Wargaming the Atlantic War 03 September 2017 UK OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl Paul Edward Strong Supplying War • Britain’s war effort required the constant flow of Allied cargo ships to be maintained 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ASWThe LessonsTechnology of WWII 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The Fall of France 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The First ‘Happy Time’ Convoy Formation • Admiral Karl Dönitz needed more U-Boats to starve the UK into submission but the Mid Atlantic Gap enabled him to concentrate his limited forces HMS Vimiera RAF Short Sunderland 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Western Approaches Command - Liverpool 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Extending Protection: The Mid-Ocean Escort Force 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The Second ‘Happy Time’ • ? 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL New Allies, New Challenges Admiral Sir Percy Noble Admiral Ernest J King 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL “Find out what is happening in the Atlantic, find ways of getting the convoys through, and sink the U-boats!” Churchill - January 1942 Commander Gilbert Roberts 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The Western Approaches Tactical Unit 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ‘The Game’ – Understanding the Enemy 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ‘The Game’ – Orders 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ‘The Game’ – Processing the Turn 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ‘The Game’ – Briefing the Turn 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Nicholas Eugeniusz Plawski Monsarrat ‘Johnnie’ Walker Peter Gretton Prince Philip Pierre de Morsier 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The Game – ‘Analysis’ • Wren Officer Jean Laidlaw 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The First Test • How were U-Boats making their attacks? Stricken Type IX 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL ‘Chasing Shadows’ - The Beta Search Janet Okell Sir Max Horton HMS Vidette 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 UK OFFICIAL Dstl New Technologies & Tactics 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Getting to the Church in Time Walker on HMS Starling (2nd Support Group) Escort and Support Groups in Action HMS Duncan (Convoy HX-231) HMS TAY (Convoy ON-5) 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Dönitz Plots Revenge 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The T5 Acoustic Torpedo Wolfpack Leuthen gathers in the Mid Atlantic Gap 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL They are going for the escorts! Flower Class Corvette 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Tooley Hawkings Reports… HMS Orchis 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Analysis in Action 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Step Aside A U-Boat shadowing the convoy looking Late 1942 Radar range for a target was approximately 4,000 Yards Convoy Course Corvette spots a U-Boat and fires a star shell 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Step Aside Position C is the A optimum safe distance C U-Boat fires a T-5 from its stern tube B and dives B Approx 1 mile C 60º The escort’s move to C means A that she evades the torpedo’s acoustic detection array The Corvette turns as the U-Boat dives 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL Step Aside At C the Corvette returns to C The submerged U-Boat a course that places her heads for a new position close to the U-Boat’s that enables her to continue predicted position to monitor the convoy and prepare a new attack 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL 03 September 2017 © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl UK OFFICIAL The End of 03 September 2017 UK OFFICIAL ‘The© Crown copyrightGame’ 2016 Dstl .