Wolfpacks and Their Impact on World War II

Wolfpacks were a crucial part of the German Navy's strategy during World War II.

These groups of U-boats worked together to attack Allied convoys, sinking thousands of ships and disrupting supply lines.

A wolfpack typically consisted of 5-10 U-boats, each with a specific role to play in the attack.

Their coordinated efforts allowed them to overwhelm and sink convoys that would have otherwise been protected by individual U-boats.

The most notable example of a wolfpack's impact is the Battle of the Atlantic, where German U-boats sank over 3,000 Allied ships between 1939 and 1945.

The wolfpack's success was largely due to their ability to communicate and coordinate their attacks, often using radio signals to stay in touch with each other.

This level of coordination and teamwork allowed the wolfpacks to be highly effective, and their tactics were studied by the Allies as a way to improve their own naval strategies.

World War II saw the use of wolfpacks by both the Allies and Axis powers. The American Navy used individual patrol and pack tactics in the Pacific, with the Central Pacific command favoring the pack tactic.

The USN's pack tactic, called coordinated attack groups, was devised by "Swede" Momsen and consisted of three boats that patrolled in close company and were organized before leaving port under the command of the senior captain. The first American wolfpack, led by Momsen, was composed of Cero, Shad, and Grayback and operated from Midway on 1 October 1943.

The USN's wolfpacks developed group tactics for attacking Japanese convoys and were named after their group commanders, such as "Ben's Busters" and "Blakely's Behemoths".

The German U-boat Arm was initially confident in their tactics after the pre-war trials, but this complacency led to a series of failures in 1939 and 1940.

Their first attempt at a wolfpack tactic in October 1939 was a failure, with three U-boats lost in the operation. Hartmann's wolfpack was unable to exercise tactical control from his boat at sea, and the convoy attack was unsuccessful.

The German U-boat commander Karl Dönitz used the term Rudeltaktik to describe his strategy of submarine warfare, which translates to "tactics" of a "pack" of animals.

The first recognized wolfpack was led by KrvKpt Günther Prien in June 1940, marking a shift in German U-boat tactics.

In World War I, the German U-boat Arm learned a valuable lesson about the importance of coordinating attacks, but their early attempts at wolfpack tactics were disastrous, resulting in the loss of two U-boats and the capture of their commander, Karl Dönitz.

Additional reading: German Wolfpacks

American submarines played a significant role in World War II, particularly in the Pacific. The US Navy used two main tactics: individual patrol and pack tactics.

In the South West Pacific, the individual patrol was favored, while in the Central Pacific, the pack tactic was used. The pack tactic involved three submarines patrolling in close company and organizing before leaving port under the command of the senior captain.

American wolfpacks, also known as coordinated attack groups, were formed to make command at sea work. These groups developed group tactics for attacking Japanese convoys.

"Swede" Momsen devised the tactics and led the first American wolfpack, composed of Cero, Shad, and Grayback, from Midway on 1 October 1943. This marked the beginning of American wolfpacks in the Pacific.

The US Navy was able to make command at sea work by forming stable groups of three submarines. These groups were able to develop group tactics for attack on Japanese convoys.

German submarines also employed the pack tactic, which Karl Dönitz called Rudeltaktik. This strategy involved a "pack" of submarines working together to attack enemy ships.

American wolfpacks were officially called coordinated attack groups, but were also known as wolfpacks.

The invasion of Norway and Denmark was a pivotal moment in World War II, and it all began with a secret codeword. On 6 April 1940, the German military transmitted the codeword "Hartmut", signaling the start of their submarine operations in the region.

German submarines, numbering 31, were ready to launch their attacks between England and Norway. These U-boats were strategically positioned to launch a surprise attack on the Scandinavian countries.

The German military was well-prepared for the invasion, with a clear plan in place. In early April 1940, 31 U-boats were ready for operations, indicating a high level of military preparedness and coordination.

The term "wolfpack" originated from German submarines, where Karl Dönitz used the term Rudeltaktik to describe his strategy of submarine warfare. This strategy involved coordinating attacks with other submarines, much like a pack of wolves.

The German concept of a wolfpack was later adopted by American submarines, who officially called them coordinated attack groups. These groups usually consisted of three boats that patrolled in close company.

German submarines played a significant role in World War II, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean. Karl Dönitz, a German admiral, developed a strategy of submarine warfare that became known as Rudeltaktik, or "tactics of a pack" of animals. This strategy involved coordinating multiple submarines to attack enemy ships, much like a pack of wolves.

The term Rudeltaktik translates to "wolfpack" in English, a more accurate metaphorical translation. The use of submarines in packs allowed the Germans to overwhelm their enemies with sheer numbers and coordination.

The Cold War marked a significant shift in the use of wolfpacks. They fell out of use as modern submarines became more advanced.

During the Cold War, the United States Navy deployed its attack submarines on individual patrols, with the exception of one or two attack submarines in each carrier group. This was a departure from the large group tactics used in World War II.

American ballistic missile submarines have always operated alone.