Hunter-Killer: U.S. Escort Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic

The pursuit of German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic has long been considered one of the most exciting stories of World War II. This definitive study takes readers into the cockpits and onto the flight decks of the versatile and hardy U.S. escort carriers (CVEs) to tell of their vital yet little-known contributions to the anti-U-boat campaign. Sailing apart from the Allied convoys, the CVEs had complete freedom of action and frequently went on "hunt and kill" missions, allowing the German submarines no respite. Naval historian William Y'Blood explains here that in the eighteen months between the spring of 1943 - when the CVEs began to prowl the Atlantic - and November 1944, the average number of U-boats in daily operation was reduced from 108 to a mere 31. Though others helped win the Battle of the Atlantic, the influence of the escort carrier groups was profound. In addition to documenting the CVEs' operational history, this book also traces their development and construction and examines their tactical and strategic uses.