bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Germany > Battle of the Atlantic, updated by RAC 14 Aug '19.
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The Battle of the Atlantic refers to World War II naval warfare between the Allies and the Axis, primarily in the North Atlantic. In the Battle of the Atlantic, German and Italian submarines attempted to destroy shipping between North America and the parts of Europe still held by the Allies.
The Battle of the Atlantic was the major component of World War II naval action between Germany and the Allies. Most Pottawattamie County maritime deaths in the War with Germany occurred closer to shore in the Mediterranean and European Theaters. For convenience, I have included all such deaths below. |
One of the many merchant ships sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic
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Links to the Battle of the Atlantic webpage
- My chronological report WW II US Maritime Losses - The German War includes major American losses in the Battle of the Atlantic, as well as in other locations such as the Mediterranean.
- My webpage WW II Pottawattamie County, Iowa deaths accesses a list of those who died during the WW II naval war with Germany.
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When Germany defeated France and England in the Blitzkrieg of May and June 1940, the armistice terms dictated by Germany placed all of the Atlantic coast of France under German occupation. Thus,Germany took over existing French submarine bases and added additional facilities. From these French Atlantic ports, the German submarine fleet had much easier access to their Atlantic hunting grounds than earlier when only bases on the North Sea were available. The German Atlantic bases are listed below:
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French Atlantic Coast Ports
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Not until the spring of 1943 did the Allies turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic. However, as late as April 1945, one of my Aunt Ethel's former students, George Eugene "Junior" Jorgensen, died when his ship was torpedoed by a German midget submarine in the North Sea off the coast of Ostend, Belgium while at sea with a cargo of high-octane gasoline.
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the Army Tanker Y-17 Memorial
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Credits for the WW II - Battle of the Atlantic webpage
- The November 1942 header photo Allied Convoy to Casablanca is courtesy of en.wikipedia.org and the National Archives.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Atlantic summarizes the Battle of the Atlantic.
- U-Boat Bases of the Second World War in France - https://www.uboat-bases.com/en/
- The Army Tanker Y-17 Memorial photo is courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London, website. The memorial is located in St. Andrew's Church, Hamble, Hampshire, England.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Deaths - the Battle of the Atlantic
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information.
I include here all maritime-related deaths in the War with Germany.
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information.
I include here all maritime-related deaths in the War with Germany.
Battle of the Atlantic: (updated 14 Aug ’19)
- Collins, James P., US Navy; antisubmarine decoy vessel Q-ship USS Atik; d. 27 Mar ’42 off Virginia, torpedoed by German submarine U-123.
- Curry, Jack Benton, merchant marine; tanker Pan Massachusetts; d. 19 Feb ’42 off Cape Canaveral, Florida, torpedoed by German submarine U-128.
- Hansen, Arnt B., US Navy; destroyer USS Leary; d 24 Dec ’43 in North Atlantic, torpedoed by German submarine U-275.
- Alff, John F., US Army; 436th Coast Artillery Bn.; d. 12 Nov ’42 at Fedala Roads off Morocco in Operation Torch, on transport USS Tasker H. Bliss sunk by German submarine U-130.
- Andersen, Eugene P., US Navy; landing ship tank LST 3; d. 6 Aug ’43 NE of Palermo, Sicily, German bomber attack (ship survived).
- Berry, Kenneth C., US Navy; destroyer USS Buck; d. 9 Oct ’43 off Capri, Italy, torpedoed by German submarine U-616.
- Morris, Eddie J., US Navy; cruiser USS Savannah; d. 11 Sep ’43 off Salerno, Italy, German radio-controlled glide bomb (ship survived).
- Soppe, Raymond F., US Army; 31st Signal Construction Bn.; d 26 Nov ’43 off Bougie, Algeria east of Algiers, on British ship HMT Rhona, German radio-controlled glide bomb.
- Supernois, Donald W., US Navy; destroyer USS Rowan; d. 11 Sep ’43, off Salerno, Italy, German E-boat torpedo.
- Jorgensen, George E. Jr., US Navy; signalman on army tanker Y-17; d. 9 Apr ’45 off Ostend, Belgium, torpedoed by German midget submarine U-5309.
- Saunders, Robert W., US Navy; landing craft tank LCT 305; d. 6 Jun ’44 at Omaha Beach, craft hit a mine, landed members of 197th AAA Bn. at 1500 hours, then was hit by shellfire and abandoned. Robert Saunders was the only fatality.
- Swanson, Charles E., US Army; Co. H, 262th Inf. Regt., 66th Inf. Div.; d. 24 Dec ’44 off Cherbourg, English Channel, on Belgian passenger ship SS Leopoldville torpedoed by German submarine U-486.
- Welbourn, Eldred O., US Army; 262th Inf. Regt., 66th Inf. Div.; d. 24 Dec ’44 off Cherbourg, English Channel, on Belgian passenger ship SS Leopoldville torpedoed by German submarine U-486.
- Halladay, Robert M., US Naval Aviation; d. 5 Nov ’42, off Panama, Caribbean Sea, aircraft accident.
- Peterson, Jack, US Navy; destroyer USS Brownson; d. 6 Apr ’43 in North Atlantic, lost overboard.
- Senior, Clifford L., US Navy; destroyer USS Warrington; d 13 Sep ’44 off Bahamas, North Atlantic, ship lost in Great Atlantic hurricane.
- Smith, Boyd D., US Navy; submarine USS Dorado; d. 12 Oct ’43 off Panama, Caribbean Sea, sunk by friendly fire.