History - War at a Glance

Wolfpacks By the beginning of 1942, the U-boats were using the Rudeltaktikwolfpacks consisting of as many as 40 submarinesto attack Allied convoys. While this tactic helped minimize the losses of experienced crews, it also pitted the U-boats against Allied escorts. Over the next 18 months the escorts will steadily improve their submarine fighting capabilities. During January 1942 U-boats sink 48 Allied ships in the Atlantic, in February 85 ships are lost, and in March the total reaches 95 ships lost. While the losses continue, the Americans finally adopt the convoy system - sending out groups of merchant ships escorted by warships - and force the U-boats to move to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico to find easy prey. The convoy system off the American coast is so effective that only 39 ships are lost between July and December. Radio direction finders are installed on many escorts, improving their submarine detection capability. In August the Germans begin installing radar search receivers on U-boats, improving their ability to avoid detection. Throughout the remainder of 1942, Allied shipping losses run over 100 ships per month. See Next Convoys