Timeline of the Battle of the Atlantic
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Template:Short description This is a timeline for the Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945) in World War II.
1939
August
August 19, 1939
- Five U-boats sail from Kiel and nine from Wilhelmshaven to take waiting positions in the North Atlantic.<ref name=r&h1>Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.1</ref>
August 21, 1939
- German "pocket battleship" Template:Ship sails from Wilhelmshaven for a South Atlantic cruise.<ref name=r&h1/>
August 24, 1939
- German "pocket battleship" Template:Ship sails from Wilhelmshaven for a North Atlantic cruise.<ref name=r&h1/>
September
September 3, 1939
- Template:GS sinks the Template:SS. This attack is interpreted by the United Kingdom as the start of unrestricted submarine warfare. However, in Germany it leads to stricter controls being issued by the Kriegsmarine. Germany at this point had 39 of its 58 U-boats at sea, but this was far less than the 300 which Admiral Karl Dönitz, chief of German submarine forces, considered to be necessary before the opening of war.
September 5, 1939
- Template:HMS stops, evacuates and sinks the German freighter Inn off the Canary Islands.
September 7, 1939
- The first convoys sail outbound from the British Isles: OA from the English Channel, OB from Liverpool, and OG to Gibraltar.<ref name=r&h3>Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.3</ref>
September 14, 1939
- The first of the SL convoys sails from Freetown.<ref name=r&h3/>
- Template:GS attacks the British aircraft carrier Template:HMS, but fails to cause any damage. The aircraft carrier's escorts force U-39 to the surface with depth charges and the crew are taken prisoner.<ref name=r&h2>Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.2</ref>
September 16, 1939
- The first Allied convoy sets sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Convoy HX 1 contains 18 merchant ships and is escorted by Template:HMCS and Template:HMCS to an Atlantic rendezvous with Royal Navy ships Template:HMS and Template:HMS.<ref name=r&h4>Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.4</ref>
September 17, 1939
- Template:GS sinks the Royal Navy aircraft carrier Template:HMS.<ref name=r&h2/>
September 17, 1939
- The first Allied "fast convoy" HXF 1 sets sail from Halifax escorted by HMCS Fraser formerly Template:HMS.<ref name=r&h4/>
September 20, 1939
- Template:GS is sunk with depth charges from the British destroyers Template:HMS and Template:HMS.
September 26, 1939
- German media reports the sinking of the British aircraft carrier Template:HMS. However, this report is false: many such reports would be made during the war.
September 30, 1939
- German "pocket battleship" Template:Ship sinks the first merchant ship of its cruise. Total sinkings for its sortie will total nine vessels of 50,000 tons before it becomes embroiled in the Battle of the River Plate.
October
October 5, 1939
- German "pocket battleship" Template:Ship sinks the first merchant ship of its cruise.<ref name=r&h4/>
October 14, 1939
- Template:GS, under Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, penetrates the British naval base at Scapa Flow, sinking Template:HMS at anchor.
October 16, 1939
- Germany begins employing magnetic mines. These cause significant losses to Allied shipping.
October 18, 1939
- Germany authorizes submarine attacks against any passenger vessel in a convoy or without lights. President Roosevelt closes U.S. ports and navigable waters to any belligerent submarines.<ref name=wagner74>Wagner, p.74</ref>
October 27, 1939
- Template:GS sinks Malabar from convoy HX 5.<ref name=hag130>Hague, p.130</ref>
October 30, 1939
- Template:GS sinks Bronte from convoy OB 25.<ref name=hag155>Hague, p.155</ref>
November
November 21, 1939
- British light cruiser Template:HMS hits a German mine, and is seriously damaged while operating in the Firth of Forth.
November 23, 1939
- A German magnetic mine is recovered successfully by the Allies, leading to the development of effective countermeasures. The German battleship Template:Ship sinks the British armed merchant vessel Template:HMS. The Scharnhorst and the accompanying Template:Ship are forced to abandon their sortie and return to port.
November 25, 1939
- Template:GS sinks Royston Grange from convoy SL 8.<ref name=hag145>Hague, p.145</ref>
December
December 4, 1939
- First U-boat lost to an Allied submarine in the war when Template:HMS sinks Template:GS outside Kristiansund in Norway.
December 5, 1939
- Template:GS sinks Navasota from convoy OB 46.<ref name=hag155/>
December 9, 1939
- Orion and Widder, first two German auxiliary cruisers, were commissioned.
December 10, 1939
- The first Allied troop convoy TC 1 sets sail from Halifax with 7,400 men of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.
December 14, 1939
- Battle of the River Plate - Admiral Graf Spee scuttled after battle with HMS Exeter, HMS Achilles and HMNZS Ajax
1940
January
January 30, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Vaclite and Keramiai from convoy OA 80G.<ref name=hag149>Hague, p.149</ref>
February
February 5, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Beaverburn from convoy OA 84.<ref name=hag149/>
February 14, 1940
- The United Kingdom announces armaments will be carried by all passenger ships. Germany responds by announcing that all vessels will be considered warships.
March
March 16, 1940
- A German air raid at Scapa Flow damages a cruiser and causes the first civilian casualties in Britain of the war.
April
April 9, 1940
- Action off Lofoten - brief encounter between Scharnhorst, Gneisenau vs HMS Renown and her destroyer screen. After brief exchange of fire, German battleships disengaged.
June
June 8, 1940
- Operation Juno: HMS Glorious sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. She became the first aircraft carrier sunk by battleships in naval combat
June 12, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Willowbank and Barbara Marie from convoy SL 34.<ref name=hag145/>
June 14, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Italia and Erik Boye from convoy HX 47.<ref name=hag130/>
June 22, 1940
- Template:GS sinks San Fernando from convoy HX 49.<ref name=hag130/>
June 25, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Saranac and Windsorwood from convoy OA 172.<ref name=hag149/>
- Canada loses its first navy vessel during an accident off the coast of France, when Template:HMCS is cut in two by Royal Navy cruiser Template:HMS, with 45 lives lost aboard the Fraser and 19 aboard Calcutta.
June 30, 1940
- U-boats sink two ships from convoy SL 36.<ref name=hag145/>
July
July 2, 1940
- Aircraft sink Aeneas from convoy OA 177G.<ref name=hag149/>
July 4, 1940
- Aircraft and E-boats sink five ships from convoy OA 178.<ref name=hag149/>
July 8, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Humber Arm from convoy HX 53.<ref name=hag130/>
July 10, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Alwaki from convoy OA 179.<ref name=hag149/>
July 17, 1940
- U-boats sink Manipur and Scottish Minstrel from convoy HX 55.<ref name=hag130/>
July 26, 1940
- Template:GS sinks four ships from convoy OB 188.<ref name=hag155/>
July 28, 1940
- Auxiliary cruiser Thor encountered armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara and managed to escape.
July 31, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Jersey City from convoy OB 191.<ref name=hag155/>
August
August 4, 1940
- Template:GS sinks 3 British merchant steamships from convoy HX 60.<ref name=hag130/>
August 5, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Boma from convoy OB 193.<ref name=hag155/>
August 15, 1940
- A new system of SC convoys is initiated between Canada and the British Isles, to provide convoy protection for slow ships.<ref name=hag133/>
August 16, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Hedrun from convoy OB 197.<ref name=hag155/>
August 23, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Cumberland and St. Dunstan from convoy OB 202.<ref name=hag155/>
- Aircraft sink Llanishen and Makalla from convoy OA 203.<ref name=hag149/>
August 24, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Blairmore from convoy SC 1.<ref name=hag136>Hague, P.136</ref>
August 25, 1940
- Convoy HX 65 comes under attack by U-boats and aircraft sinking five ships.<ref name=hag131>Hague, p.131</ref>
August 28, 1940
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy HX 66.<ref name=hag131/>
- Template:GS sinks Dalblair and Astra II from convoy OA 204.<ref name=hag149/>
August 30, 1940
- Template:GS torpedoes San Gabriel from convoy OB 205.<ref name=hag155/>
August 31, 1940
- British destroyers Template:HMS and Template:HMS are sunk and two other ships damaged by mines in the Texel Disaster with the loss of 300 killed and 100 wounded or taken prisoner.
September
September 2, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Thornlea from convoy OB 206.<ref name=hag155/>
September 4, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Titan from convoy OA 207.<ref name=hag149/>
September 6, 1940
- Aircraft sink St. Glen from convoy SL 44.<ref name=hag145/>
September 8, 1940
- U-boats sink two ships from convoy SC 2.<ref name=hag136/>
September 15, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Alexandrios and Empire Volunteer from convoy SC 3.<ref name=hag136/>
- Aircraft sink Nailsea River from convoy SL 45.<ref name=hag145/>
September 17, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Tregenna from convoy HX 71.<ref name=hag131/>
September 18, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Marina and City of Benares from convoy OB 213.<ref name=hag155/>
September 20, 1940
- Template:GS sinks four ships from convoy OB 216.<ref name=hag155/>
September 21, 1940
- U-boats sink six ships from convoy HX 72.<ref name=hag131/>
September 26, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Manchester Brigade and Stratford from convoy OB 218.<ref name=hag155/>
September 27, 1940
- Aircraft sink Port Denison from convoy OA 220.<ref name=hag149/>
September 28, 1940
- Aircraft sink Dalveen from convoy HX 73.<ref name=hag131/>
- Template:GS sinks Empire Ocelot from convoy OB 218.<ref name=hag155/>
October
October 9, 1940
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy SC 6.<ref name=hag136/>
October 11, 1940
- U-boats sink six ships from convoy HX 77.<ref name=hag131/>
October 14, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Hurunui from convoy OA 228.<ref name=hag149/>
October 15, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Bonheur from convoy OB 228.<ref name=hag155/>
October 17, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Dokka and Uskbridge from convoy OB 228.<ref name=hag155/>
October 18, 1940
- Minelaying begins on the Allied Northern Barrage minefield between Scotland and Greenland.
October 19, 1940
- U-boats sink ten ships from convoy HX 79<ref name=hag131/> and fifteen ships from convoy SC 7.<ref name=hag136/>
October 22, 1940
- Template:HMCS, recently acquired to replace Template:HMCS, is sunk in a collision with the freighter Template:MV 480 km west of Ireland. 142 men are lost, including the captain and four other officers.
November
November 5, 1940
- German "pocket battleship" Template:Ship sinks five ships from convoy HX 84 and the escorting armed merchant cruiser Template:HMS.<ref name=hag131/>
- Template:GS sinks Scottish Maiden from convoy HX 83.<ref name=hag131/>
November 6, 1940
- Aircraft sink Nalon from convoy SL 52F.<ref name=hag145/>
November 15, 1940
- Aircraft sink Apapa from convoy SL 53.<ref name=hag145/>
November 21, 1940
- Template:GS sinks Daydawn and Victoria from convoy OB 244.<ref name=hag155/>
November 22, 1940
- Template:GS sinks King Idwal from convoy OB 244.<ref name=hag155/>
November 23, 1940
- Template:GS sinks six ships from convoy SC 11.<ref name=hag136/>
December
December 1, 1940
- U-boats sink nine ships from convoy HX 90.<ref name=hag131/>
- Template:HMCS is the first Canadian naval vessel hit by torpedo in the Battle of the Atlantic, attacked 300 miles west of Ireland by a submarine while escorting Convoy HG 47.
December 5, 1940
- Auxiliary cruiser Thor encountered armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle and heavily damaged it in brief exchange of fire
December 11, 1940
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy HX 92.<ref name=hag131/>
December 24, 1940
- Convoy WS 5A attacked by Admiral Hipper, but cruiser escort of HMS Berwick and two light cruisers drove her off
December 27, 1940
- Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli sinks Ardanbhan from convoy OB 263.<ref name=hag155/>
1941
January
January 16, 1941
- Aircraft sink two ships from convoy OB 274.<ref name=hag155/>
January 22, 1941
- Operation Berlin: a sortie of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau into North Atlantic resulting in 22 sunk or captured merchant ships
January 29, 1941
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy SC 19.<ref name=hag136/>
February
February 12, 1941
- Template:Ship sinks seven ships from convoy SL 64S.<ref name=hag145/>
February 19, 1941
- Aircraft sink three ships from convoy OB 287.<ref name=hag155/>
February 24, 1941
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy OB 289.<ref name=hag155/>
February 26, 1941
- Aircraft sink eight ships from convoy OB 290.<ref name=hag155/>
February 27, 1941
- Template:GS sinks Kasongo and Borgland from convoy OB 290.<ref name=hag155/>
March
March 1, 1941
- Template:GS sinks Cadillac from convoy HX 109.<ref name=hag131/>
- Aircraft sink Rotula from convoy SC 22.<ref name=hag136/>
March 7, 1941
- U-boats sink three ships from convoy OB 293.<ref name=hag155/>
March 8, 1941
- U-boats sink five ships from convoy SL 67.<ref name=hag145/>
March 13, 1941
- Aircraft sink Empire Frost from convoy SC 23.<ref name=hag136/>
March 16, 1941
- Template:GS sinks five ships from convoy HX 112.<ref name=hag131/>
March 17, 1941
- U-boats sink six ships from convoy SL 68.<ref name=hag145/>
March 19, 1941
- Aircraft sink Benvorlich from convoy OB 298.<ref name=hag155/>
March 22, 1941
- Operation Berlin ends by Scharnhorst-class battleships arriving in occupied France
March 29, 1941
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy HX 115.<ref name=hag131/>
April
April 1, 1941
- Aircraft sink two ships from convoy HX 114.<ref name=hag131/>
April 3, 1941
- U-boats sink six ships from convoy SC 26.<ref name=hag136/>
April 4, 1941
- Auxiliary cruiser Thor sighted and destroyed armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire in combat
April 6, 1941
- Aircraft sink Dunstan from convoy OB 306.<ref name=hag155/>
April 9, 1941
- The United States occupies Greenland.
April 16, 1941
- Aircraft sink Swedru from convoy SL 69.<ref name=hag145/>
April 28, 1941
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy HX 121.<ref name=hag131/>
May
May 8, 1941
- U-boats sink five ships from convoy OB 318.<ref name=hag155/>
- Auxiliary cruiser Pinguin was sunk by HMS Cornwall, becoming first German auxiliary cruiser lost in World War Two
May 11, 1941
- Aircraft sink Somerset from convoy SL 72.<ref name=hag145/>
May 14, 1941
- Aircraft sink Karlander from convoy OB 321.<ref name=hag155/>
May 20, 1941
- U-boats sink nine ships from convoy HX 126.<ref name=hag132>Hague, p.132</ref>
- Template:Ship sinks Starcross from convoy SL 73.<ref name=hag145/>
May 21 or 22, 1941
- Template:Ship, Template:Ship, and three escorting destroyers leave Bergen and head toward the Arctic Ocean.
May 24, 1941
- Bismarck and Prinz Eugen intercepted by battleship Template:HMS and battlecruiser Template:HMS; Battle of Denmark Strait begins.
- Bismarck sinks HMS Hood, then badly damages HMS Prince of Wales, forcing it to retreat.
May 27, 1941.
- Bismarck sunk in battle with HMS King George V, HMS Rodney, HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Devonshire
June
June 1, 1941
- The United States Coast Guard begins the Greenland Patrol.
June 11, 1941
- Aircraft sink Baron Carnegie from convoy OB 334.<ref name=hag155/>
June 13, 1941
- Template:Ship sinks Djurdjura and Eirini Kyriakidou from convoy SL 76.<ref name=hag145/>
- Newfoundland Escort Force is created under the command of Admiral Murray based at St John's Newfoundland, to provide escort cover from the coast of Canada to Iceland.
June 24, 1941
- Template:GS sinks Schie and Kinross from convoy OB 336.<ref name=hag155/>
- U-boats sink five ships from convoy HX 133.<ref name=hag132/>
June 26, 1941
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy SL 78.<ref>Hague, pp.145&146</ref>
July
July 7, 1941
- President Roosevelt announces that US warships will henceforth protect US merchant vessels in the North Atlantic, and the US effectively joined the Battle of the Atlantic.
August
August 5, 1941
- U-boats sink five ships from convoy SL 81.<ref name=hag146>Hague, p.146</ref>
August 21, 1941
- "The Dervish", first Arctic convoy, sailed from Iceland arriving Russia 10 days later.
September
September 10, 1941
- While U-boats sink fifteen ships from convoy SC 42,<ref name=hag136/> Canadian corvettes Template:HMCS and Template:HMCS sink Template:GS by depth charges and ramming in the Denmark Strait south of Tasiilaq, Greenland. This is Canada's first U-boat kill of the Battle of the Atlantic.
September 15, 1941
- Aircraft sink Daru from convoy SL 85.<ref name=hag146/>
September 19, 1941
- Template:HMCS is the first Canadian corvette sunk during the war. Levis is hit by a torpedo while escorting Convoy SC 44 off the coast of Greenland. Four merchant ships are also sunk from the convoy by U-boats.<ref name=hag136/>
September 22, 1941
- U-boats sink seven ships from convoy SL 87.<ref name=hag146/>
October
October 16, 1941
- U-boats sink nine ships from convoy SC 48.<ref name=hag136/>
October 21, 1941
- Template:GS sinks Serbino and Treverbyn from convoy SL 89.<ref name=hag146/>
October 31, 1941
- Template:GS torpedoes Template:USS, which was escorting Convoy HX 156. Reuben James is the first United States warship sunk during World War II.
November
November 3, 1941
- U-boats sink nine ships from convoy SC 52.<ref name=hag137>Hague, p.137</ref>
November 22, 1941
- Auxiliary cruiser Atlantis intercepted and sunk by HMS Devonshire
December
December 10, 1941
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy SC 57.<ref name=hag137/>
1942
January
January 12, 1942
- Template:SS is sunk 160 miles south of Halifax, heralding the start of a U-boat campaign that saw approximately 200 merchant vessels sunk within 10 miles of the east coast of the US.
January 30, 1942
- Convoy SC 67 departs from Halifax and picks up a transatlantic escort in Newfoundland, which accompanies the convoy as far as Northern Ireland. This marks the start of the allied end-to-end convoy escort system, which remained in effect until the end of the war.
February
February 10, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Heina from convoy SC 67.<ref name=hag137/>
February 15, 1942
- 30 miles southwest of Cape Henry Template:GS sinks Brazilian steamer Buarque (which became the 1st of 36 Brazilian merchant ships that would be sunk in WWII).<ref>Bertke, Smith & Kinde 2013. p.279</ref>
February 16, 1942
- Operation Neuland opens with attacks on Aruba, Curaçao and Lake Maracaibo petroleum facilities.<ref>Kelshall, pp.26-33</ref>
March
March 20, 1942
- A new system of BX and XB convoys is initiated between Halifax and Boston, to counter the U-boat campaign along the east coast of the US.
March 28, 1942
- Convoy PQ 13 attacked by German destroyers and U-boats; in following action cruiser HMS Trinidad and 5 transports were sunk
April
April 30, 1942
- HMS Edinburgh was hit by two torpedoes from U-456 while escorting convoy QP 11 with cargo of gold onboard. 2 days later three German destroyers attacked and severely damaged her, forcing crew to abandon the ship.
May
May 12, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Denpark from convoy SL 109.<ref name=hag146/>
May 18–22, 1942
- Along Natal coast, although damaged the Italian submarine Barbarigo manage to escape two times of attacks done by Brazilians B-25, after have unsuccessfully tried to sink Brazilian merchant ship "Comandante Lyra" at May 18.<ref>Barone, 2013. Section Amigos, amigos, guerra à parte (War is war)</ref>
June
June 10, 1942
- Template:GS torpedoes and sinks the British freighter Nicoya at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River several kilometres off Anticosti Island, followed by the Dutch freighter Leto
July
July 4, 1942
- Convoy PQ 17 is scattered in the Barents Sea leading to the loss of 22 Allied merchant ships.
July 5, 1942
- Six ships are sunk when convoy QP 13 strays into Allied minefield SN72 in the Denmark Strait.
July 6, 1942
- Template:GS sinks three freighters off the Gaspé coast
August
August 8, 1942
- U-boats sink eleven ships from convoy SC 94.<ref name=hag137/>
August 15, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Balladier from convoy SC 95.<ref name=hag137/>
August 16, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Baependy, a Brazilian merchant ship, killing 270 civilians. A few hours later, the same U-507 sinks another Brazilian passenger ship, the SS Araraquara, killing another 131 people, followed hours later by the SS Annibal Benevolo, on which 150 civilians drowned.<ref>Carey, 2004. Page 19, last paragraph.</ref><ref>Scheina, 2003. Page 161.</ref>
August 17, 1942
- U-507 continues its slaughter, sinking another Brazilian merchant ship, the SS Itagiba at the city of Vitória, killing 36,
- and the SS Arara similarly sunk with 20 deaths as she picked up the survivors of the Itagiba.<ref name="Ibidem, Carey, 2004">Ibidem, Carey, 2004.</ref><ref name="Ibidem, Scheina, 2003">Ibidem, Scheina, 2003.</ref>
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy SL 118.<ref name=hag146/>
August 19, 1942
- U-507 sinks the tiny sailing vessel Jacyra.<ref name="Ibidem, Carey, 2004"/><ref name="Ibidem, Scheina, 2003"/>
August 22, 1942
- U-507 sinks Hammeran, a Swedish merchant ship. In just one week, U-507 acting in Brazilian waters killed over 600 people, all of them neutral civilians. As result, Brazil declares war on Germany and Italy at that very same day.<ref name="Ibidem, Carey, 2004"/><ref name="Ibidem, Scheina, 2003"/>
August 28, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Zuiderkerk and City of Cardiff from convoy SL 119.<ref name=hag146/>
August 31, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Bronxville and Capira from convoy SC 97.<ref name=hag137/>
September
September 9, 1942
USS Muskeget, a Coast Guard weather ship, is torpedoed near Weather Station #2, Lat. 54o N, Long 44o 30'W by U-755. 121 Officers and crew lost, including one Public Health Service officer and four weathermen, no survivors.
September 12, 1942
- Convoy PQ 18 continuously attacked by U-boats and aircraft until September 21; 13 merchantmen were sunk at the price of 4 U-boats.
September 14, 1942
- Template:HMCS is torpedoed by Template:GS while escorting Convoy ON 127 500 nautical miles (930 km) east of St. John's, Newfoundland. 114 crew lost their lives, including the commanding officer, while 65 survivors were rescued by nearby vessels.
September 20, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Empire Hartebeeste from convoy SC 100.<ref name=hag137/>
September 22, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Athelsultan and Tennessee from convoy SC 100.<ref name=hag137/>
October
October 4, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Robert H Colley from convoy HX 209.<ref name=hag132/>
October 13, 1942
- U-boats sink seven ships from convoy SC 104.<ref name=hag137/>
October 14, 1942
- Newfoundland Railway passenger ferry Template:SS is torpedoed by the Template:GS, in Cabot Strait
- Auxiliary cruiser Komet sunk by British torpedo boats in her attempt to break into Atlantic
October 24, 1942
- A new system of UG convoys is initiated between Chesapeake Bay and the Mediterranean Sea, to support the Allied invasion of North Africa.<ref>Hague, pp.179-183</ref>
October 25, 1942
- Battle of convoy SL 125 begins as a tactical diversion to clear U-boats from the path of Operation Torch invasion convoys.<ref>Edwards, p.115</ref>
October 27, 1942
- U-boats sink five ships from convoy HX 212.<ref name=hag132/>
November
November 2, 1942
- U-boats sink fifteen ships from convoy SC 107.<ref name=hag137/>
November 18, 1942
- Template:GS sinks Brilliant from convoy SC 109.<ref name=hag137/>
December
December 8, 1942
- U-boats sink two ships from convoy HX 217.<ref name=hag132/>
December 31, 1942
- Battle of Barents Sea: Kriegsmarine attempted to intercept convoy JW 51B. Admiral Hipper and Lützow with destroyer screen sailed from Norway, but Hipper was intercepted and damaged by HMS Sheffield and HMS Jamaica, and Lützow failed to find a target. This failure led to temporary suspend of Kriegsmarine surface vessel operations.
1943
January
January 3, 1943
- U-507 sinks the British ship Baron Dachmont.<ref name="Carey, 2004">Carey, 2004.</ref>
January 8, 1943
- U-507 sinks the British ship Yorkwood.<ref name="Carey, 2004"/>
January 13, 1943
- U-507 was sunk by the US PBY Catalina VP-83.<ref name="Carey, 2004"/>
January 17, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Vestfold from convoy HX 222.<ref name=hag132/>
January 26, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Nortind from convoy HX 223.<ref name=hag132/>
February
February 2, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Template:SS from convoy SG 19 killing 675 men.
- Template:GS sinks Inverilen and Jeremiah Van Rensselaer from convoy HX 224.<ref name=hag132/>
February 7, 1943
- U-boats sink nine ships from convoy SC 118.<ref name=hag137/>
February 15, 1943
- A new system of fast CU convoys is initiated to speed the flow of petroleum products from Caribbean Sea refineries to Liverpool.<ref>Hague, p.183</ref>
March
March 7, 1943
- U-boats sink seven ships for convoy SC 121.<ref>Hague, pp.137&138</ref>
March 10, 1943
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy HX 228.<ref name=hag132/>
March 16, 1943
- The largest convoy battle of World War II begins around convoys HX 229 and SC 122.<ref name=hag132/>
March 28, 1943
- U-boats sink four ships from convoy SL 126.<ref name=hag146/>
April
April 4, 1943
- U-boats sink three ships from convoy HX 231.<ref name=hag132/>
April 12, 1943
- Template:GS sinks three ships from convoy HX 232.<ref name=hag132/>
April 17, 1943
- U-boats sink Fort Rampart from convoy HX 233.<ref name=hag132/>
April 22, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Amerika from convoy HX 234.<ref name=hag132/>
May
May 6, 1943
- The battle for convoy ONS 5 reaches a climax with the destruction of seven U-boats.<ref>Rohwer & Hummelchen, pp.208&209</ref>
May 7, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Laconikos from convoy SL 128MK.<ref name=hag146/>
May 11, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Antigone and Grado from convoy SC 129.<ref name=hag138>Hague, p.138</ref>
July
July 31, 1943
- In a coordinated action, one American and two Brazilian maritime patrol aircraft sink the then modern U-199.<ref>Gastaldoni, 1993. From p.153.</ref>
September
September 8, 1943
- Italy surrenders, and Britain starts to redeploy their Mediterranean destroyers to the Atlantic.
October
October 9, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Yorkmar from convoy SC 143.<ref name=hag138/>
October 22, 1943
- Battle of Sept-Îles : HMS Charybdis and six destroyers caught in ambush by German fleet torpedo boats, resulting in loss of the cruiser and one destroyer with no casualties in German forces
October 31, 1943
- Template:GS sinks Hallfried from convoy SL 138MK.<ref name=hag146/>
December
December 26, 1943
- Battle of the North Cape: Ships of the Royal Navy (HMS Duke of York, HMS Norfolk, HMS Belfast and HMS Sheffield) sink the German battleship Template:Ship off Norway's North Cape in her attempt to intercept convoy JW 55B
1944
April
April 6, 1944
- Template:GS sinks Ruth I and South America from convoy SC 156.<ref name=hag138/>
July
July 20, 1944
- Template:GS sinks the freighter-troopship Vital de Oliveira, the only Brazilian military ship sunk due to submarine action at WWII, and the last Brazilian vessel to be torpedoed in that war.<ref>Rohwer, 1999. pages 183 & 354.</ref>
August
August 3, 1944
- The largest convoy of World War II, convoy HX 300, arrives in the British Isles without loss.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
September
September 8, 1944
- Template:GS sinks Empire Heritage and Pinto from convoy HX 305.<ref name=hag133>Hague, p.133</ref>
1945
January
January 27, 1945
- Template:GS sinks Solor from convoy HX 332.<ref name=hag133/>
March
March 2, 1945
- Template:GS sinks Novasli and King Edgar from convoy SC 167.<ref name=hag138/>
April
April 18, 1945
- Template:GS sinks Empire Gold and Cyrus H McCormick from convoy HX 348.<ref name=hag133/>
Month-by-month summaries
1939
- September
- Allied shipping losses total 53 vessels. 41 vessels totaling 153,800 tons are lost to submarines. German losses are two submarines.
- October
- Allied shipping losses total 196,000 tons. German losses are five submarines.
- November
- Allied shipping losses to submarines are 21 vessels totaling 51,600 tons. More than 100,000 tons are lost to German mines.
- December
- Allied shipping losses are 73 vessels totaling 189,900 tons. 25 are sunk by submarines. The Germans lose one submarine.
Total Allied losses to mines during 1939 are 79 vessels totaling 262,700 tons.
1940
- January
- Allied losses are 73 vessels totaling 214,500 tons, of which 40 vessels totaling 111,200 tons are sunk by submarines. Germany has 38 operational submarines to begin the year.
- February
- Allied losses are 226,900 tons, of which 45 vessels totaling 169,500 tons are lost to submarines.
- March
- Allied losses are 45 vessels, of which 23 are lost to submarines. Germany loses three submarines.
- October
- Massacre of Convoy SC 7
1941
- June
- Allied losses are 590,000 tons
1942
1943
- March
- Allied shipping losses are 627,000 tons.
- April
- Closing of Mid-Atlantic gap
- May
- Allied shipping losses are 157,000 tons, and 37 U-boats are sunk plus 32 damaged.
- U-boats withdrawn Black May
- June
- 17 U-boats destroyed
- July
- 46 U-boats destroyed
- August
- 20 U-boats destroyed
References
- The Battle of the Atlantic by John Costello and Terry Hughes (1977, Collins, London) Template:OCLC
- Barone, João (2013) 1942: O Brasil e sua guerra quase desconhecida (1942: Brazil and its almost forgotten war) (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro, Template:ISBN
- Donald A Bertke, Gordon Smith & Don Kinde.World War II Sea War, Vol 5. Bertke Publications, 2013. Template:ISBN
- Template:Cite book
- Carey, Alan C. (2004) Galloping Ghosts of the Brazilian Coast Lincoln, NE, US: iUniverse, Inc. Template:ISBN
- Hague, Arnold The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 Naval Institute Press 2000 Template:ISBN
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Scheina, Robert L. Latin America's Wars Volume II: The Age of the Professional Soldier, 1900–2001. Potomac Books, 2003. Template:ISBN
- Template:Cite book
Notes
External links
- The Battle of the AtlanticTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore Original reports and pictures from The Times
- Chronology 1939-1942 at naval-history.net
- Chronology 1942-1945 at naval-history.net