2.+Organization+of+Convoys+by+the+Allies

Name: Carl A. Spaatz Birthday: June 28, 1891 General Info: Leading air commander in the US during WWII Dear Diary, It is now 7 P.M. and a couple of hours ago I had a meeting with Churchill and Roosevelt to discuss the organization of convoys. As many Americans know, the bombing of Pearl Harbor was an upsetting time because so many great men were lost. However, in response to this incident, we, the allies, have decided to organize our cargo ships into convoys. Convoys are “groups of ships traveling together for mutual protection” (Danzer et al 570). While at this meeting, there were five objectives that Roosevelt wanted to concentrate on. These five objectives were, the defense of trade routes, and convoy organization and escort, especially to and from Britain, the detection and destruction of surface raiders and U- boats, maritime blockade of Germany and contraband control, defense of own coasts and finally, escort troops to France and between Britain, the Dominions and other areas under Allied control. Dear Dairy, It has been a couple years since I have written to you last. In regards to Roosevelt’s first objective, there are many things that I have to say. “Until May 1940, the main threat was from U- Boats operating in the North Sea and South Western Approaches. For a few months two pocket battleships posed a danger in the broader reaches of the Atlantic” **(**Atlantic 1). The first of many convoys left Britain. From Thames, a major river in England, these convoys went through the English Channel. After traveling a long distance, they made their way to the UK. There were many boats that were set up along the North Atlantic to protect ships that were trying to sail from other assembly ports. There were also Cruisers who would escort ships that would go overseas that were particularly slow. There were some ships that were British, Canadian that did sail all by themselves to cross the oceans. “Almost throughout the war it was the independently- routed ships and the convoy stragglers that suffered most from the mainly German warships, raiders, aircraft and above all submarines that sought out to break…” our supply lines (Atlantic 2). The second objective worked equally as well. There were many submarines that were off the coast of Norway and the German North Sea. The RAF planed to bomb German warships when they were at their bases. There were many aircrafts that would try to drop bombs on anti U- boat sweeps. Like the first and second objective, the third objective worked also. “As German merchant ships tried to reach home or neutral ports, units of the Home Fleet sorted into the North Sea and waters between Scotland, Norway and Iceland” (Atlantic 3). The Northern Patrol and merchant cruisers had to cover the area between Iceland and Shetland. Also, there were many British and French ships that looked after the North and South Atlantic. The fourth objective was the defense of own coasts. Up until May 1940, there were many U- boats that were surrounding the coasts of Britain. The U- boats wanted Scotland’s Moray Firth. Their method of attack was with both torpedoes and magnetic mines. There was a lot of defense mine layering going on that created a barrier in the English Channel and also an East Coast barrier. The fifth objective was to escort troop to France and between Britain, the Dominions and other areas under allied control. By 1939, Canadian troops went to Britain. About one year latter there were many other troops in Britain like Australian and New Zealand. There were many troop convoys that were escorted at all times. Since these objectives went into effect and they turned out to be successful, there were many good things starting to emerge. “By the times the Allies splashed ashore at Normandy on June 6, 1944, German aerial resistance was nonexistent, and throughout the land campaign in France and Germany, the Germany Army suffered crippling fuel shortages that curtailed their ability to maneuver” (Carl 4). __ Works Cited __ Danzer, Gerald, et al. The Americans. Evanston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. “Atlantic and Europe at the Start- September 1939” __Navel History.__ 21 October 2008< http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsStartEurope.htm> “Carl A. Spaatz.” __American History.__ 2008. ABC- CLIO. 21 October. 2008 