Atlantic
1939–1945: The Battle of the Atlantic
September 1939 – May 1945 · 3 battles
Britain lived by the sea: food, oil and raw materials reached it by ship across the Atlantic. From the first day of the war Germany tried to cut these routes with submarines, surface raiders, mines and aircraft, and the British, later joined by the Americans and Canadians, answered with convoys, escorts and ever better detection technology. It was the longest campaign of the Second World War, lasting from the sinking of the Athenia in September 1939 to Germany’s surrender in May 1945.
- 3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945Key battleBattle of the AtlanticThe longest campaign of the Second World War. For almost six years U-boats tried to cut Britain's sea lanes, while the Allies defended them with convoys.
- 13–17 December 1939Key battleBattle of the River PlateOn 13 December 1939 Commodore Harwood’s three British cruisers drove the Admiral Graf Spee into Montevideo. On 17 December the Germans scuttled the ship.
- 18–27 May 1941Key battleOperation RheinübungFrom 18 to 27 May 1941 Bismarck and Prinz Eugen tried to break out into the Atlantic. Bismarck sank Hood but went down herself after a three-day chase.