U-Boat Wargamers

January 1943: Admiral Karl Dönitz, head of the Nazis’ U-boat fleet, has brought Britain to the brink of starvation by ruthlessly destroying close to a thousand of their merchant ships. If the transatlantic shipping route is cut off, the Allies will lose their last foothold in Western Europe. The Royal Navy turns to retired war gamer Gilbert Roberts. Roberts is to use war gaming to try to decipher and combat Dönitz’s tactics. To do this, he needs a team, but the Navy can’t spare any men. Instead, he risks the ridicule of high command by turning to the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) to war game the U-boats’ tactics. In partnership with Jean Laidlaw, one of Britain’s first female chartered accountants, and a small team of resourceful female mathematicians, Roberts acts out naval battles and games the U-boats’ moves on a linoleum floor, using chalk and wooden model ships.

en
Documentary
War & Politics
Created By

First Aired on

Feb 21, 2023

1 seaons till Mar 28, 2023

Popularity: 0.8077
4 votes
Networks
(GB)
Production

World Media Rights (GB)ZDF Studios (DE)CuriosityStream (US)

Status: Returning Series

In Production

Last episode: The End Game

Seasons & episodes

Total 1 seasons, 6 episodes

Season 1

Aired

6 Episodes
  • Episode 1The Mastermind min

    The Mastermind: World War II breaks out and a force of U-boats attempt to starve Britain into submission. Meanwhile, Vera Laughton Mathews recruits talented women into the Wrens.

  • Episode 2False Dawns min

    False Dawns: France falls in 1940 and Donitz's U-boats embark on a race to sink British merchant ships. Roberts' wargaming ideas are at last entertained by a desperate Admiralty.

  • Episode 3The WRENS min

    The Wrens: Though the Admiralty are convinced the Allies have the expertise to defeat Germany, Roberts and the Wrens start devising wargaming tactics to combat U-boat formations.

  • Episode 4The Game min

    The Game: Roberts and Laidlaw uncover a fatal flaw in the Royal Navy's anti-U-boat strategy and develop their own countertactic. Their next task is winning over the Admiralty.

  • Episode 5Stalemate min

    Stalemate: With the Allies at crisis point, pressure mounts on the Wrens to prove their worth and the stage is set for a battle that will turn the tide of the Atlantic war.

Crew & Team

Alan Griffiths

Executive Producer

Nikolas Hülbusch

Executive Producer

Noah Morowitz

Executive Producer

Tim Dunn

Producer

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