German Submarine Warfare 1914-1918 in the Eyes - British Naval ...

Mishaps
Attacks were not as relentless as they seemed. The exceptions were often in
Britain’s favour. Britain succeeded through diplomatic channels in persuading the
neutrals to continue their merchant trade.
Ships of the Belgian Relief Commission were spared because they supported
populations with food in the German-occupied areas of Belgium and France,
relieving Germany of the burden. Special agreements between Germany and
European neutrals allowed a certain amount of commerce with Britain in exchange
for trade with Germany outside the declared war zone. Passenger liners, unarmed
allied vessels in the Mediterranean and a few neutrals like Spain were treated in
accordance with diplomatic arrangements. 72
The only important neutral power with which German had no agreements,
and whose ships were sunk recklessly, was the United States. When America and
other neutrals declared war, over two million tons of interned German ships were
seized. This bounty was a welcome reinforcement for the Allied merchant fleet and
helped to mitigate the effects of the first months of Germany’s merchant war.
Turnaround in Autumn 1917
Just as Bethmann-Hollweg had feared, American personnel and epic industrial
capabilities overcame any advantage gained by unrestricted submarine warfare. The
convoy system also vastly improved merchant ship safety. When war came,
America did not have a serious army but organizational capability and an enormous
and enthusiastic, fresh manpower pool quickly overcame any deficiencies. America
also had the world’s third largest navy. On May 3, 1917 the first six destroyers
arrived at Queenstown to reinforce the British Navy. Seventy other destroyers
followed. By the end of the war, nearly four hundred American war ships from
dreadnoughts to armed yachts and 70,000 men from the U.S. Navy served in
Europe. 73
The convoy system (imposed on a reluctant Admiralty by Prime Minister
Lloyd George) proved to be an immediate success. The monthly rate of sinking of
all ships fell from over ten percent to under one percent. A German submarine
commander agreed that convoys were effective. He said, “. . . the present system of
convoy does not favour submarines; the old order of patrols allowed [submarines]
greater freedom of action as they could easily avoid the patrol craft by diving, and
the submarine commander then felt there was nothing more to fear for a while.
Now, every target met with has an attendant defender.“ 74
Atlantic shipping was organised in convoys by the end of 1917, coastal
shipping around the British Isles and in the Mediterranean quickly followed suit in
the New Year.
72 Schröder, Uboote des Kaisers, p. 345-355.
73 Still, Crisis, pp. 63, 393.
74 NA, ADM 137/3060, Kptlt. Launburg, May, 1918. Printed in chapter UB-52.
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