Winning WW2's Most Important Battle - Battle of the Atlantic Full Documentary

[@historigraph]

Join the raffle for a chance to win a custom USS Texas Xbox - wowsl.co/3Apb0ly

[@leviedvalson6798]

Happy happy early and or related birthday

[@Dominic-yz3jr]

Hi historiograph I love your channle🎉❤😊

[@NicolaiAwesome]

My dad fought in the Atlantic. Midshipman on HMS Suffolk (there for Bismarck), and later on convoy escort to Russia. He was 17 in 1941. Just a kid. He never spoke much of it all but did write an autobiography fortunately - He was older than I am now when I was born (in my mid 40’s). My interest for all things naval has been there since the beginning and so has my gratitude for anyone who has gone to war for our safety and our democracy. Not forgetting what these men and women sacrificed isn’t only important, it’s essential, now more than ever, and that’s why channels like Historigraph will always have my support.

[@morgan97475]

Has his autobiography been published? If so, please provide the title so we can read it.

[@punkypink83]

if his autobiography is purchaseable please tell us the name and where we might buy it.

[@kegfreak3728]

My dad was on a liberty ship in 1944-1945. I need to do some research as to which ones. I have the medals and he has Atlantic and Pacific medals. He went all the way around the world. He didn't talk much about it and died when I was young, before I joined the military. Kind of sad we are losing our families stories because these guys didn't think much of their sacrifice. Funny thing also, my dad was 48 when I was born, so like you, we probably missed a lot of the stories we would have heard if we were older.

[@NicolaiAwesome]

@@punkypink83 It was only written for family. It’s a great read, my dad had quite the life post WW2, but the wartime stuff is just a few chapters.

[@punkypink83]

@@NicolaiAwesome well im definitely envious your family have the privilege of reading about his experiences!

[@chandler224]

Just wanted to say that I absolutely LOVE your use of graphs, charts, and statistics. I've seen numerous documentaries on the Battle of the Atlantic but having a visual representation of US production and convoy/U-boat loses really puts it in a perspective. It's almost mind-boggling to see.

[@Warspite-1915]

"American ship printer go brrrrrr"

[@dynamo1796]

Between American industrial muscle and British science/ technology, the Germans were on the path to defeat. British technology like radar, ASDIC sonar, HUF-DUF and code-breaking combined with American aircraft design and ship building made for a powerful logistical machine. Getting it done since 1914: GB🤝US On the Merchant Navy, which at the outbreak of WW2 accounted for 33% of the whole world's merchant fleet, King George the VI made this speech in September 1939: "In these anxious days, I would like to express to all Officers and Men and in the British Merchant Navy and the British Fishing Fleets my confidence in their unfailing determination to play their vital part in defence. To each one I would say: Yours is a task no less essential to my people's experience than that allotted to the Navy, Army and Air Force. Upon you, the Nation depends for much of its foodstuffs and raw materials and for the transport of its troops overseas." "You have a long and glorious history. I know that you will carry out your duties with resolution and with fortitude, and that high chivalrous traditions of your calling are safe in your hands. God keep you and prosper you in your great task".

[@rdeEKINS]

I'm glad someone else noticed that too

[@greg_4201]

lol

[@greg_4201]

​@@dynamo1796 1914????? 😂 wtf, man...?

[@Intrepid42643]

FAQs lol😂

[@Mathwayb]

I've always been in awe of the sheer industrial power the US had back then. The wonderful graphics in the video really highlights this.

[@looinrims]

Still has

[@matthewblairrains6032]

@@looinrims Not really China builds 47% of global shipping South Korea has 25% and Japan builds 16%

[@looinrims]

@@matthewblairrains6032 …industry is more than merchant ship building…if you didn’t know that

[@Warspite-1915]

​@@matthewblairrains6032​ The USA isnt even trying right now though.

[@matthewblairrains6032]

@@looinrims What like not even having the industrial capacity to build an extra submarine per year despite both Congress and the US Navy wanting them to

[@Jameskn1]

It’s just as important to control the resources and supplies as it is to control the battlefield this is the often forgotten part of most battles and wars great to see it being highlighted

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

This is why Russia is guaranteed to lose any invasion of Europe They know they don’t stand a chance so the fear mongering is a bit ridiculous

[@dynamo1796]

Not really. Ever since the infamous "amateurs talk tactics, experts talk logistics" quote became mainstream, people have been banging on about logistical elements non-stop lol

[@douglassauvageau7262]

The Bauxite supply-chain highlighted in this presentation illustrates the truth of your assertion.

[@Basicallybaltic]

One plane that is not mentioned, but however shown in the video for a short snippet, is the PBY Catalina. It had the range and loiter-time to sweep vast pieces of ocean on single flights. Near the end of the war in the Atlantic, they had equipment that could find german U-boats at extreme ranges. When they then approached, preferably at night when the U-boats were more likely surfaced, they would switch to their close range systems. These were large basically water flashlights, that would illuminate the U-boat, forcing them to make a choice, ditch the communications equipment and pray that you submerge in time, or stay on the surface where it you versus a Catalina with a variety of weapons that are designed for a single purpose that it has proven very capable of, sinking the very thing you are in. Most chose the first, but now they were a hopefully intact submarine stuck in the middle of the dangerous Atlantic with no communication whilst being lengths the human mind can barely comprehend away from any submarine den or safety. After some time of no communication the german strategists back home would consider you MIA. This was the real power of a single Catalina.

[@rachitkumar1012]

Well said! Always loved greyhound solely cuz of the Catalina lol

[@Warspite-1915]

Leigh lights

[@Basicallybaltic]

@@Warspite-1915 Bro if you saw a video avout them, please tell me, I swear I’ve seen a great video about the Catalina, and your mentioned Leigh lights, but I cannot remember the name.

[@Warspite-1915]

@@Basicallybaltic I remember Lindybeige talking about them in his video: "The Battle of the Atlantic: U-boats and how to sink them"

[@Basicallybaltic]

@@Warspite-1915 Can’t thank you enough, found the vid I remembered but hadn’t watched through completely yet.

[@danko6582]

Hats off to the lads of the Merchant Marine, who bore the brunt and won the war.

[@woot-qf4]

The most underrepresented branch of the military

[@benwilson6145]

It was the British Merchant Navy that did the most of the work and had the most men lost! Let us remember them!

[@Frizzleman]

Those liberty ship numbers are beyond absurd it’s unbelievable

[@Spectre4913]

All the numbers are when you think about it. Trucks, planes, tanks, gun, uniforms, food, ammo. The awakening a sleeping giant quote couldn't have been more true.

[@Damorann]

As much as I find that politicians get in the way of their military leaders most of the time, for this once I have to give credit to FDR to force Admiral King to stop being so one-track minded about the Japanese and get his act together in the Atlantic. That decision alone probably had lasting impact on how the Allies won the war in Europe.

[@rachitkumar1012]

So happy that you brought the old intro back :)

[@dynamo1796]

Intro absolutely slaps

[@Lord_Lambert]

One of your best videos yet :)

[@Speedster___]

Hello there

[@Lord_Lambert]

General @@Speedster___

[@aaronrowell6943]

That moment you realize that the US replaced almost all tonnage sunk by the U-boats in the war with the liberty ship fleet and on top of that made 50 new aircraft carriers

[@Cailus3542]

Well, 20 or so fleet carriers, plus ten fast battleships, but yes.

[@atfeldman123]

If you smaller carriers like Jeep and escort carriers more than 100 carriers were in the US fleet by the end.

[@bigsarge2085]

Incredible as always, thank you!

[@smacman68]

There a quote in Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy that says “amateurs think about tactics, professionals think about logistics” which is a common colloquialism in the academics of warfare. Your people know their jobs. The lower officer corp and noncommissioned officers are well trained before they even start fighting. Get them what they need is the main focus

[@SeanKStephens]

with every one of your videos, I find myself more in awe of the true scale of World War 2.

[@yanks030]

Just want to say the two biggest tragedies in historical preservation is the sinking of the USS enterprise and the scrapping of the HMS Warspite Edit: my bad I thought enterprise sank during a nuclear bomb test, she was indeed scrapped. That honestly hurts even more than thinking she sank during a nuclear bomb test

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

It’s absolutely disgusting how navy’s treated these ships Especially the British who scrapped their entire WWII navy The only commissioner vessel that survived was the Victory, which was already a centuries old museum ship

[@TheIzester]

in the US's historical preservation*

[@flufflepuffle6229]

Enterprise wasn't sunk?

[@FoStealth]

Enterprise was scrapped. Don't you know your history?

[@levipierson4946]

When was enterprise sunk??? Wasn't she scrapped in 59?

[@rachitkumar1012]

The worst thing is that if you ask the Russians about how they defeated nazi Germany, almost none of them would mention the allied supplies which played such a crucial role. The Soviets would still probably have won tho albeit much much later

[@sebus559]

The western allies wouldn't have won the war without the Soviet Union neither, for they were paying the price in blood to wear down Germany

[@BishopStars]

Soviets would've been rolled without American support, especially aircraft.

[@looinrims]

Anyone who says that goofy stuff, just tell them how much food was sent…and then remind them how Soviets starved constantly during the war (there were even famines post war)

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

In the words of Nakita Khrushchev after the war: "...some remarks Stalin made ... stated bluntly that if the United States had not helped us, we would not have won the war. If we had had to fight Nazi Germany one on one, we could not have stood up against Germany's pressure, and we would have lost the war." The Lend Lease provided to the USSR continued well after Germany capitulated and would not be terminated until September 20th, more than a full month after V-J Day. Of the nearly 18,000,000 tons of aid send to Russia, about 23% would be supplied via the Arctic Convoys. Escorted almost totally by the Royal and Royal Canadian Navy warships, of course.

[@Cailus3542]

It's often forgotten that about half of the Soviet tanks defending Moscow were actually British-built Matilda's and Valentines. Just as one example.

[@derrickstorm6976]

Man the feels when you hear those quiet cello and piano on the background of the intro

[@Pooneil1984]

I recently found this channel. I love the graphics, pacing and neutral point of view in the narration. It makes for good storytelling. I am happy to subscribe.

[@peterhoare3754]

What a brilliant documentary. Bravo.

[@JHruby]

Another amazing video. Terrific perspective on the fact that a war is won on the supply chain front as much as the front line.

[@spartanairsoft1798]

Once again a fascinating, often unknown story and delivered wonderfully; keep up the awesome work.

[@devingraves8044]

The shear numbers of anything WWII related never fail to blow my mind

[@18pablo88]

Historiograph really is top-notch .

[@marvinwoods4556]

Excellent video and narration!

[@stogmot1]

ive watched and read loads on the Atlantic war ,this really explained so well the statistical side i had never seen before . Most excellent

[@geordiedog1749]

The BoA is often forgotten but no where near the extent that the coastal convoy war was forgotten. Please consider doing a video on the coastal war to spread the word on the RNPS.

[@grandaddyoe1434]

Some ships which crossed the Atlantic had to fight their way dwon the UK's east coast, suffering losses. It was more than just the BoA, it was a "shipping war", worldwide.

[@Bullet-ve2it]

I'm impressed you somehow managed to completely ignore Canada's role in the theatre.

[@loneprimate]

That's what the Brits always do. They're dazzled by the bad boy Yankees and get a real boner for the Aussies. Canada is forever Flo to Britain's Andy Capp.

[@gundam2jimmy]

Throw in U-505 being captured intact in June 1944. Currently sitting in Chicago, museum of Science and Industry.

[@Cailus3542]

If memory serves, the British were very annoyed about that. They had captured U-boats before, but usually scuttled them at sea after removing everything of value, especially classified documents and Enigma machines. This meant that the Germans didn't know that the U-boats had been captured and their codes were compromised. I could be wrong, admittedly. Just talking from memory.

[@davidforbes7772]

@@Cailus3542 You are correct. American arrogance and stupidity could have had serious implications if the Germans had realized that their codes were completely compromised.

[@neilwilson5785]

Thanks, an excellent and concise description that I really enjoyed. The graphs and narration worked really well.

[@SennaAugustus]

Not mentioned was the capture of U-110 by HMS Bulldog, HMS Broadway, and HMS Aubrietia, without which the naval Enigma would never have been broken. (I don't know why it's always called "the Enigma" when there are so many versions of it, the army, navy, and air force used different ones, the Italians had yet another one, not to mention backup systems such as hand ciphers, all of which had varying difficulties in cracking and often each needing capture of original documents.)

[@atakorkut5110]

The German admiral Karl Dönitz who was asking for 300 U-boats by 1941 all the way back in 1935-36. he understood that the only true power projection Germany had was the U-boat concentrated on building as many as possible they could be used as a noose around the neck of Great Britain and the United States. Unfortunately, the downside of dictators that support dictators. Everyone is always battling to the important to the boss, and usually the boss has no idea what’s really going on yet the boss will always intervene in every little aspect of everything.

[@kegfreak3728]

Great job on this! The production level is amazing, reminds me of the old History channel content.

[@Splattle101]

That was a much better presentation that I expected. Well done!

[@gunterthekaiser6190]

Had a great uncle in the Royal Canadian Navy who was a sailor aboard the destroyer HMS "chaudière" (originally called "Hero" before being handed over to the Canadians). He left very little about it in his note, beside stories of seeing whales and loving the smell of the ocean.

[@bsa45acp]

Excellent video overall. The issue of Liberty Ship hull cracking was due to two factors for the most part and not shoddy or hurried construction. The welding of hulls was a new technology. Riveted hulls, should a crack start, it would only propagate through the single riveted plate and not to the other plates riveted to it. Welded plates were a solid unit with the other hull plates, and a crack could therefore potentially propagate through the entire hull. The second issue was that the corners of the cargo hatches of Liberty Ships were at a 90 degree angles and this serves as a stress riser with the majority of the cracking appearing between the #3 hatch and the forward part of the house. The statistics regarding Liberty Ship hull cracking are very overblown. Most statistics regarding hull cracking and failure include cracking/failure from all causes. These statistics include all ship classes with failures due to enemy action, running aground, collisions with other ships and so forth. The simple solution during war time was to weld curved braces at the four corners of the cargo hatches. The SS Jeremiah O'Brien (Pier 35 in San Francisco) the last unaltered and fully functional Liberty Ship has such modifications. A report by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Homer Research Laboratory from 18 July 1997 (I have a copy in my files) shows that only three Liberty Ships actually broke in half due to the seas alone, two in heavy seas and just one in normal seas.

[@dynamo1796]

Worth noting as well the reason they moved to welding was for speed - it was a new technology in shipbuilding but it was much much faster than riveting. The downside was that one a weld failed, the entire seam would allow the crack to propagate, riveted plates do not. On the otherside, riveted plates could buckle if overstressed and the Atlantic was the roughest ocean that the Allies operated at scale in. Ships were massively stressed by North Atlantic storms and ships being lost to the weather was not a new occurrence.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

The P-8 Poseidon aerial-platform is a visible representation of how seriously we now regard the undersea realm. God bless that aircraft and all who fly on her.

[@AmericanIdiot7659]

All hail the Silent Service

[@Styphon]

Back in the day we held a parade to the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial. I wish I would have known even a small fraction of the information in this video. Good job.

[@Falcon_Lord]

I love your videos! Really huge fan! I love the footage mixed with dramatic readings. If you could keep units of measurements consistent in the video that would be great! For example your losses are in tons but your new ships are counted in number. Super small comment for an amazing video 5 star

[@sebastianbockholt8302]

Once again an amazing video by you. Thank you so much for all these informations

[@scotthegley4723]

Excellent documentary, thank you!

[@Shoehandler1142]

The US industrial might during world war 2 was nothing short of legendary.

[@kobra6335]

With the US and Soviet Union on the same side, the Axis Powers never stood a chance.

[@Warspite-1915]

@@kobra6335 Don't forget the British Empire. Remember, the UK alone outproduced Germany throughout all of WW2

[@outofturn331]

Great as usual

[@mods1133]

One of the most shocking and underscored campaigns of the war.

[@greygalah]

Excellent work - so interesting and fills gaps in my knowledge. I wonder if you'd look at how the USN submarines did the opposite and strangled supplies of raw materials to Japan.

[@ricklyle3739]

Excellent content. Thanks for sharing

[@coyote4237]

Always glad to see an upload from Historigraph. Thank you for another brilliant video.

[@zBernie12345]

Thank you for that gripping story!

[@admiralcapn]

25:19 - tables got turned so hard that a US carrier captured, boarded, and towed a German U-boat back to home soil. Check out Codename Nemo.

[@Warspite-1915]

HMS Bulldog did it first by capturing an enigma machine from U-110 in 1941

[@ProWhitaker]

Amazing, Thanks for the video

[@Snailrider_Actual]

New Historigraph? I click.

[@alexyelado491]

i hope you never stop using ryno’s theme in your videos, it fits quite well

[@Fallen_Arrow]

love your videos man!

[@cp1cupcake]

Something I remember hearing about the Liberty ships, although I have no idea if its accurate, but it was said that the ship paid for itself if it was able to make a single cross Atlantic voyage. They were probably also the most cost effective ship the US built in WW2, since many were still in use after the war, which compares sharply with the massive boneyards other things were sent to.

[@Theninja07-ie9bh]

Great video love your content man

[@CharlieGeorge_]

Oi algorithm, promote this video more, yeah?

[@philippetremblay906]

Excellent, as usual :) However, its the wrong Canada flag in the thumbnail - the current one was adopted way after WWII

[@sebastienhardinger4149]

Great video!

[@JohnMGibby]

Excellent video!!!

[@michaelstadnikfilm]

Thank you, for your great and informative work! 👍👍

[@Speedster___]

Would say your magnum opus but every video of yours is better then the last

[@raymondtonns2521]

a tremendous productivity that sadly will not be seen again as WAR looms once again Asia

[@alanclague2333]

Hardly a "Full documentary". This massively understated the UK's role and successes in the battle.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Great video A few months ago, I did a calculation of the number ocean-convoy escorts that the Royal Navy should have ordered at the beginning of 1939. The number: 279.

[@robertsansone1680]

Excellent! So very excellent. Thank You

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Excellent video....👍👍

[@slick68jr]

Love these videos

[@rudolphaswad8723]

i have been entertained and educated subscription earned

[@ferda9886]

Great timing Playing Sh3 right now😅

[@ferda9886]

I died 20 Minuter later in 1943 attacking a big strong escorted convoy😭

[@mixtape9123]

By the start of WW2 the US navy had 7 carriers. By the end it built 105 ranging from light carriers to massive fleet carriers

[@jameszeng2666]

That's the good old saying: Naval Power = Power 💪

[@Musashi_-81]

Uboats with a cameo from the Bismarck.

[@t5ruxlee210]

The key to winning the "Battle Of The Atlantic" was a remarkably simple tactic: Build enough radar/sonar equipped anti-sub combat vessels to suppress the enemy submarines waiting in front of, lurking around, and trailing behind convoys on the move. Pity the powers that be back then were so slow to grasp it while national treasuries emptied as half baked initiatives filled up Davie Jones to overflowing.

[@ltdom]

American ship printer go brrrrrrr lmao

[@Naddycone4]

i also noticed that lmao, it was a nice way to define what the American Factory was like during WW2, a printer.

[@Snipurss]

Excellent video. Any chance of a similar one about the US submarine campaign in the Pacific? If it doesn't already exist

[@nickgooderham2389]

At 4:26 HMCS Regina in RCN colour scheme. As usual practically no information given on RCN involvement, which was massive! By 1943 two thirds of all convoys on the North Atlantic route were escorted by the RCN. By the end of the war Canada had the third largest navy in the world.

[@historigraph]

I used ‘Allied’ throughout for a reason

[@joenerad3328]

@@historigraph But you mentioned the U.S. I guess they only deserve a separate mention even though they were also allies

[@buffalodebill1976]

German attack on the east coast of the US - operation "Paukenschlag" (Drumbeat) was conducted by U-boats of type IX, not type XIV - these were the "Milchkoehe" (Milk cows), resupplying other U-boats.

[@fabovondestory]

"Its about to get much worse.. This video is sponsored by WoWs!"

[@adamjohnson8763]

Can you do a story on Italy submarines in Atlantic? That would be cool to listen to

[@theemporersnewclothes]

Good content 👌

[@fatalshore5068]

My grandfather was British navy in WW2. He served aboard the HMS Gore, an escort ship in the Atlantic.

[@pablopeter3564]

GREAT video. ¡¡¡¡¡ CONGRATULATIONS.

[@CaliToTheCrowd]

"American ship printer go brrrrrrrrr" Floored me

[@davefellhoelter1343]

Gramps was PBY's EWO, couple buddies Merchies Atlantic and Pacific both sunk, one in both the Atlantic and Pacific, brothers father in law was N Atlantic, Atlantic, and Battle of Britian as an American jioned the RCAF, then RAF, ended USAAC, maybe coupe other allies mixed in? and the french.

[@jonnyboi841]

Great video

[@saturnv2419]

Listening this always reminds me, FDR was such a strategic genius that WWII would not have won without his strategic insight on both fronts, appointing the correct person to take overall command and intervene when needed.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Like Ernie King & Dugout Doug? Think again.

[@DvdV1337]

Its hard to imagine. But the fear in the back of your mind, At all times, makes me slightly unhinged already. I wouldnt send people, but those who go are steadier than me.

[@JohnDoe-wj7ht]

Historiograph: "... the vastness of the Atlantic." The Pacific: "Hold my beer."

[@Warspite-1915]

The vast majority of fighting was in the western pacific though

[@brokenbridge6316]

A nicely informative video

[@Nate7.75]

"American ship printer go brrrrrrrrr" Lol fucking classic

[@rik5095]

amazing vid

[@thesupremepizza6893]

Which song did you use at 18:39? I've heard it before but can't figure out what it is.

[@spacekraken6298]

I love your videos

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

Good to see a Brit giving America the credit it deserves, as opposed to cutting us out, like many Brits do.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Good to read that some Americans have a sense of humour, or at least of irony.

[@andreslinares6429]

One question for the Soviet lovers. How many U-Boats did the Red Navy sink ?

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Seven in total, though some were by shore batteries.

[@grandaddyoe1434]

What were USSR's shipping losses in WW2. They were only in the war for four years . . .

[@jeremydale4548]

Pretty sure they were in the war for the whole time? Could be wrong though

[@donarthiazi2443]

Far more interesting were the _Victory_ ships that came after the _Liberty_ ships. They were larger and *over 50% faster than Liberty ships* The u-boats had a much tougher time sinking them.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

The first Victory ship, however, was only launched in January, 1944, and made her first voyage two months later.

[@caioalmeida4139]

Jesus, what amazing, hight quality video 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 For sure that was, and like Ukraine War has been, a industrial war!!!

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Would you look at that, Historiagraph managed to make yet another video about the battle of the Atlantic without once mentioning Canada or the RCN.

[@Speedster___]

The 3 flags in the beginning…

[@geiers6013]

But he clearly showed them on the map at least.

[@MrNicoJac]

Maybe you'd have noticed he did credit them..... if you managed to pull your head out off your butthurt ass 🙃

[@looinrims]

…he did and it’s the same videos edited together

[@Warspite-1915]

Stop electing Justin Trudeau and you will get a shoutout

[@robertmiller2173]

This is the first time that I have heard that the Liberty Ship being a Pomie Design!