World War II: Hell under the Sea (S3)

In the early parts of World War 2 German U-boats were a dangerous threat that was feared by all British merchant ships. It is estimated that in through the course of the war the U-boats sank almost 3,000 Allied ships, 94% of which were merchantmen. The Japanese Navy had the most diverse and some of the fastest submarines in the war. The U.S. submarines were incredibly effective against the Japanese ships, destroying over 30% of their navy and over 60% of their merchant ships, despite the underwater teams only forming 2% of the total U.S. Naval force.

The battles that raged in and on the ocean cost all sides greatly, both in monetary and military terms. Winning these high-stakes fights became vital to overall victory. In this series, we meet some of the greatest minds behind the tactics and technologies of ocean warfare, from the early successes of the dreaded German wolf packs to the tide turning when the Allies launched their anti-submarine counter-offensives.

Tuesdays at 9 PM on National Geographic (ch 220, from 14 July)