Atlantic Convoys The War at Sea
Programme Summary:
By May 1940, Britain was an isolated nation.. The Nazi’s controlled much of Europe, and cornered by Hitler, Britain’s only hope for survival was to import food, raw materials, and munitions from America. Merchant ships sailing the Atlantic in convoys became the nation’s crucial lifeline, one that the German U-Boats were determined to break. The merchant navy consisted of ships from around the Commonwealth manned by over 190,000 seamen. Both sides were acutely aware that whatever other battles were fought, the most decisive of all would be fought at sea, in the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic.
Thus began the longest and bloodiest campaign of WW2. Over 4 years, 100,000 people died and 2,500 ships were sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic. It brought Britain to the brink of defeat. From the eastern seaboard of the U.S.A. to the west coast of Africa, those who died had no graves – only their names carved on memorials.
This four part series unpacks the critical moments of the biggest naval campaign of the 20th Century. Powerful interviews with those who fought in the battle, dramatic archive some of it in colour and impressionistic drama reconstructions will bring the horrors of the Atlantic war to a new generation.
The series will tell the 360 degree story of the campaign with first hand testimony from those who fought. It will feature compelling interviews with members of the Merchant Navy, U-boat crews and Canadian and British Navy who fought in the battle. It will also talk to code-breakers from Bletchley Park, scientists who devised the technology to beat the U-Boats, and Dockers from Liverpool, the Clyde, the Tyne and other Merchant ports who worked endlessly to build, repair and keep the Convoys afloat.
Another key element of the story is the important role military technology played in determining the outcome of the campaign. This was a new kind of warfare and both sides were learning how to fight it.
Impressionistic drama reconstruction will be used where archive doesn't exist to help create an immersive story that draws the audience in and creates a compelling and authoritative account of what happened.
Programme Info:
Broadcaster: Channel 4
Distributor: IMG
Genre: Factual
Format: 4 x 60 min
Production year: 2009
Executive Producer: Julian Ware
Produced & Directed by
Paul Copeland &
Christopher Rowley
Additional details
A New Kind of War
In 1940 Britain stands alone in Europe against the might of Nazi Germany. Only the convoys of ships, bringing vital supplies across the Atlantic, keep her from surrendering. But these ships are being ravaged by a deadly enemy – the ‘wolf-packs’ of German ‘U-boat’ submarines, which are about to bring Britain to the edge of defeat.
The Hunter and the Hunted
In 1941 Britain is locked in a life-or-death struggle against Hitler – its survival depends on convoys of ships carrying vital goods across the Atlantic. These are being devastated by German U-boat submarines - but slowly the convoys begin to fight back, using cutting-edge technologies that turn the U-boat hunters, into the hunted.