German U-boats were sinking ships at such a high rate that Admiralty officials secretly predicted Britain would be forced to capitulate by November 1, 1917. During the worst month, April, any ship leaving Britain had a one-in-four chance of being sunk. In
In Erik Larson's "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," the situation for Britain's maritime safety during World War I is depicted as dire. German U-boats were wreaking havoc on Allied shipping, leading officials to fear that Britain might surrender by November 1, 1917, if the sinking rates continued. This reveals the immense pressure on the British Navy and the high stakes involved in maintaining supply lines across the Atlantic.
April was notably catastrophic, with statistics showing that vessels departing from Britain faced a shocking one-in-four chance of being attacked and sunk by U-boats. This alarming rate of loss not only threatened Britain's war effort but also highlighted the growing effectiveness of submarine warfare during this period. Larson's narrative illustrates the precariousness of maritime travel and the vital role it played in the war.
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