In October 1939 U-47 approached Scapa Flow in silence, as its crew prepared to attack. Their target were British warships at port in the deepwater natural harbour. The U Boat’s tubes were filled with water, and three torpedoes were fired, heading for HMS Royal Oak. This mission, so early in the war, was a huge success for the Kriegsmarine and was commented on by Winston Churchill in the House of Commons. So began the U-Boat war that would strike fear into both Churchill and the Allied High Command.

Joining today is Roger Moorhouse, great friend of the show and the author of Wolfpack: Hitler’s U Boat War as we discuss the death rate the submariners faced, the threats from above and what life was like underwater.

Coming up on 1st November I’ll be hosting a live recording at the Imperial War Museum’s Live Podcast show

Links

Wolfpack: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War

IWM Live

Roger on X

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