First Battle of the Atlantic

The First Battle of the Atlantic (1914–1918) was a naval campaign of World War I, largely fought in the seas around the British Isles and in the Atlantic Ocean. Both the German Empire and United Kingdom relied heavily on imports to feed their population and supply their war industry; thus both aimed to blockade each other. The British had the Royal Navy which was superior in numbers and could operate within the British Empire. The German Navy could not destroy the British Navy, as seen at the Battle of Jutland.

The German fleet mainly used unrestricted submarine warfare. Neutral countries disliked the blockades and the sinking of RMS Lusitania especially angered the United States. The successful blockade of Germany contributed to its military defeat in 1918, and still in effect, enforced also the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in mid-1919.


 The Battle in Numbers 
 Allied and Neutral Tonnage sunk by submarines in World War I 

Month19141915191619171918 January          47,981  81,259  368,521  306,658  February         59,921  117,547  540,006  318,957  March            80,775  167,097  593,841  342,597  April            55,725  191,667  881,027  278,719  May              120,058  129,175  596,629  295,520  June             131,428  108,855  687,507  255,587  July             109,640  118,215  557,988  260,967 August  62,767  185,866  162,744  511,730  283,815 September  98,378  151,884  230,460  351,748  187,881 October  87,917  88,534  353,660  458,558  118,559  November  19,413  153,043  311,508  289,212  17,682 December  44,197  123,141  355,139  399,212   Total  312,672  1,307,996  2,327,326  6,235,878  2,666,942

Grand Total 12,850,814 gross tons

Note that unrestricted submarine warfare was resumed in February 1917 and the British began full-scale convoying in September 1917. The heaviest losses were suffered in April 1917 when a record 881,027 tons were sunk by the U-boats.

Source: Fayle, C. Ernest, Seaborn Trade, Vol. 3, p. 465, Table I[a]; London: John Murray, 1924.

 German Submarine Force 1914-1918 

19141915191619171918 On hand  24    29  54  133  142 Gains  10    52  108  87  70 Battle losses   5   19  22  63  69 Other losses       8  7  15 9 Years end   29      54  133  142  134

Total operational boats: 351
Total sunk in combat (50%): 178
Other losses (11%): 39
Completed after Armistice: 45
Surrendered to Allied: 179

 Other websites 

 World's Navies in World War 1, Campaigns, Battles, Warship losses

Category:Battles of World War I
Category:1910s in Europe