The Western Approaches is an approximately rectangular area of the Atlantic Ocean lying immediately to the west of Ireland and parts of Great Britain. Its north and south boundaries are defined by the corresponding extremities of Britain. The coast of the mainland forms the eastern side and the western boundary is the 30 degree meridian, which passes through Iceland. The area is particularly important to the United Kingdom, because many of its larger shipping ports lie within it.[1]
The term is most commonly used when discussing naval warfare, notably during the Napoleonic Wars, the First World War and the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War in which Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine attempted to blockade the United Kingdom using submarines (U-boats) operating in this area. Since almost all shipping to and from the United Kingdom passed through this area, it was an excellent hunting ground and had to be heavily defended.[2]
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Western Approaches Command - Fighting U-Boats with Wrens
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Western Approaches - the bunker from which they won the war
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The wargamers who won a real war
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See also
References
- ^ "Liverpool War Museum, Western Approaches, Battle of the Atlantic, Work War II". 2008-06-25. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Western Approaches in WW2 World Naval Ships Forums Archive". www.worldnavalships.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
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This page was last edited on 28 February 2024, at 23:35