267: War at Sea '41 Pt. 5 - The Undersea Hunters
About this episode
This episode discusses the role of U-boats in the naval war during late 1940 and early 1941, highlighting their strategic importance and the challenges faced by British forces.
This episode shifts the focus of the naval war from German surface raiders to the U-boats, tracing why they became the central German weapon in the Battle of the Atlantic and why there were still too few of them in late 1940 and early 1941. It covers the effect of French Atlantic bases, the construction of U-boat pens, cooperation with Fw-200 Condors, early combined attacks on convoys, and the contrasting struggles of British Coastal Command. The episode ends with the return of celebrated U-boat commanders like Günther Prien and Otto Kretschmer as the campaign enters a dangerous new phase. Credit Episode Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/state_library_south_australia/3331881750/in/album-72157623232407924 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Wesley Livesay
Topics covered
- naval warfare
- U-boats
- Battle of the Atlantic
- German military strategy
- British Coastal Command
- convoy attacks
Keywords
- U-boats
- naval war
- German surface raiders
- convoys
- Günther Prien
- Otto Kretschmer
- Battle of the Atlantic
- Fw-200 Condors
- British Coastal Command
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Fw-200 Condors
Places: French Atlantic bases
More episodes of History of the Second World War
- 274: War at Sea '41 Pt. 12 - On a Wing and a Prayer
- 273: War at Sea '41 Pt. 11 - The End of the Mighty Hood
- 272: War at Sea '41 Pt. 10 - On the Eve of Battle
- 271: War at Sea '41 Pt. 9 - Found and Followed
- 270: War at Sea '41 Pt. 8 - The Operation Begins
- 269: War at Sea '41 Pt. 7 - This Seems Risky
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