Canadian Military History

Volume 5 Issue 1 Article 17

1996

The U-Boat Hunters: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Offensive Against Germany’s by Marc Milner [Review]

Rob Bromley Wilfrid Laurier University

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Recommended Citation Bromley, Rob "The U-Boat Hunters: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Offensive Against Germany’s Submarines by Marc Milner [Review]." Canadian Military History 5, 1 (1996)

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Permanent Force, not all of which historians, Milner's careful This resulted in the Escort Groups was in the lst Division, numbered research uncovers the incredible achieving a much higher success only 4.500. He says that advances made by both the Allies rate against U-Boats. However, the Montgomery commanded two and the Germans in the 'art' of problem of identifying a submerged Canadian corps in 1941-2, again warfare. From the submarine in shallow inshore incorrect, and he perhaps strains German Navy Acoustic waters. persisted throughout the a bit to suggest that Canadian and (GNAT), to the Canadian Anti­ war. Situations such as the British formations were all but gear (CAT), and "layering" of water due to differing interchangeable. More seriously the British , the reader is temperatures played havoc with than these minor slips, Reynolds introduced to the nuances of Anti­ accurate identification. Therefore says nothing about the RCAF and Submarine Warfare (ASWJ in the spring and fall became the best RCN who had their own tens of Second World War. times for sub-hunting. The thousands serving in Britain. This book remains, however, technology of bathythermography Still, this is a splendid book, a an account of the Canadian was developed in an attempt to model of comparative history that contribution to the victory at sea. combat this situation, and was is based on wide-ranging primary As with his earlier work. North marginally successful. Other source research. Charles Stacey Atlantic Run, Milner is not methods were developed to tackle and Barbara Wilson wrote the book uncritical of the manner in which the threat of the U-Boat such as on Canadians in Britain, but it was conducted. With the success hunts to exhaustion. These so Reynolds has demonstrated that by of the convoy system finally called "salmon operations" were bringing the Americans into assured, "hunter-killer" groups organized in an effort to kill elusive equation (in much the largest way, were formed to specifically destroy U-Boats, but usually resulted in the of course). the worth of this kind submarines. Zones of vast expenditure of explosives with of history can be increased greatly. responsibility were established, little to show. which saw the Canadian support groups had. J.L. Granatstein with its carrier-based groups. by wars end, become quite adept York University taking a larger share of the at sinking U-Boats; and what makes responsibility. In some cases, this this achievement remarkable was (J.L. Granatstein is co-author. with marginalized the Canadian effort. the fact that it was accomplished Desmond Morton of Victor!) 1945.) There were many different almost solely by the volunteer navy. reasons for this occurrence, not the As Milner suggests, the professional * * * * * least of which was the unavailability navy was concerned with postwar of modem equipment for Canadian careers, and the accumulation of use. Certainly the aspirations of fleet destroyers, cruisers, and TheU-Boat Admiral Percy Nelles and the aircraft carriers. But he never lets professional navy for its postwar the reader forget that the Canadian Hunters fleet. were partly to blame. Other Navy's primary responsibility was reasons have a basis in decisions the safe escort of convoys; Marc Milner,The U-Boal Hunters: not to pursue the construction of something which was accomplished 771e Ro!:Jal Canadian Navy and the more advanced types of escorts, with great success, under the most QtJensive against Germany's such as the superb Castle-class dire of circumstances. Submarines (Toronto: University of corvette. The abortive Canadian In the end, The U-Boat Hunters Toronto Press. 1994) $35.00. 326 designed RX/C radar was yet is presented as a well-researched pages. (ISBN 0-8020-0588-8). another set back. A sensitive unit, account of the late war activities of it worked very well, when it worked. the RCN. A "good read," it is n this companion book to North but its maintenance requirements supported by maps. photographs, I Atlantic Run. Marc Milner takes were such that it was impractical comprehensive notes. and a listing an in depth look at the second half for active duty. ofU-Boat kills by the RCN from May of the U-Boat war. and the With the arrival of long range 1943 to May 1945. This volume is involvement of the Royal Canadian patrol (LRPJ aircraft such as the B- a welcome addition to Milner's first Navy in the Allied victory. Milner 24 Liberator. and the availability of book North Atlantic Run, and biie!1y recaps the dismal state of the better 10 em radar sets, the nature should be enjoyed by the Naval RCN in early 1943. and then takes of the Atlantic war was drastically fraternity and the general public the reader through the political, changing by late 1944. Ships alike. administrative. tactical, and equipped with type 144 I 45 , Rob Bromley technical advances made during and the "Q" attachment, as well as Wilfrid Laurier University 1944-1945. Although this latter the more advanced type 14 7B half of the Atlantic war has been sonar, made identifying a traditionally shunned by submarine in open water easier. * * * * *

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Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1996 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 5 [1996], Iss. 1, Art. 17

Hell Upon Earth HeH Upon Earth tells the story through them. Joseph Managhan of of the soldiers through the letters the Princess Patricia's Canadian they wrote home, and through Light Infantry wrote to his father J. Clinton Morrison. Jr.. HeLL Upon interviews the author conducted that he had borrowed a box of Earth: A PersonaL Account qf Prince with the few surviving Island matches from a pal to light his pipe. Edward IsLand SoLdiers in the veterans. The book is divided into but when he turned around to give Great War, 1914-1918. Privately two sections. The first is a them back seconds later the man published (available from the chronological examination of the was dead. author, 157 Victoria Rd., war, with the letters and Of course, some readers might Summerside. PEl, C1N 2G6), 1995, recollections set against the quibble over the use of letters as a 359pp (ISBN 0-9691824-1-4) backdrop of the larger war. The main source. Whether they were second section is thematic, and written to loved ones or published Prince Edward Islander who examines the soldiers' experiences in newspapers (as many of these Aenlisted for service in the First through the eyes of Islanders. In were). one might expect them to be World War had a worse than a one both sections, Morrison has overly rosy. patriotic, and bracing. in three chance of coming home provided just enough background Yet they are none of these things. unscathed. Some 4,000 joined up material to give the context and to thanks to Morrison ·s obvious care over the course of the war, and over tie the letters together into a very in selecting lhem. The letters he has 1,500 were killed, wounded, readable narrative. chosen have an immediacy and ring missing, or captured. These The book is filled with quite of truth that makes them utterly numbers are even more impressive striking passages, like Bert Duvar's convincing. and indeed the reader when it is noted that PEl was the candid admission in May 1915 that will marvel at the frank comments only province which did not send "I have had enough of Salisbury which not only passed the censors an intact battalion to the front. Plain to last me a couple of lifetimes but were considered suitable for Though the Island sent two siege at least." or Parker Crockett's publication in newspapers. batteries to the front, its only lament that the war was very There are occasions when the infantry battalion, the l05th, got as different than their training had led author has too readily taken the far as England before being broken them to believe and that "instead letters al face value. For example. up for reinforcements. It is of fighting men alone we have to he accepts too easily the hatred of somehow fitting, then, that these fight machinery of the very latest Canadian soldiers for the Germans soldiers, scattered as they were and most deadly kinds." There are that was a feature of so many throughout the Canadian also plenty of those almost letters. It now seems clear that lhet-e Expeditionary Force, should have inconsequential episodes which was lillie personal animosity their experiences brought together obviously made a very deep between individual soldiers on in this fine book. impression on those men who lived either side of no-man·s-land. who were more likely to take a 'live and Coming Events let live· attitude. In this case. Morrison has read too much into McCrae House. Guelph. Ontario, Canada comments that were more likely McCrae Poppy Sale May and June 1996 - Poppy plants for sale at McCrae made and published for propa­ House. Four varieties- Only $1.00 per plant \\~th proceeds to McCrae House. ganda purposes. Nevertheless. such Rembrance Week Ham Radio Broadcast - November 6-11, 1996. Guelph misinterpretations are few. and one Amateur Radio Operators send messages of peace around the world from cannot help but agree wilh the McCrae House. Programs available by appointment. For more information author's claim that in general the cal\(519)846-1482 book "accurately depicts the H.M.C.S. HAIDA Naval Museum, Ontario Place. Toronto. Canada various aspects of lhe war as On July 20, 1996 H.M.C.S. HAIDA Naval Museum will be hosting a special experienced by PEl soldiers who day devoted to the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service who will be on board to chat with visitors and who will provide a musical performance at 2 went overseas." pm. All are welcome. Call (416) 314-9755 for more information. Clinton Morrison is a noted local historian who embarked upon 8th Military History Colloquium. Wilfrid Laurier University. will be held on this research in part as a tribute to May 2 & 3. 1997. Please send paper proposals to Mike Bechthold. LCMSDS. Wilrrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. N2L 3C5 by 31 Jan. 1997. his father. an airman during the Second World War. It is also a fit ling 3rd Annual Canadian Battle of Normandy Foundation Study Tour. June 1997. Applicants should send two letters of reference, a copy of their tribute to Island soldiers of an university transcript and a typed personal statement explaining their reasons earlier war. Assiduously researched for applying to Prof. S.F. Wise. Department of History. Carleton Univeristy. and engagingly written, HeU Upon Ottawa. ON. KlS 5V6. Earth deserves a wide readership. Please let us know about your events! Jonathan F. Vance Send the information to the address at the front of the journal. Wilfrid Laurier University

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