Location
University of Greenwich
Dockyard and Shipyard support for the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War
Naval Dockyards Society 29th Annual Conference at the University of Greenwich Saturday 5 April 2025
Sponsored by the Society for Nautical Research
What logistical challenges were faced? What was the long-term impact?
Churchill named The Battle of the Atlantic (1939–45), the longest continuous military campaign in the Second World War. British, Canadian and US navies and air forces protected essential convoys, carrying the million tons of imported material Britain required each week to endure and fight.
From 1942, the Axis powers also countered the build-up of Allied supplies and equipment to invade Europe through U-boat attacks. Defeating the U-boat campaign was therefore vital. To combat this threat, merchant ships were grouped into convoys, as in previous global wars, escorted by warships and aircraft. The first Atlantic convoy sailed on 2 September 1939.
The Allies won a strategic victory, leading to success in North Africa, D-Day and ultimately the fall of Germany, but at a huge cost to both sides. Dockyards and shipyards on both sides of the Atlantic, including Halifax and Bermuda, played a key role in the Allied struggle for control of the North Atlantic.
Seven speakers from the UK and US will present in three sessions:
• UK shipyard facilities
• Intelligence & Winning the U-Boat War
• Long-range WW2 US shipyard support & the Cold War impact on UK dockyards
Programme and booking form at:
https://navaldockyards.org/conferences/ https://navaldockyards.org/
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