166–67, 171, 175–76, 179, 184, 186, 188–89, 199–203, 212–16, 218, 219, 222, 230–36, 353–54, 358, 361
Taylor, Albert, 70
TBS (Talk Between Ships), 72
Techand, Werner, 355
Teichert, Max-Martin, 345–46
Telecommunications Research Establishment (T.R.E.), 76
Telefunken Company, 245
Test, H.M.S., 377
Thetis (Coast Guard cutter), 84
Third Escort (Support) Group (EG3), 129–30, 132, 144–46, 160, 232, 234, 237, 240
Thornton, F. H., 222–23
Tighe, WGS, 53, 54, 55
Tippelskirch, Helmut von, 40–43, 44
Tizard, Henry, 71–72, 87–88
Toltec, S.S., 366
Topp, Erich, 79, 82, 287
Torpedoes (eels), xviii, 7–10
FAT (Federapparattorpedo), 9–10, 306–10
launching of, 8
Mark XXIV Mine, 331, 340–46, 350, 360
T-1, G7a, “Ato,” 8–9
T-III, G7e, “Eto,” 9–10
T-V, G7e, Zaunkönig (wren), 10, 385–86
Torpex, 61, 63, 98, 180, 276
Treffer, 138–39
Triton key, 55–56, 65, 86, 158
Tucker, Samuel M, 70
Tuna, H.M.S., 362
Turgoose, J. E, 173
U–47, 46, 48
U-89, 337–40, 346
U-107, 27–29, 31–32, 99, 212
U-123, xxv-xvi, 7, 79–82, 85
U—124, 11–12, 82
U-160, 40, 41, 82
U-175 282, 284, 298
U-186, 348–49
U-258, 139, 156–58, 359
U-378, 132, 139
U-381, 143, 357
U-386, 132, 139, 154
U-414, 376–77
U-415, 264–66
U-418, 331–32, 359, 360
U-435 304–5
U-436, 337–38, 377
U–439, 38–44
U-456, 345, 346
U-459, 83, 128
U-515, xxviii, 1–3, 7–17, 24
U-528, 132, 154
U-332, 132, 138–39, 154, 185
U-533, 219–20
U-552, 79, 82
U-640, 351, 354
U-650, 132, 139
U-639, 32–44
U-752, 284, 285, 300–303, 372, 374
U-boats (general)
air attacks on, 6–7, 161–64, 389–93
Allied communications technology and, 49–56, 62–72
at-sea loss exchange rate, xxii, xxiii, 46–48, 60–61, 225–26, 380, 386
attacks on American ships, 78–87
construction of new, 46–47, 94–95
crew characteristics, 36–37, 103–5
data concerning, 93, 110–14, 193, 212, 219, 221, 392, 393
depth charges (D/C) against, 61–63, 89–91, 98
detection of submerged, 62–72, 387
food and provisions aboard, 34, 294–95
groups of. See entries beginning with Gruppe.
importance of individual commanders and, 48–49
improvements in convoy system and, 56–62, 73–77, 87–100, 110–14, 226–30, 350, 353–62
interior description, 33–36
nighttime attack technology, 95–100, 259–60
number of, 46–48
periscopes, 39, 387
prisoners of war. See Prisoners of war (German).
recharging needs of, 245–46, 386–87
refit time, xxiv-xxv
survivors from Battle for Convoy ONS.5, 331–32
Type IXB, 4, 6, 11–12, 27–29, 58, 79, 83, 178
Type IXC, 1–8, 12, 41, 97, 136, 137, 176, 178, 206, 209–10, 212, 375–76
Type VII, 6–7, 46, 8
3
Type VIIC, 34–35, 39, 40–43, 63, 64, 82, 124, 136, 166, 171, 178, 179–80, 197, 209, 216, 220–21, 227, 242–43, 304–5, 339–40, 345, 362, 376–77
Type XIV, 82–83, 128, 385
Type XXI, 6, 384, 387–88, 391
Type XXIII, 38–88
withdrawal from northern transatlantic convoy lanes, 378–81
See also Communications technology; Torpedoes; specific types.
Ultra, 51, 53, 55, 66, 122, 158
United States, xviii
German attacks on fleets of, 78–87, 286
U.S. Army Air Force, 392
U.S. Joint Army-Navy Assessment
Committee (JANAC), 195–96
U.S. National Defense Research
Committee (NDRC), 340–41
U.S. Navy, 2, 39, 60, 79, 85–86
Tenth Fleet, 362–63
Verband Deutscher U-Bootfahren e.V. (U-Boat Veterans Association), 284
Very high frequency voice radio-telephone system, 72
Vidette, H.M.S., 117, 123, 125, 131, 139, 144,160, 176–77, 186, 187, 200, 202, 205–9, 216, 222, 230, 231, 235, 353, 361
Viscount, H.M.S., 331–32
Visual search rate, 39
Wächter, Karljüng, 187, 217, 348
Waddington, C. H., 90, no, 254
Wahoo, 22
Walker, Frederic John, 102, 118, 336, 395
Walkerling, Heinz, 54
Wandering Annie (Mark XXIV Mine), 331, 340–46, 350, 360
War at Sea, The (Roskill), 238–39
War Cabinet, Anti-U-Boat Warfare Committee (A.U. Committee), xxi-xxii, 27, 109–10, 249, 250–57
Ward, D. V. Peyton (P.W.), 93, 97, 101, 249
Waroonga, 209
Warspite, 146–47
Washington, George, xvii
Washington Convoy Conference, 344
Watson Watt, Robert, 70, 87–88, no, 243
Watt, Robert Watson, See Watson
Watt, Robert.
Wear, H.M.S., 146, 220, 222, 223–24, 231, 355–56, 358
Webb, A. L., 181–82, 210
Weinberg, Gerhard L., 85
Wentworth, S.S., 183–84, 193
Wenzel, Wolfgang, 187, 367
Werner, Herbert A., 338, 350
Western Approaches Tactical Unit (WATU), 101
Western Electric Company, 340–42
Western Isles, H.M.S., 100
Western Ocean Meeting Point (WESTOMP), 230–31
West lvis, 165
West Madaket, 116, 189, 194, 196–97
West Maximus, 116, 172, 173, 174, 177, 180
Wilamowitz-Moellendorf, Georg von, 83
Williams, Evan James, 88–90, 92, 111, 243, 247, 248, 251, 253, 254, 257, 259–60, 281, 390, 391
Wilson, D. A. ‘Willie,” 54–55
Wilson, T. P. Cameron, 148
Wimperis, H. E., 87–88
Winkler, Werner, 162, 163, 208–9
Winn, Rodger, xxi, xxv-xxvi, 51, 52, 54, 69, 80, 84, 86, 100, 128, 129, 158, 219, 229–30, 237, 239, 354–55, 394
Wintergarten, 216
Wintermeyer, Max, 346
Witzendorff, Ernst von, 130, 222
Wolf, Heinz, 257, 268, 285
Wolfbauer, Leo, 274
Wolverine, H.M.S., 23–24, 117–18
Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS; Wrens), 101–2, 393
Wren, H.M.S., 31
Wright, John, 345
Wulff, Heinrich, 376
Yearby, S.S., 194
Young, Leo, 70
Zamalek, 353–55, 361
Zapp, Richard, 79
Zaunkönig (Wren), 10, 385–86
Zetzsche, Hansjürgen, 271
Zinnia, H.M.S., 152
Zurmühlen, Bernhard, 197, 269
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MICHAEL GANNON is Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Floride, where he taught the history of World War II. He resided in Gainesville and is the author of seven books. In the 1950s he wrote on military subjects from Europe. In 1968 he served as a war correspondent in Vietnam. Also a scholar in the field of Spanish colonial history, he has received numerous awards and honors, including Knight Commander of the Order of Isabel la Católica from King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
EVERY BOOK HAS A BEGINNING. This one began when, in March 1992, I received a letter from Mrs. Stephen (Joan) Raushenbush in Sarasota, Florida, inquiring if I would be interested in seeing certain of her late husband’s papers relating to his civilian service in the British-American war against the German U-boats (submarines) in World War II. I immediately said yes, and shortly afterward, my spouse and I visited her in her home. Some months later, I was able to turn up additional documents relating to Stephen Raushenbush in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Those documents provoked in me strong curiosity about the month of May 1943, which, it was generally known, had been a pivotal thirty-one days during which the U-boats had suffered a substantial defeat in the North Atlantic. It was particularly intriguing to find that not only had the Allies’ uniformed naval and air services effectively engaged the U-boat fleet in several notable battles during that May but, prior to that month, a team of civilian scientists and statisticians had contributed significantly to the Allies’ operational tactics and capabilities. Raushenbush had been a member of that team.
Other writing responsibilities delayed further inquiry into the May story until, beginning in spring 1995, extended research visits to Great Britain and Germany brought into high relief the major events and personalities of what the Germans called, at its conclusion, “Black May.” It quickly became obvious that to understand why, how, and by whom May’s battles were won for one side and lost for the other, it was necessary to view that month from both the Allied and German perspectives, as far as the archival documents and recollections of the surviving participants made that possible; particularly in the case of the month’s centrally important Battle for Convoy ONS.5. It also seemed desirable to put a human face on the story so that the reader was not confronted simply with steel, aluminum, and high explosives but could come to know at least the names, and sometimes the personal qualities, of the human beings who crewed the U-boats, the warships, and the aircraft; commanded their operations; developed their tactics; or tracked their movements. Nor did I want to neglect the personal stories, not to mention the heroism, of the most numerous contingent at sea in 1943: the merchant mariners. Indeed, there is a large human story behind the principal events of May that can only be hinted at in this volume.
My thanks for assistance in providing me the means for understanding what happened in “Black May” go, in Germany, to the distinguished naval historian Dr. Jürgen Rohwer, in Weinstadt, who favored me with his weighty insights and helpful suggestions; Horst Bredow, the energetic and always helpful director of the U-Boot-Archiv in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch; Thomas Weis, who guided me through two days of selecting maps and photographs from the Marine Archive of the Bibliothek fur Zeitgeschichte (Library of Contemporary History) in Stuttgart; the archival staff of the Bundesarchiv/MilitÄrarchiv (Federal/Military Archive) in Freiburg i. Br.; and Horst Einbrodte, Vice-President of the Verband Deutscher U-Bootfahrer e.V. (U-Boat Veterans Association) in Hamburg.
Special thanks are given to Kathi Michalowski, in Barntrup, Germany, my research assistant on this project as she was for an earlier book, Operation Drumbeat, whose skills are matched only by her unflagging enthusiasm. Together we arranged interviews with six surviving U-boat commanders who were at sea in May 1943. My gratitude for their participation in that part of the research goes to Horst von Schroeter (U-123); Harald Gelhaus (U-107); Helmuth Pich (U-168); Klaus-Peter Carlsen (U-732); Klaus Popp (U-522); and Herbert Werner (I.W.O. on U-230 in May, later Commander of U-415). Thanks also are owed two crew members who agreed to be interviewed: Rolf Elebe (U-752) and Kurth Claus (U-552).
In London, England, I had the
very good fortune of being allowed to probe the knowledge base and to mine the documentary collections of J. David Brown, Head of Naval Historical Branch, Ministry of Defence, and his colleagues W. J. R. “Jock” Gardner, M. “Mac” McAloon, and Robert M. Coppock. Quite literally, I would not—to use the ocean convoy imperative—have been able to make “a safe and timely arrival at my destination” without their generous escort. The reader of my endnotes will observe the frequency with which I am obligated to Mr. Coppock, curatorial officer, Foreign Documents Section, for his accurate data and searching analyses.
My thanks go as well to the archival staff of the incredibly rich and indispensable primary document source, the Public Record Office (PRO) in Kew, outside London. In that connection, special mention should be made of two historian colleagues who assisted me greatly at the PRO: David Syrett of Queens College of the City University of New York and the late John Costello. Thanks are owed as well to Chris Howard Bailey and her associates at the Oral History Collection of the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth; the staff of the Churchill Archive, Churchill College, in Cambridge; David J. Lees, regular researcher at the Naval Historical Branch; Nigel Turner, producer and director, ITN Productions, London, who kindly directed me to RAF Coastal Command veterans; Gillian M. Hughes, record agent, Teddington, Middlesex; and Mr. John Delaney and staff of the photographs archive at the Imperial War Museum, London.
I am grateful to two distinguished gentlemen who gave me interviews: Professor Sir Harry Hinsley, in Cambridge, and Sir Robert Atkinson, in Winchester; as I am also grateful to three accomplished RAF Coastal Command pilots who corresponded with me: the late Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Ewart Oulton (died October 1997), in Lymington; Air Commodore Jeaff Greswell, in Saunderton, Princess Risborough, Bucks., and Squadron Leader Terence Malcolm Bulloch, in Burnham, Bucks.
In Ottawa, Canada, I had expert assistance in using the documentary collection at the Directorate of History, National Defence Headquarters, from senior historian Roger Sarty. In this country the same generous help was given me by archivist Michael Walker at the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard; and by archivists John E. Taylor, Barry Zerby, and Sandy Smith at Archives II of the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland. Sandy Smith set a new benchmark of “beyond the call” assistance. Appreciation is given to the staff of the Interlibrary Loan Office of the University Libraries, University of Florida; the staff of the Reference Desk, Headquarters Library, Alachua County, Florida; and the staff of the University of Florida Computing Help Desk.
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