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Admin. Review. Lesson 16. The US Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic 1941-1942. Learning Objectives. Comprehend the absolute priority given to keeping the sea lanes to Britain open.

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  1. Admin

  2. Review

  3. Lesson 16 The US Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic 1941-1942

  4. Learning Objectives • Comprehend the absolute priority given to keeping the sea lanes to Britain open. • Know the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill in the establishment of the United Nations and the broad concepts of Allied strategy. • Comprehend the confrontation between German U-boat strategy versus Allied convoy Antisubmarine (ASW) strategy in the Atlantic. • Know German surface raider effectiveness . • Comprehend the differences between British “War of Attrition” versus American plans for a direct confrontation with Germany. • Comprehend how Allied amphibious landings assisted in ending the war in Europe.

  5. Remember our Themes! • The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy • Interaction between Congress and the Navy • Interservice Relations • Technology • Leadership • Strategy and Tactics • Evolution of Naval Doctrine

  6. British Convoy Strategy • Strategy adopted from the outset • Recognizes the importance of keeping the lines of communications open with the U.S. • Dönitz organizes U-boats to hunt in “Wolfpacks” to prey on convoys. Was very effective when based out of France and Normandy.

  7. 17 Sep 1939: U-29 sinks carrier HMS Courageous;U-47 sinks Royal Oak.

  8. HMS Courageous

  9. HMS Courageous sinking

  10. HMS Royal Oak

  11. HMS Royal Oak

  12. Enlisting American Help • British acquire more escorts and the ability to break the German Ultra Code • The U.S. drifts into undeclared war with Germany; attempts to maintain neutrality, 1939-1941 • FDR an internationalist/ interventionist • Congress influenced by isolationist and “America First” propaganda. • FDR runs for third term under isolationist platform. Later passes the first peacetime draft. • FDR knows a German victory would threaten US security because it would destroy British sea power which was thought to be the “Shield of the Republic.”

  13. Enlisting American Help • US sends “Neutrality Patrols” to help British ASW. • “All aid to Britain short of war” includes “destroyer-bases deal” and “Lend-Lease” program. • FDR concedes this is not Wilson’s neutrality in thought and deed.

  14. U.S. Enters War • U.S. officially enters war after attack on Pearl Harbor • Germany U-boat offensive moves to the U.S. East Coast • As the Convoy Strategy becomes more effective, Doenitz moved his U-boats south (“tonnage strategy”) • Doenitz shifts U-boats back to North Atlantic in 1942. U.S. counteracts with escort carriers and HF/DF locations of Wolfpack • Doenitz forced into Central Atlantic as allies strengthened convoys and developed ASW tactics. Hunter-Killer groups run out of U-boats to sink

  15. Germany’s Surface Fleet • Germany used surface raiders with moderate success. No large surface battles in Atlantic, as German surface fleets had a hard time breaking out into the Atlantic.

  16. Competing Allied Strategies. • British preferred a peripheral strategy • War of Attrition • North Africa • Egypt • Sicily • U.S. preferred direct attack on Germany through western France • Op ROUNDUP • Op SLEDGEHAMMER

  17. US went with Brits • Allowed U.S. to pursue Pacific War • Drew German resources off the Western Front, weakening them for an eventual cross channel invasion • Allies checked German advances in Egypt; stalemated on Russian front; attacked Italy beginning in July 1943

  18. Competing Allied Strategies • Sequence for pursuing peripheral strategy in the Mediterranean • Operation Torch • Operation Husky

  19. Operation Torch • General Dwight D. Eisenhower • Western Naval Task Force • Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt • Major General George S. Patton • D-Day 8 November 1942 • Target is Casablanca

  20. Jean Bart V. USS Massachusetts

  21. Operation Husky • Invasion of Sicily • Same General Officers as “Torch” • More sophisticated amphibious landing • LSTs, LCTs, LCIs • Night landing • Mussolini falls from power

  22. LVT • The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) • Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well. • The types were all widely known as amphtrack, amtrak, amtrac etc.

  23. LCVP • Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat • Similar to larger size LCM

  24. LCT / LCI • Capable of extended sea voyages

  25. LST

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