Today, we commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign of the Second World War, from 1939 through to the defeat of Germany in 1945.
The Battle was crucial to an Allied victory as supply routes in the Atlantic Ocean were vital in allowing the Allies to accelerate the build-up of air forces, the transport of troops, food, medicine and equipment for the invasion of continental Europe in 1944.
By early 1943, the Battle had reached its peak with the Allies successfully destroying almost 100 German U-boats in the first five months of the year. This had a significant impact on Germany's capacity to threaten Allied shipping. Despite German U-boats resurfacing in the Atlantic, they never regained the same level of threat, and the Allies were able to secure the supply routes across the Atlantic.
Over 5,000 Australians were involved in the campaign, serving in the Royal Australian Navy, the Merchant Marine, the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
Lest we forget.
#LestWeForget #MilitaryHistory #Veterans
📷: Group portrait of aircrew of 461 Squadron RAAF, with a Sunderland aircraft outside the slipway hangar. AWM P01520.004
MBA Griffith University / Architect / Builder - Project Management / Product Design
4dAustralia needs 5 or so more Canberra Class mini Carriers with the deck that can take a F35B !