Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic  - U-Boats and Convoys

The struggle between German U-Boats (submarines) and Allied convoys was the core of the battle of the Atlantic. U-Boats sought to destroy Allied merchant vessels and warships, while Allied convoys sought to transport food, supplies, weapons, and personnel across the Atlantic.

U-889's Forward Torpedo Compartment

This interior view of the forward torpedo compartment of the German U-Boat U-889 shows four torpedo tubes (centre) that were part of the submarine's primary armament.

Torpedoes posed the major threat to Allied vessels, although earlier in the war U-Boats also used deck guns against unescorted merchant ships. Two long rails (upper left and right) helped reload the torpedo tubes with the extra torpedoes stored in this compartment. Up to 25 crew members worked, slept and ate around the torpedoes and other equipment in this compartment.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20010066-041_6