Crossing the Atlantic in November 1942. U.S. Navy via Commons

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Germany had the naval advantage, easily capturing weakly defended commerce ships despite suffering huge losses. From December 1941

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American B-25 Mitchell and B-24 Liberator bombers attack a German U-boat

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An estimated 2,700 merchant ships and 800 of Germany's 1,100 U-boats sank between 1939 and 1945.

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Allied and Axis sailors had very different sea experiences, with the latter in particular peril. U-boats were not very comfortable.

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Blazich claims that destroyer duty was “equally chilly, damp and nauseating” for both sides.

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