Hell Below (2016–2018): Season 2, Episode 4 - Defying Rommel - full transcript

THROUGH THE SPRING
AND SUMMER OF 1941...

UP PERISCOPE!

...BRITISH SUBMARINES
FIGHT TIRELESSLY

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

THEY MUST STOP SUPPLIES
AND REINFORCEMENTS

FROM REACHING ERWIN ROMMEL
IN NORTH AFRICA.

IF HE CAPTURES THE SUEZ CANAL,

IT WOULD BE A DISASTER
FOR THE ALLIES.

BRITAIN WILL BE CUT OFF
ITS VITAL SUPPLIES

FROM THE CROWN COLONY OF INDIA

AND FROM THE OIL RESERVES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.



BRITISH SUBMARINES
MUST HOLD THE LINE.

STAND BY ALL TUBES.

THE STAKES
COULDN'T BE HIGHER.

FIRE.

IN WORLD WAR II,
A SUBSEA WEAPON

ALLOWS WARRIORS TO FIGHT
FROM BENEATH THE WAVES.

WITH CUNNING, FORCE
AND TENACITY,

THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.

REVOLUTIONARY BUT STILL
SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,

IT'S A DESPERATE BID
TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.

THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.

MAY 24, 1941.

11 MILES OFF THE COAST
OF SOUTHERN ITALY.

CREW OF BRITISH SUBMARINE
HMS UPHOLDER



SPOTS AN INDISTINCT SHAPE.

THE DARKENING NIGHT
AND STORMY SEAS

MAKE PERISCOPE OBSERVATION
DIFFICULT.

CAPTAIN.

THE SUBMARINE'S CAPTAIN,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
MALCOLM WANKLYN,

TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

WANKLYN JOINED THE ROYAL NAVY
AS A TEENAGER

AND BEGAN TO SERVE
ABOARD SUBMARINES IN 1933.

WANKLYN
IS GENERALLY REGARDED

AS THE GREATEST SUBMARINE ACE
IN THE ROYAL NAVY'S HISTORY.

HE'S A VERY ABLE OFFICER.

HE'S VERY THOUGHTFUL.

AND HE CERTAINLY HAD
THE TRUST OF HIS CREW

AND THE TRUST OF HIS SUPERIORS.

AND EVEN WHEN HE'S NOT DOING
AS WELL AS HE MIGHT HOPE,

NONETHELESS HE'S KEPT THERE,
AND EVENTUALLY HE COMES GOOD.

THIS MIGHT JUST BE HIS CHANCE.

THE DARK SHAPE IS A LARGE CONVOY
OF ITALIAN SHIPS,

MAKING THEIR WAY
TO NORTH AFRICA.

AT LEAST FOUR DESTROYERS
PROTECT FOUR TROOP LINERS.

RANGE 2,200 YARDS!

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT;

AFTER TEN DAYS ON PATROL,

UPHOLDER HAS
ONLY TWO TORPEDOES LEFT.

EVEN WORSE, THE SUBMARINE HAS
LOST USE OF IMPORTANT EQUIPMENT.

SALT WATER HAS DAMAGED
THEIR ASDIC, OR SONAR, SYSTEM.

ACTIVE SONAR IS A WAY TO LOCATE
OBJECTS UNDERWATER WITH PINGS.

PASSIVE SONAR MEANS
LISTENING FOR THE SOUNDS

MADE BY OTHER SHIPS.

BY USING ASDIC

YOU GET TO HEAR THE ENEMY
APPROACHING,

NOW, THAT'S GOOD
IN OFFENSIVE TERMS.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE ENEMY IS
AND CAN MOVE TOWARDS THEM.

IT'S ALSO GOOD
IN DEFENSIVE TERMS,

YOU KNOW WHEN THE ENEMY
IS COMING TOWARDS YOU.

ONCE YOU'VE LOST ASDIC, THEN
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE EYE CONTACT.

THIS REQUIRES FREQUENT
CHECKS WITH THE PERISCOPE,

WHICH MEANS THE SUBMARINE
ITSELF CAN ALSO BE SEEN.

WITH THE TORPEDO TUBES LOADED,
WANKLYN PREPARES FOR AN ATTACK.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

IT'S QUITE
A STRAIGHTFORWARD PLAN.

HE'S GOT TO PENETRATE
THE ESCORT.

GET CLOSE, GET IN AND HIT HARD
AND GET OUT AGAIN.

WANKLYN'S FAILURE HERE

COULD LEAD
TO THE ALLIES' COLLAPSE

IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THEATERS OF THE WAR:

THE NORTH AFRICAN FRONT.

THE WAR IN NORTH AFRICA BEGAN
AS AN ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

THE GERMANS ARE
DRAGGED IN BY ITALIAN DEFEAT

IN AUTUMN AND WINTER
1940 AND '41.

WITH THE SUCCESS OF
BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH FORCES,

CHURCHILL WAS SO CONFIDENT
HE COULD DEFEAT THE ITALIANS

THAT HE REDEPLOYED
BRITISH SOLDIERS TO GREECE.

HIS OVERCONFIDENCE
PROVES COSTLY.

AROUND THE SAME TIME
IN FEBRUARY,

HITLER DECIDES TO DEFEND
NAZI GERMANY'S AXIS ALLIANCE

WITH ITALY.

HE SENDS WHAT WOULD BECOME

THE INFAMOUS DEUTSCHES
AFRIKA KORPS TO THE REGION.

THE GERMAN OFFICER
ASSUMES COMMAND:

GENERALLEUTNANT ERWIN ROMMEL.

ROMMEL AND HIS CORPS
DRIVE RAPIDLY TO THE EAST,

SEIZING BRITISH-HELD TERRITORY

AND PUSHING ALLIED FORCES BACK

TOWARD THEIR BASES IN EGYPT.

IF ROMMEL TAKES EGYPT, THE NAZIS
WOULD CONTROL THE SUEZ CANAL.

IT WOULD BE A DISASTER
FOR THE ALLIES.

BRITAIN WILL BE CUT OFF
ITS VITAL SUPPLIES

FROM THE CROWN COLONY OF INDIA

AND FROM THE OIL RESERVES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

ON APRIL 10th,

ROMMEL ATTACKS THE KEY PORT CITY
OF TOBRUK,

ABOUT 90 MILES
FROM THE EGYPTIAN BORDER.

THE ITALIANS
AND THE GERMANS

HAVE GOT THE PROBLEM
IN NORTH AFRICA

THAT THEIR SUPPLIES GO
THROUGH TRIPOLIS,

WHICH IS HUNDREDS OF KILOMETERS
TO THE WEST.

SO TOBRUK WOULD BE VITAL

TO GET THE REINFORCEMENTS
AND THE SUPPLIES

QUICKER TO THE FRONTLINE.

ROMMEL TRIES TO TAKE TOBRUK

WHILE HOPING TO PRESS FARTHER
INTO BRITISH TERRITORY.

HE SENDS IN HIS TROOPS PIECEMEAL
AND IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

HE HAS TO LEAVE
A SIEGING FORCE BEHIND,

AND PARTS OF HIS FORCES ARE SENT
TO THE EGYPTIAN BORDER.

ROMMEL BELIEVES
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE THE CITY FALLS.

AND IF TOBRUK FALLS,
EGYPT WILL BE NEXT.

TO STALL THE AXIS OFFENSIVE,

THE ALLIES MUST CUT OFF SUPPLIES
AND REINFORCEMENTS.

THE ALLIES' BEST HOPE
IS NOW A TINY ISLAND

ALONG THE SHIPPING ROUTE BETWEEN
ITALY AND NORTH AFRICA: MALTA.

MALTA IS HOME
TO A BRITISH SUBMARINE BASE,

WHICH CONSISTS MAINLY
OF U-CLASS SUBMARINES.

THE TRADITION
IN BRITISH FLOTILLA CRAFT,

LIKE SUBMARINES,

IS TO HAVE ALL SUBMARINES
STARTING WITH THE SAME LETTER.

SO WE HAVE UNDAUNTED,
UNBEATEN, AND UPHOLDER.

THE SMALL SIZE AND
MANEUVERABILITY OF THE U-CLASS

PROVE MORE EFFECTIVE
THAN LARGE SUBMARINES

IN THE CONFINED WATERS
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

BRITISH SUBMARINES
NEED TO SINK

ITALIAN MERCHANT SHIPPING

CARRYING SUPPLIES, MEN AND
ARMAMENTS TO ROMMEL'S ARMIES.

BUT THE CREWS
IN MALTA PROVE VULNERABLE.

MALTA SUFFERS
HEAVY AIR ATTACKS.

ITS FIGHTER DEFENSES
ARE NOT VERY GOOD.

AND THEREFORE, GETTING SUPPLIES
TO MALTA, LIVING AT MALTA,

OPERATING SUBMARINES
OUT OF MALTA

OR ANY ASSET OUT OF MALTA
CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

THE BRITISH SUBMARINE
FORCE NEEDS TO SINK SHIPS

AND HELP TURN THE TIDE OF WAR.

UP PERISCOPE.

WANKLYN APPROACHES
THE DESTROYERS

WHICH PROTECT
THE TROOPSHIP CONVOY.

TARGET BEARING 2-8-5,
RANGE 2,200 YARDS.

UPHOLDER MANEUVERS
INTO POSITION.

THEY'RE JUST OUTSIDE THE ITALIAN
CONVOY'S SCREEN OF ESCORT SHIPS.

AS HE'S LINING UP
FOR AN ATTACK ON THE CONVOY,

LO AND BEHOLD,
400 YARDS AHEAD OF HIM

AN ITALIAN DESTROYER
IS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR HIM.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

WANKLYN'S IMMEDIATE REACTION

IS TO CRASH DIVE
AND GET DOWN TO 150 FEET.

BECAUSE WHAT HE THINKS
IS GOING TO HAPPEN

IS HE'S GOING TO BE
DEPTH-CHARGED.

BUT THE DESTROYER'S
ONLY ON A ROUTINE SWEEP...

AND UNAWARE
THAT AN ENEMY SUBMARINE

HAS PENETRATED THEIR CONVOY.

UP PERISCOPE.

NOW INSIDE THE ESCORT SCREEN,

UPHOLDER NEEDS TO ACT FAST.

WANKLYN SETS UP A CLEAR SHOT
ON A MASSIVE TROOPSHIP.

STAND BY TUBES ONE AND FOUR.

WITH HIS LAST TWO
TORPEDOES READY,

HE DOESN'T HESITATE.

FIRE ONE!

FIRE ONE!

FIRE FOUR!

FIRE FOUR!

WANKLYN'S LAST TWO TORPEDOES

HURTLE TOWARDS THE TARGET.

THEIR DISTINCTIVE TRAIL
IS SPOTTED ON THE SURFACE

BY A LOOKOUT
ON ONE OF THE SHIPS.

WHEN THE ESCORT
SIGHTS THE TORPEDOES,

THE FIRST THING HE MUST DO
IS FIRE A FLARE

TO ALERT THE COMMANDER
OF THE CONVOY.

THIS ENABLES
THE CONVOY COMMANDER

TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT'S TOO LATE
TO SAVE THE CONTE ROSSO.

BOTH TORPEDOES HIT
THE 17,800-TON TROOPSHIP.

SHE QUICKLY STARTS TO SINK

AND TAKES NEARLY HALF
OF THE 3,000 SOLDIERS AND CREW

DOWN WITH HER.

THE DESTROYERS BEGIN
A SEARCH FOR THE SUBMARINE.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

THEY FOLLOW
THE TORPEDOES' TRACK

TO THE SUBMARINE'S POSITION.

THE CONVOY'S ESCORTS
NOW CLOSE IN ON HMS UPHOLDER

AND PREPARE A COUNTER ATTACK.

MAY 1941.

BRITISH SUBMARINE HMS UPHOLDER

HAS JUST SUNK THE ITALIAN
TROOPSHIP CONTE ROSSO.

THE SUB'S CAPTAIN,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
MALCOLM WANKLYN,

FIRED HIS LAST TWO TORPEDOES
INTO THE LINER.

THEIR TRAIL IN THE WATER

LEADS THE DESTROYERS
PROTECTING THE CONVOY

DIRECTLY TO THEIR POSITION.

THE DESTROYERS TAKE
IMMEDIATE ACTION

TO FIND AND SINK UPHOLDER.

WITH NO REMAINING TORPEDOES,
UPHOLDER CANNOT DEFEND ITSELF.

ITS DAMAGED ASDIC, OR SONAR,

MEANS THE CREW HAS LOST
ITS ABILITY TO LISTEN

AND LOCATE THE ENEMY.

WANKLYN MUST RELY
ON HIS INSTINCT

TO OUTMANEUVER THE DESTROYERS
NOW HUNTING FOR HIM.

KEEP 150 FEET!

WANKLYN'S BEST CHANCE
IS TO ESCAPE.

BUT HE'S LIMITED
BY HIS SUBMARINE.

SUBMARINES OF THIS PERIOD
ARE VERY SLOW UNDERWATER.

AND THE U-CLASS WERE SLOW

EVEN BY CONTEMPORARY
SUBMARINE STANDARDS.

THIS IS WHY IT'S VERY USEFUL
IF YOU'RE BEING ATTACKED

TO KNOW WHERE THE ENEMY IS,
SO YOU CAN TAKE AVOIDING ACTION,

USING WHAT LIMITED MOBILITY
YOU'VE GOT.

THE SOUND OF
THE DESTROYERS' PROPELLERS

GETS LOUDER AND LOUDER...

UNTIL THEY'RE RIGHT OVERHEAD.

ALL UPHOLDER'S CREW CAN DO
IS WAIT FOR THE ATTACK.

DEPTH CHARGES BEGIN TO RAIN DOWN
AROUND THE SUBMARINE.

SITTING ON A SUBMARINE
UNDER ATTACK

IS PROBABLY
THE MOST TERRIFYING THING

YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL
EXCEPT SIT.

ATTACK FOLLOWS ATTACK...

STARBOARD 30.

WANKLYN CONTINUES TO
ORDER COURSE AND SPEED CHANGES.

KEEP 70 FEET.

BEING UNPREDICTABLE
MAKES IT HARDER

FOR THE DESTROYERS
TO TRACK THE SUBMARINE.

ANOTHER TURN.

VERY LITTLE SEPARATES THE CREW
FROM THE EXPLOSIONS OUTSIDE.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A TUBE,

WHICH IS NO BIGGER
THAN SAY A LONDON TUBE TRAIN,

AND THERE ARE EXPLOSIONS
GOING ON AROUND,

THE EXPLOSIONS HAVE THE EFFECT
OF INFLICTING DAMAGE

ON THE INSIDES OF THE SUBMARINE.

IT IS A VERY NERVE-RACKING
EXPERIENCE INDEED.

AS THE TENSION BUILDS,

ONE YOUNG SUBMARINER STARTS
TO LOSE CONTROL OF HIS FEAR.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE,
SADLY, NO FAULT OF THEIRS,

WHO CRACK UNDER THE STRAIN.

THE CREWMEMBER
IS DESPERATE TO ESCAPE

THE CONFINES OF THE SUBMARINE
AND THE NOISE.

HE TRIES TO CLIMB UP THE LADDER
TO GET AWAY.

THE DANGER IS NOT THAT HE CAN
OPEN THE HATCH;

THE WATER PRESSURE AT THIS DEPTH
IS ENORMOUS.

BUT HIS FEAR THREATENS
THE SUBMARINE AND ITS CREW.

IF SOMEONE CRACKS
IN THE SUBMARINE,

PARTICULARLY A SMALL SUBMARINE,

IT CAN GET VERY CONTAGIOUS.

IT CAN ACTUALLY SPREAD.

AND THEREFORE
IF SOMEBODY PANICS,

IT CAN HAVE VERY NEGATIVE
EFFECTS ON MORALE.

EVEN WORSE,
IT COULD UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE

IN THE CAPTAIN AND HIS ORDERS.

THE PANICKED SAILOR
IS REMOVED FROM HARM'S WAY.

HE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
PHYSICALLY SUBDUED.

AND IT WAS UP TO SIMPSON,

THE COMMANDER
OF THE SUBMARINE FORCE,

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

WANKLYN SEEMS
TO HAVE RECOMMENDED

HE BE TAKEN OFF SUBMARINES,

AND HE WAS TAKEN OFF SUBMARINES
AND RETURNED TO GENERAL SERVICE.

SLOW AHEAD BOTH.

WANKLYN CONTINUES
TO GIVE COURSE ALTERATIONS

TO ESCAPE THE ITALIAN DESTROYERS
OVERHEAD.

KEEP 100 FEET,
FULL AHEAD BOTH.

BUT ONE DEPTH CHARGE
COMES TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

THEN ANOTHER.

WHEN IT IS INCREDIBLY CLOSE,

IT CAN BE SHATTERING GLASS,
IT CAN BE SHATTERING GAUGES,

IT CAN BE ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

KEEP 150 FEET!

ONE MORE DEPTH CHARGE
EXPLODES...

BUT THEN... THE EXPLOSIONS STOP.

THE CREW LATER REPORTS
AN AWFUL CREAKING NOISE,

LIKE THE SCRAPING OF WIRE
ALONG THE HULL.

AS THEY FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY,

WANKLYN TAKES TIME
TO ASSURE HIS CREW.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE DOES

IS GIVE A RUNNING COMMENTARY

OF THE NOISES
THAT ARE GOING ON OUTSIDE.

SO HE'S GIVING THE CREW
CONFIDENCE.

IT IS THE FATE
OF THE CONTE ROSSO

THAT THEY CAN HEAR,

NOT A COMING FATE FOR THEM.

TWO HOURS LATER,

UPHOLDER FINALLY BREAKS
THE SURFACE.

THE DESTROYERS ARE GONE.

WANKLYN'S RISK PAYS OFF

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY SINK
THE CONTE ROSSO

AND THE TROOPS IT'S CARRYING,

BUT ALSO DELAY THE ARRIVAL
OF FURTHER REINFORCEMENTS

TO ROMMEL IN NORTH AFRICA.

THE CONTE ROSSO SINKING

IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT
FOR THE MALTA SUBMARINES.

IT'S THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT.

IT'S THE BIGGEST SHIP SUNK.

AND THE FACT THAT HE DOES IT
WITHOUT ALL HIS EQUIPMENT,

THE FACT THAT HE IS WILLING
TO TAKE SUCH RISKS,

MEANS THAT HE HAS BECOME
YOU MIGHT ALMOST SAY

THE BEST SYMBOL
OF THE MALTA SUBMARINE.

TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS ACHIEVEMENT,

WANKLYN IS LATER AWARDED
THE VICTORIA CROSS

FOR GALLANTRY IN THE PRESENCE
OF THE ENEMY.

IT'S THE HIGHEST AWARD POSSIBLE

FOR A MEMBER
OF THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES.

IN MAY 1941, OUT OF TORPEDOES
AND IN NEED OF REPAIRS,

BRITISH SUBMARINE HMS UPHOLDER
RETURNS TO MALTA.

BUT EVEN IN PORT, THERE IS
LITTLE REST FOR THE CREW.

SO CLOSE TO ITALY,

THE ISLAND IS AN EASY TARGET
FOR GERMAN BOMBERS.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS

THAT EVEN WHEN YOU
COME BACK TO BASE,

YOU'RE UNDER ATTACK.

YOU MIGHT IN FACT HAVE TO
SUBMERGE YOUR SUBMARINE

SO IT WILL NOT BE SUNK.

THEREFORE YOU COME BACK
TO HARBOR

AND YOU STAY IN THE SUBMARINE.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.

IN FACT, IT ONLY HAPPENS
IN MALTA.

SO THE STRESSES
ARE SO MUCH GREATER.

THERE'S NO SAFETY IN HARBOR.

IT'S AS DANGEROUS IN HARBOR
AS IT IS AT SEA.

MALTA REMAINS
UNIQUELY POSITIONED

TO PROTECT BRITISH INTERESTS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST
AND NORTH AFRICA.

MALTA IS AN ISLAND,

AND MALTA CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED
AS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

THEY CAN USE IT
FOR THEIR AIRCRAFT

TO SINK THE AXIS SHIPS
FROM THE AIR,

OR ALSO TO USE IT AS A SUBMARINE
OR AS NAVAL BASES.

MALTA IS VERY CLOSE
TO ITALY.

SO MUCH SO IN FACT

THAT IT'S THOUGHT
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR

THAT MALTA IS UNSUSTAINABLE.

SUPPLYING IT IS VERY DIFFICULT,
BOTH FROM WEST AND EAST.

LONG MARITIME SUPPLY LINES,

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SHIPS TO BE SUNK.

AND IN FACT, ONE REASON
THE GERMANS DON'T TAKE MALTA

IS BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED
ABOUT SUPPLYING IT THEMSELVES.

BUT DURING THE SUMMER OF 1941,

THE SITUATION CHANGES AS HITLER
INVADES THE SOVIET UNION.

THE FIRST AIR SIEGE,
SO CALLED, COMES TO AN END

IN THE SUMMER OF 1941

BECAUSE THE GERMAN AIRCRAFT
ARE CALLED AWAY

TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
IN RUSSIA.

AND THIS MEANS
THAT THE SECOND HALF OF 1941

IS RELATIVELY QUIET IN MALTA.

AND THIS ALLOWS
NOT JUST THE SUBMARINES

TO OPERATE MORE EASILY

BUT EVEN ALLOWS THE OPERATION
OF SURFACE FORCES.

THE MALTA-BASED ALLIES
SOON GAIN ANOTHER ADVANTAGE.

IN JUNE 1941,
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE

BREAKS THE ITALIAN NAVAL CODE.

NOW THE BRITISH KNOW WHEN
THE ITALIAN SHIPS WILL SAIL.

ROMMEL, THOUGH,
REMAINS DEFIANT.

IN SUMMER 1941,

ROMMEL HAS ALREADY BEATEN BACK
TWO BRITISH COUNTERATTACKS

TO RELIEVE THE SIEGE OF TOBRUK.

AND ROMMEL SHOWS
THAT HE IS QUITE CAPABLE.

AND THIS MEANS HE'S STILL
A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

THE BRITISH SUBMARINES

NEED TO PRESS HOME
THEIR ADVANTAGE

AND CUT OFF ROMMEL'S
SUPPLY LINES ONCE AND FOR ALL.

IN AUGUST 1941,
THE TENTH FLOTILLA

RECEIVES INTELLIGENCE THAT
AN IMPORTANT SHIPMENT OF TROOPS

IS ABOUT TO LEAVE MESSINA

FOR TRIPOLI.

HMS UPHOLDER
DEPARTS MALTA IN PURSUIT,

FOR HER 13th WAR PATROL
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

AFTER TWO DAYS,
WANKLYN SPOTS NINE SHIPS.

SIX DESTROYERS PROTECT
THREE ITALIAN TROOP TRANSPORTS:

NEPTUNIA, OCEANIA
AND MARCO POLO.

BUT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
UPHOLDER AND THE CONVOY

IS GREAT.

WANKLYN WOULD LIKE
TO CLOSE THE GAP-

BUT TROOPSHIPS HAVE
A TOP SPEED OF 19.5 KNOTS.

THE SUBMARINE CANNOT KEEP UP.

IT CAN ONLY DO ABOUT
12.5 KNOTS ON THE SURFACE,

WHICH ISN'T FAST BY SUBMARINE
STANDARDS, EVEN AT THAT TIME.

THE CONVOY REPEATEDLY
CHANGES COURSE

AND ZIGZAGS FARTHER AWAY.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

WITH HIS TORPEDOES
LOADED AND READY,

WANKLYN MAKES
THE QUICK DECISION TO FIRE.

THEY ESTIMATE THE SHIPS TO BE
6,000 TO 7,000 YARDS AWAY.

IT WILL BE A LONG SHOT,
BUT HE'S GOT NOTHING TO LOSE.

WANKLYN MUST FIRE

BEFORE THE CONVOY GETS
COMPLETELY OUT OF RANGE.

STAND BY ALL TUBES.

FIRE!

WANKLYN FIRES FOUR
TORPEDOES AT THE DISTANT CONVOY.

BUT NOT ONE FINDS ITS TARGET.

WHEN WANKLYN HAD FIRED
HIS FOUR TORPEDOES

AT THE CONVOY,
HE'S VERY MUCH EXPOSED.

THE SEA IS VERY CALM,
IT'S DAYLIGHT.

VERY QUICKLY THEN
THE ITALIAN ESCORTS

ARE ABLE TO FOCUS IN ON WHERE
THOSE TORPEDOES CAME FROM.

TWO ESCORTS GIVE CHASE;

UPHOLDER HAS GONE
FROM PREDATOR TO PREY.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

AUGUST 1941.

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN,

THE BRITISH SUBMARINE
HMS UPHOLDER

IS UNDER ATTACK
FROM ITALIAN CONVOY ESCORTS.

BUT THIS TIME,
WANKLYN HAS THE HELP

OF THE ROYAL NAVY'S VERSION
OF SONAR, CALLED ASDIC.

THE CREW CAN USE PASSIVE SONAR
TO LISTEN

TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION
OF THE ESCORTS,

THEN DODGE THE DEPTH CHARGES.

UPHOLDER ENDURES
25 DEPTH CHARGES FOR 14 MINUTES.

THREE UP, KEEP 70 FEET.

BUT WANKLYN
AVOIDS EVERY ONE.

AND IN THE CONFUSION,
UPHOLDER MANAGES TO ESCAPE.

UNHINDERED,
THE OTHER ENEMY SHIPS

CONTINUE THEIR SWIFT VOYAGE
TO NORTH AFRICA.

EARLY SEPTEMBER 1941.

FOR NEARLY FIVE MONTHS,
ALLIED TROOPS IN TOBRUK

HAVE CONTINUED TO HOLD OUT
AGAINST ROMMEL'S FORCES.

BUT WITH NEW AXIS
REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING,

ROMMEL PUSHES THE ALLIES
TO THE BREAKING POINT.

SO WHEN ROMMEL
WANTS TO TAKE TOBRUK BY STORM,

HE THROWS IN EVERYTHING HE HAS.

SO HE THROWS IN HIS TANKS,
HIS ASSAULT GUNS,

AND STUKAS DIVE BOMBERS.

SO FOR THE ALLIED SOLDIERS
IN TOBRUK IN 1941,

IT MUST HAVE BEEN
A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

HITLER ORDERS SIX
U-BOATS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

TO CUT OFF SUPPLIES
TO ALLIED FORCES.

THE BRITISH FEAR THEIR WAR IN
NORTH AFRICA WILL SOON BE OVER,

AND THEIR SUPPLY
OF MIDDLE EASTERN OIL

WILL BE LOST TO THE GERMANS.

THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
IS THE MALTA SUBMARINE FLEET.

SEPTEMBER 1941.

THE COMMANDER OF MALTA'S
SUBMARINE FLOTILLA,

CAPTAIN GEORGE SIMPSON,

GETS A HIGHLY CLASSIFIED
MESSAGE,

BASED ON ULTRA DECRYPTS.

A FAST CONVOY OF THREE OF
THE ENEMY'S LARGEST LINERS-

NEPTUNIA, OCEANIA,
AND VULCANIA-

ARE ONCE AGAIN ON THEIR WAY

FROM ITALY TO TRIPOLI.

SIMPSON HAS TO ACT NOW.

IT'S A FAST-MOVING CONVOY,
AND IF HE HESITATES,

THE SHIPS WILL GET PAST THEM.

HE COMES UP WITH A DARING PLAN.

THE SIMPSON PLAN
IS REMINISCENT

OF WHAT THE GERMANS DO
IN THE ATLANTIC,

AND IT'S TO FORM
A PATROL LINE OF BOATS

ABOUT A DOZEN MILES APART
TO WAIT FOR THE CONVOY.

AND THEN WHEN THE CONVOY
IS SIGHTED,

THE BOATS CAN CONCENTRATE
AGAINST IT.

BUT AT SUCH SHORT
NOTICE, HE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS.

WHEN CAPTAIN SIMPSON
CALLED THE MEETING,

ALL SUBMARINE CREWS ARE
BEGINNING TO FEEL THE STRESS.

AND AT THAT TIME,
ONE OF THE COMMANDERS THINKS

THAT SIMPSON'S PLAN IS NOT
AS EFFECTIVE AS IT SHOULD BE.

WANKLYN, ON THE OTHER HAND,
UNDERSTANDS THE POSITION,

AND HE MAKES SURE THAT HIS CREW
UNDERSTANDS THE POSITION.

THEY MAY BE BECOMING TIRED,

BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THEY
INTERCEPT THESE CONVOYS.

MEN, WE ARE OFF
ON A PATROL.

DESPITE THE DEMANDS
OF NEAR CONSTANT PATROLS,

WANKLYN AGREES TO MAKE THE RUN.

SIMPSON GETS THREE MORE CREWS,

AND SOON AFTER,
FOUR BRITISH SUBMARINES-

UPHOLDER, UPRIGHT, URSULA
AND UNBEATEN-

DEPART MALTA.

BY MIDNIGHT, SEPTEMBER 17th,

EACH OF THE SUBMARINES
HAVE MOVED INTO PLACE.

THE WEATHER DOESN'T HELP.

THE SEAS ARE WILD;

UPHOLDER LURCHES AND ROLLS
IN THE SWELLS.

HEY, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

EVEN WORSE,
THE SUBMARINE'S GYROCOMPASS

IS NOT WORKING.

THIS MEANS THEIR NAVIGATION
DEPENDS ON THE MAGNETIC COMPASS,

WHICH ORIENTS TO MAGNETIC,
NOT TRUE NORTH.

A GYROCOMPASS
IS ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN COMPASS

THAT DOESN'T HAVE SO MUCH IMPACT

IN TERMS OF THE METALLIC FIELD
AROUND IT.

SURROUNDED BY THE
STEEL OF THE SUBMARINE'S HULL,

THE MAGNETIC COMPASS
WILL BE MUCH LESS ACCURATE.

SO WANKLYN'S
IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

ONCE HE'S HAVING TO RELY
ON THAT UNDER WATER.

AND EVEN ON THE SURFACE
THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM, AS WELL.

THE HELMSMAN
WORKS HARD TO MAINTAIN COURSE

USING THE FLICKERING NEEDLE
OF THE MAGNETIC COMPASS.

AFTER THREE HOURS OF STRUGGLING
AGAINST THE ELEMENTS,

HMS UNBEATEN,

CAPTAINED BY LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER EDWARD WOODWARD,

SPOTS SHAPES
ABOUT EIGHT MILES AWAY.

WHEN ONE OF UPHOLDER'S
SISTERS, UNBEATEN,

SPOTS THE CONVOY, IT FOLLOWS IT,
AS FAST AS IT CAN,

WHICH ISN'T PERHAPS FAST ENOUGH.

EVEN IF CANNOT KEEP PACE,

UNBEATEN CAN WARN THE OTHERS-

THE CONVOY IS HEADED
RIGHT TOWARDS UPHOLDER.

BUT UPHOLDER'S
SUBSONIC TRANSMISSION-

ITS MEANS OF RAPID COMMUNICATION
WITH OTHER SUBMARINES-

ISN'T WORKING.

MESSAGES FROM UNBEATEN
ARE NOT GETTING THROUGH.

UPKEEP AND REPAIRS
ARE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE

AT THIS STAGE OF THE WAR.

SUBMARINES ARE
VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE ASSETS.

THEY NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THEY NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT
AND SPARE PARTS.

AND SOMETIMES
THE SPARE PART SITUATION

WAS SO DIRE IN MALTA

THAT BITS WILL BE TAKEN
OFF ONE SUBMARINE

TO BE PUT ON THE OTHER.

AND THEN THAT WILL BE REPLACED
BY ANOTHER SUBMARINE COMING IN,

UNTIL I THINK ON ONE OCCASION,

ONE SUBMARINE HAD TO GO TO SEA
NOT WORKING PROPERLY

BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN
AT THE END OF THE LINE.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT,
IT'S VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

UNBEATEN ALSO ROUTES
ITS MESSAGE THROUGH MALTA,

BUT THIS WILL TAKE LONGER.

MEANWHILE, UPHOLDER BATTLES TO
MAINTAIN POSITION IN HEAVY SEAS,

UNAWARE OF THE CONVOY
THAT BEARS DOWN ON THEM.

ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, UPHOLDER
RECEIVES THE MESSAGE FROM MALTA.

WANKLYN IMMEDIATELY JOINS HIS
FIRST LIEUTENANT ON THE BRIDGE.

THREE LARGE TROOP LINERS
AND SIX DESTROYERS

LOOM IN THE DARKNESS.

THE MESSAGE HAD ARRIVED
JUST IN TIME.

THEY STRAIN
THROUGH THE NIGHT GLASSES

TO ESTIMATE THE COURSE,
RANGE AND SPEED

OF THE PASSING TRANSPORTS.

THE SHIPS PRESS AT NEARLY TWICE
THE SPEED OF UPHOLDER.

WANKLYN IS UNDER
INCREDIBLE PRESSURE

TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING.

HE'S, AFTER ALL, COMMANDING
THE OVERALL OPERATION AT SEA.

ONCE HE HAS THE MESSAGE
THAT THE CONVOY IS THERE,

HE REALIZES HE HAS NO CHANCE
OF CATCHING UP WITH THE CONVOY.

HE'S UNDER PRESSURE TO CREATE
SOME KIND OF VICTORY.

WITH THE BRITISH HOLD
ON NORTH AFRICA IN THE BALANCE,

THIS TIME, WANKLYN
CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1941.

AN ENEMY ITALIAN CONVOY
STEAMS THROUGH ROUGH SEAS.

A STALKING BRITISH SUBMARINE,
HMS UPHOLDER,

IS AT A GRAVE DISADVANTAGE.

AS WITH UPHOLDER'S 13th PATROL,
THE SUB'S CAPTAIN,

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
MALCOLM WANKLYN,

MUST FIRE ON A CONVOY THAT'S
MOVING FAR TOO FAST FOR HIM

FROM OVER THREE MILES AWAY.

IN AN ODD TWIST OF FATE,

THE CONVOY EVEN HAS TWO OF
THE SAME ITALIAN TROOP LINERS,

NEPTUNIA AND OCEANIA.

SIX DESTROYERS PROTECT
THE CONVOY, WEAVING IN AND OUT.

ALTHOUGH WANKLYN'S
AT LONG DISTANCE,

HE'S IN A POSITION

WHICH THE LINES OF THE CONVOY
APPEAR TO OVERLAP.

THAT GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE A BIGGER TARGET

WITH THE SPREAD
OF THE TORPEDO.

BUT THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WITHOUT THE GYROCOMPASS,

THE SUBMARINE IS BEING NAVIGATED
BY THE HELMSMAN

USING MAGNETIC COMPASS,

AND WITH MOVEMENT OF THE SEA,

THE BOAT IS BEGINNING TO YAW
FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

WANKLYN MUST LINE UP HIS SHOT

WITHOUT THE HELP
OF BASIC INSTRUMENTS

AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
THE MOVEMENT OF HIS SHIP,

THE DISTANCE, AND THE SPEED
OF THE CONVOY.

COME ON, LET'S GO,
LET'S GO!

WITH TORPEDOES
LOADED AND READY,

HE TIMES HIS SHOTS CAREFULLY.

- FIRE ONE!
- FIRE ONE!

WANKLYN IS USING
THE YAW OF THE BOAT.

SO THE FIRST TORPEDO IS RELEASED

AT ONE EXTREME MOVEMENT
OF THE YAW,

ALLOWS THE BOAT TO SWING
TO THE NEXT AREA.

FIRES THE SECOND TORPEDO.

- FIRE THREE!
- FIRE THREE!

- FIRE FOUR!
- FIRE!

FIRES THE THIRD AND
FOURTH, AS THE BOAT YAWS BACK.

ONCE THE TORPEDOES
HAVE BEEN FIRED,

IT'S A LONG TIME FOR ANYBODY

WAITING FOR THOSE EXPLOSIONS
TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS PROBABLY
ONLY ABOUT FIVE MINUTES,

IT MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE HOURS.

BUT SUCCESS MEANS THEY
WILL STOP FURTHER REINFORCEMENTS

FROM REACHING ROMMEL
IN NORTH AFRICA.

AFTER A LONG WAIT,
THEY HEAR AN EXPLOSION...

AND THEN ANOTHER.

ONE OF WANKLYN'S TORPEDOES HITS
THE TROOP LINER NEPTUNIA,

AND IT QUICKLY BEGINS TO SINK.

CLEAR THE BRIDGE!

EXPECTING RETALIATION,

THE LOOKOUTS AND
FIRST LIEUTENANT SCRAMBLE DOWN.

WANKLYN PULLS
THE HATCH SHUT OVERHEAD

AS THE RUSH OF WATER COVERS
THE CONNING TOWER

AND THE SUBMARINE DIVES
TO CONCEAL THEIR POSITION.

BUT UPHOLDER HAS NOT FINISHED
WITH THE CONVOY.

THE CREW CONTINUES SOUTH

AND DESCENDS TO 60 FEET
TO RELOAD THE TORPEDO TUBES.

WANKLYN RETURNS TO THE LOCATION
OF HIS EARLIER SUCCESS.

UP PERISCOPE.

DAWN BREAKS,
AND ITS LIGHT REVEALS

THE AFTERMATH
OF UPHOLDER'S ATTACK.

ONE TROOPSHIP, VULCANIA, SAILS
AWAY ESCORTED BY A DESTROYER.

THE SECOND, NEPTUNIA, HAS
DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE WAVES.

THE THIRD, OCEANIA,
HAS STOPPED DEAD IN THE WATER.

TWO DESTROYERS HOVER CLOSE BY TO
RESCUE SURVIVORS FROM THE WATER.

SLOW AHEAD TOGETHER.

UPHOLDER SLIPS BACK
INSIDE THE DESTROYERS' SCREEN.

AS HE MOVES TO PERISCOPE,

READY TO MAKE THIS ATTACK,
SUDDENLY HE SEES IN FRONT OF HIM

A DESTROYER
MOVING FAST TOWARDS HIM.

DOWN PERISCOPE!

KEEP 45 FEET!

HE HAS TO DIVE
IMMEDIATELY

TO AVOID A COLLISION.

THE DESTROYER PASSES OVERHEAD.

THE CREW BRACES
FOR A DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK.

BUT THEY ARE LUCKY.

THE DESTROYER DOES NOT KNOW
THEY ARE THERE.

UP PERISCOPE.

BUT THEY'RE NOT SAFE YET.

IN THE CONFUSION,
WANKLYN NOW FINDS HIMSELF

ON A COLLISION COURSE
WITH HIS TARGET:

THE TROOPSHIP OCEANIA.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1941.

IN CLOSE QUARTERS WITH ENEMY
SHIPS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN...

DOWN PERISCOPE!
KEEP 45 FEET!

BRITISH SUBMARINE HMS UPHOLDER

TRIES TO MANEUVER INTO POSITION
FOR AN ATTACK.

BUT BY THAT POINT,

HE'S MOVED FAR TOO CLOSE
TO THE OCEANIA

FOR THE ATTACK TO BE EFFECTIVE.

AND THERE'S DANGER OF EVEN
COLLIDING WITH THE VESSEL.

SO HE IMMEDIATELY ORDERS ANOTHER
DIVE TO GO UNDER THE SHIP.

DOWN PERISCOPE,
KEEP 250 FEET!

WANKLYN MUST DIVE DEEP
ENOUGH TO SLIP UNDER OCEANIA

TO AVOID BEING RAMMED.

A COLLISION WITH A TROOPSHIP
WOULD SINK UPHOLDER.

IT WORKS.

UPHOLDER SLIDES
BENEATH THE TROOPSHIP.

2,000 YARDS PAST, WANKLYN
SWINGS THE SUBMARINE AROUND.

THEN HE PREPARES
TO FINISH OFF OCEANIA.

WANKLYN ORDERS UPHOLDER
TO PERISCOPE DEPTH.

THEY ARE IN A PERFECT POSITION

FOR A FINAL ATTACK
ON THE DAMAGED TROOPSHIP.

STAND BY
TUBES ONE AND TWO!

BUT UPHOLDER'S
SUBSONIC TRANSMITTER

REMAINS DAMAGED.

WITHOUT IT, THEY ARE UNABLE
TO COMMUNICATE

WITH THE OTHER
SUBMARINES NEARBY.

WANKLYN HAS NO IDEA WHERE
THE OTHER BRITISH SUBS ARE.

WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZED
IS THAT UNBEATEN,

WHICH HAD BEEN THE VESSEL

THAT HAD ORIGINALLY
SIGNALED THE CONVOY,

HAD BEEN FOLLOWING
IN THE CONVOY'S WAKE ALL NIGHT

AND ITSELF
WAS TAKING UP POSITION.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
EDWARD WOODWARD

ABOARD HMS UNBEATEN

READIES FOR HIS OWN ATTACK
ON OCEANIA.

STAND BY TUBES ONE AND TWO!

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS

OF ALLOWING SUBMARINERS
TO DO THEIR OWN THING,

EVEN IN GROUP TACTICS,

IS THAT YOU'RE LIABLE TO HAVE
WHAT THEY CALL A BLUE ON BLUE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY MIGHT
ATTACK EACH OTHER.

WOODWARD ALSO
DOES NOT KNOW THAT UPHOLDER

IS ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE TROOPSHIP.

IF EITHER SUBMARINE
MISSES THE TARGET,

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THEY WILL HIT THE OTHER.

AT SUCH CLOSE RANGE
IT WOULD SINK,

KILLING EVERYONE ON BOARD.

FIRE ONE.

FIRE TWO.

THE TORPEDOES RUSH IN
THE DIRECTION OF THE ENEMY SHIP

AND HMS UNBEATEN.

ON THE OTHER SIDE,
WOODWARD ALSO READIES HIS SHOT.

CHECK FIRING BEARING.

BUT HE IS NOT FAST ENOUGH.

BOTH OF WANKLYN'S TORPEDOES
CRASH INTO THE SIDE

OF THE 20,000-TON TROOPSHIP
OCEANIA.

IT MUST BE
THE ULTIMATE FRUSTRATION

FOR A SUBMARINE COMMANDER
TO LINE UP YOUR TARGET

AND ABOUT TO FIRE,

AND SUDDENLY YOUR TARGET
IS TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU

BY YOUR COLLEAGUE.

LUCK PLAYS A BIG PART
IN SUBMARINE WARFARE.

WANKLYN WAS NOT VERY LUCKY
TO START WITH,

BUT SUDDENLY THE GODS
BEGAN TO SMILE ON HIM,

AND THEY WERE VERY LUCKY INDEED.

IT ONLY TAKES EIGHT
MINUTES FOR OCEANIA TO SINK.

DOWN PERISCOPE.

WANKLYN'S PERFORMANCE
ON THIS OCCASION

WAS NOTHING SHORT
OF EXCEPTIONAL.

THE ABILITY AT THAT DISTANCE,
USING THE EYE FOR THE MOST PART,

USING THE BOAT AS A MEANS OF
CREATING THE SALVO IN THAT WAY,

WAS A STUNNING PIECE
OF SUBMARINE WORK.

HMS UPHOLDER
ENTERS MALTA HARBOR

ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1941.

PRIOR TO GOING OUT
ON THE SEPTEMBER PATROL,

THE CREW HAD BEEN
CALLED BACK FROM REST,

AND WANKLYN HAD MADE IT CLEAR
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT

THAT THEY WENT TO SEA AND THEY
CARRIED OUT THIS ATTACK.

WHEN THEY CAME BACK,
THEY DID GET A REST,

BUT IT WAS A SHORT REST.

AND BACK THEY WERE AT SEA

TO PATROL OFF SICILY
SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

AFTER 25 PATROLS,
HMS UPHOLDER

IS CONSIDERED A TONNAGE LEADER
OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

THEIR TALLY INCLUDES
119,000 TONS OF ENEMY SHIPPING,

INCLUDING THREE U-BOATS

AND THE LINER SHIPS
CONVEYING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES

TO THE BATTLEFRONT
IN NORTH AFRICA.

WANKLYN IS REGARDED

AS PERHAPS THE FINEST
SUBMARINE COMMANDER

IN THE LONG HISTORY

OF THE ROYAL NAVY
SUBMARINE SERVICE.

WHEN THE ROYAL NAVY
WENT BACK TO OPERATING

CONVENTIONALLY POWERED
SUBMARINES FOR A WHILE,

THE FIRST OF THE CLASS
WAS CALLED UPHOLDER.

ON NOVEMBER 18th,

THE BRITISH LAUNCH
OPERATION CRUSADER.

HUGELY SUCCESSFUL,
THEY THROW BACK THE AXIS FORCES.

ROMMEL AND HIS MEN RETREAT
500 MILES IN ONLY SIX WEEKS,

DENIED THE SUPPLIES
THEY NEED TO FIGHT.

YOU CAN ATTRIBUTE
THE PROBLEMS ROMMEL IS IN

IN AUTUMN 1941

TO THE SINGLE FACT THAT MALTA
IS STILL IN BRITISH HANDS.

THE BRITISH PUSH BACK
THE ITALIAN AND GERMAN FORCES

BACK OVER THE CYRENAICA,

AND ROMMEL FINDS HIMSELF

WHERE HE HAD STARTED THE WAR
A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER.

THE 240-DAY SIEGE
OF TOBRUK IS LIFTED,

AND THE EXHAUSTED DEFENDERS ARE
ABLE TO MARCH OUT IN TRIUMPH.

UPHOLDER'S STORY
WOULD END DIFFERENTLY.

WANKLYN AND UPHOLDER
DISAPPEAR ON APRIL 14, 1942.

WE STILL DON'T PRECISELY KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED.

AND IT'S RATHER TYPICAL OF
THE SUBMARINE SERVICE, ACTUALLY,

AND THE COVERTNESS
OF THE OPERATION

AND THE STEALTH
OF THE OPERATION

THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED CERTAINLY

TO ONE OF THE GREATEST
SUBMARINE OFFICERS IN HISTORY.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF THE BRITISH SUBMARINE FORCE

REMAIN OVERLOOKED.

THE SUBMARINE SERVICE
IN THE ROYAL NAVY

HAS NEVER REALLY RECEIVED
AS MUCH PUBLICITY

AS THE ANTI-SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN,
SAY, IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

OR THE U. S. SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN
IN THE PACIFIC.

WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT SUBMARINE WARFARE

IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR,

WE OFTEN CONNECT IT
TO THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC,

WITH THE GERMANS BEING
THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS

AND THE ALLIES BEING THE HUNTED.

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN,
IT WAS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

THE ALLIES WERE THE HUNTERS

AND THE GERMANS AND THE ITALIANS
WERE THE HUNTED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LOSSES

THE AXIS SUSTAINED
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN,

ALMOST HALF OF THEM ARE
ATTRIBUTED TO SUBMARINE WARFARE,

THE REST TO SHIPS
AND TO AIRCRAFT.

BUT THE SUBMARINES ARE THE
GREATEST DANGER FOR AXIS CONVOYS

OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN,
FROM ITALY TO NORTH AFRICA.

IT IS A CRITICAL WIN
FOR THE ALLIES.

THE LOSS OF NORTH AFRICA

BEFORE THE END OF 1941

COULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
DISASTROUS FOR BRITAIN,

BOTH IN TERMS OF THE MANPOWER
AND RAW MATERIALS.

SECURING THE SUEZ CANAL,

SHIPMENTS FROM THE COLONY
OF INDIA

AND CRITICAL OIL SUPPLIES
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

ENSURED BRITAIN WOULD SURVIVE
AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT.