The Convoy: HG-76: Taking the Fight to Hitler's U-boats [9781472857682]

Overview

A fresh approach to the Battle of the Atlantic, told through the spectacular story of HG-76, a major turning point in the naval war.

When HG-76 sailed from Gibraltar to Britain in December 1941, it was specially targeted by the Germans. A wolfpack of U-boats was sent against it, the Luftwaffe was heavily committed too, and German intelligence agents in Gibraltar and Spain knew every detail of the convoy before it had even sailed. The odds were seemingly stacked in favour of the Kriegsmarine.

This time, though, HG-76 would be accompanied by HMS Audacity, the Royal Navy's first escort carrier – built to defend convoys from enemy aircraft and U-boats.

Expert naval historian Angus Konstam examines the battle through the lens of this mission. Improved radar and sonar gave the convoy's escorts a slight edge over their opponents, while the escort group was led by Commander Walker, an anti-submarine expert who had developed new, aggressive U-boat hunting tactics. Seven days and nights of relentless attack are told through horrifying first-hand accounts, until HG-76 finally reached the safety of a British port - the first real convoy victory of the war.

Brought to life through the eyes of the participants, The Convoy combines the story of the technical and tactical developments that won the Battle of the Atlantic for the Allies with the terror and stubborn determination of those that served on convoy duties.