User:Kshort44/Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I

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Initially the U-boat campaign was directed against the warships of the British [[Grand Fleet]], which were, along with other Entente powers, enforcing the [[Blockade of Germany (1914–1919)|Naval Blockade of Germany]]. When the blockade extended to merchant ships and foodstuffs, U-boat fleet action was likewise extended to include action against the trade routes of the Allied powers. To counter the German submarines, the Allies moved shipping into convoys guarded by destroyers, blockades such as the [[Dover Barrage]] and minefields such as the [[North Sea Mine Barrage]] were laid, indicator loops were strung across lengths of the North Sea, and aircraft patrols monitored the U-boat bases.

Initially the U-boat campaign was directed against the warships of the British [[Grand Fleet]], which were, along with other Entente powers, enforcing the [[Blockade of Germany (1914–1919)|Naval Blockade of Germany]]. When the blockade extended to merchant ships and foodstuffs, U-boat fleet action was likewise extended to include action against the trade routes of the Allied powers. To counter the German submarines, the Allies moved shipping into convoys guarded by destroyers, blockades such as the [[Dover Barrage]] and minefields such as the [[North Sea Mine Barrage]] were laid, indicator loops were strung across lengths of the North Sea, and aircraft patrols monitored the U-boat bases. Increased ship construction meant the amount of Allied shipping available remained fairly stable.{{sfn|Klovland|2017|p=}}

=== Article body ===

=== Article body ===

as an addition to "War on Commerce" I will add the following short paragraph.

as an addition to "War on Commerce" I will add the following short paragraph--

In February of 1915, Admiral [[Hugo von Pohl]], commander of the German High Seas Fleet and [[German Imperial Admiralty Staff|Head of the Admiralty Staff]] until 1 Feb, escalated the conflict by declaring the waters around Britain and Ireland to be a [[U-boat campaign|"war zone".]] This declaration included merchant ships and neutral vessels among the new list of valid targets, heightening the anxieties of merchants and travelers. In March of 1915, a Maritime Order in Council declared that the British would seize any ships headed to, coming from, or with ownership in Germany, extending previous permissions to seize ships carrying contraband.

-After the section on "Unrestricted Submarine Warfare," I will add text about indicator loops, as this technological innovation was reliant on British desires to end unrestricted sub warfare.

-After the section on "Unrestricted Submarine Warfare," I will add text about indicator loops, as this technological innovation was reliant on British desires to end unrestricted sub warfare.

ORIGINAL

There were no means to detect submerged U-boats, and attacks on them were limited to efforts to damage their periscopes with hammers and dropping [[guncotton]] bombs. Use of nets to ensnare U-boats was also examined, as was a destroyer, {{HMS|Starfish||2}}, fitted with a [[spar torpedo]].{{sfn|McKee|1993|pp=46–47}} U-boats did not cause substantial damage, as merchant traffic was not intimidated into ceasing as the planners had anticipated. Sixteen U-boats were destroyed during this phase of the campaign, while they sank 370 ships of 750,000 GRT. Britain had around 20 million GRT in shipping at the start of the war and production managed to more than keep pace with losses.{{sfn|Klovland|2017|p=8}}

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=== References ===

=== References ===