Britain is a highly developed industrial nation, with a vast array of vessels transporting industrial raw materials from around the globe to its shores, and subsequently dispatching a multitude of manufactured goods worldwide. This incessant trade renders the Atlantic shipping lanes exceedingly busy.
For these British merchant vessels, the sudden outbreak of war caught them completely off guard. They could scarcely have anticipated the appearance of German naval warships in the Atlantic.
On just August 4th alone, Britain suffered the loss of twenty-seven merchant ships of various sizes, totaling three hundred thousand tons. All these vessels, without exception, were sent to the depths of the Atlantic. Although the German navy released the sailors from the sinking ships, the vast distance from the British mainland—hundreds of kilometers away—coupled with adverse sea conditions rendered the chances of these sailors returning home safely exceedingly slim. Unless they were fortunate enough to be rescued by passing merchant vessels or naval ships, their survival would be all but impossible.
While this was undeniably cruel for these innocent sailors, such is the nature of war. Even civilians are not spared from its wrath; the likelihood of being caught in the crossfire is ever-present. In times of conflict, life becomes the most fragile and least valuable commodity, with lives extinguishing every moment.
In Germany, at the naval headquarters, Grand Admiral Tirpitz awaited news from the raiding fleet. These were six battlecruisers of the German navy! Including the under-construction Mackensen-class battlecruisers, they constituted half of Germany's battlecruiser fleet. Should any misfortune befall these vessels, the German navy would suffer a grave blow.
Of course, Admiral Tirpitz was well aware that the two battlecruiser divisions would not easily encounter trouble. Even if they were to face the main force of the British navy and find themselves outmatched, their superior speed would allow for a graceful retreat. Even if the British battlecruisers were to pursue, they would be at a distinct disadvantage, both in defense and firepower. In such circumstances, a British pursuit would amount to a death sentence.
"Admiral, we have received news from the raiding fleet," an excited staff officer reported.
"What are the results?" Tirpitz inquired.
"Your Excellency, the outcome is glorious! Today, they have sunk twenty-seven British merchant ships," the officer announced.
"Twenty-seven? Hmm, not bad at all. Send them a telegram, urging them to continue their efforts and sink as many British merchant vessels as possible," Grand Admiral Tirpitz replied, beaming with satisfaction.
While the loss of twenty-seven ships and three hundred thousand tons is relatively insignificant compared to the total number of British merchant vessels, it is undeniably a promising start. As long as the German raiding fleet remains active, the number of British merchant ships sunk will only increase, potentially delivering a blow to Britain from which it cannot recover.
After all, constructing a single merchant ship requires months, if not longer. Sinking one, on the other hand, takes merely a torpedo or a few shells—or even just opening the sea valve. The pace of destruction far outstrips that of construction. Even with Britain's formidable shipbuilding capabilities, they could not possibly compensate for such losses.
This scenario resembles a noose tightening around the neck of the British; the more it constricts, the closer they come to their demise.
"By the way, where is our wolf pack? When will they reach the Atlantic?" Grand Admiral Tirpitz asked.
In addition to the raiding fleet, the German navy had dispatched thirty submarines to the Atlantic. The ocean's vastness made complete blockade impossible with just two battlecruiser divisions. However, until the British Royal Navy was decisively defeated, the remaining German capital ships could not be deployed, leaving only submarines to take action.
Fortunately, Germany had constructed a substantial number of submarines and had consistently trained them in raiding tactics. The time had come to put their skills to use.
"Admiral, the wolf pack is still en route to the Atlantic. At their current speed, they are expected to enter the Atlantic tonight or tomorrow morning and begin their hunt," the officer responded.
Grand Admiral Tirpitz nodded, "Let us hope the wolf pack brings us more favorable news!"
On the night of August 4th, in the North Sea, a submarine navigated westward under the cover of darkness. The submarines of this era, to be precise, were vessels capable of submerging, yet they were not like modern submarines that could operate submerged for extended periods. Most of the time, these submarines traveled on the surface, only diving in emergencies to evade enemy vessel attacks.
The submarine's hatch opened, and a young officer emerged, shaking the seawater from his hat and taking a deep breath.
Conditions aboard these submarines were far from pleasant; prolonged confinement led to an oppressive atmosphere.
"How much longer until we reach the Atlantic?" the officer inquired.
"Sir, at this speed, we should be able to enter the Atlantic in about three hours. However, this is contingent upon avoiding any encounters with British vessels. If they spot us, we could be in serious trouble," the navigator reported.
This submarine, designated U-039, was commanded by a young officer named Donitz. Currently, he held the rank of lieutenant, having been promoted due to his outstanding performance during submarine tactical training.
"Maintain course and speed; may God protect us!" Donitz declared, turning to re-enter the submarine.
Alongside U-039, there were twenty-nine other submarines. All thirty submarines comprised the elite of the German navy's submarine force. They were divided into five small groups, each infiltrating the Atlantic via different routes to execute raiding operations.
In comparison to the concurrently departing battlecruiser division, the submarines were significantly slower, leaving them lagging behind. While the battlecruiser division was already engaged in combat, the submarines were still en route.
After three hours of navigation, U-039 finally breached the British navy's blockade and entered the vast expanse of the Atlantic. Although British naval vessels still patrolled the waters, the sheer breadth of the Atlantic made it far more difficult for them to detect German submarines than in the confined, bathtub-like North Sea.
Once these wolves entered the Atlantic, the magnitude of the losses they would inflict upon the British was all too predictable.