U-Boat Wargamers
Overview
In January 1943, Admiral Karl Dönitz’s U-boat fleet brings Britain to the edge of famine, having sunk nearly a thousand merchant vessels. The Royal Navy realizes that severing the transatlantic shipping routes could spell disaster for the Allies’ hold on Western Europe. Faced with a manpower shortage, retired war gamer Gilbert Roberts turns to the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) for help, partnering with Jean Laidlaw and a team of savvy female mathematicians. Together, they simulate naval confrontations on a linoleum floor, using chalk and wooden ships to outmaneuver Dönitz’s deadly strategies.
Episodes
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1
The Mastermind
As World War II erupts, a fleet of U-boats seeks to bring Britain to its knees through starvation. Amidst the chaos, Vera Laughton Mathews takes the i...
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2
False Dawns
In 1940, France succumbs to defeat, prompting Donitz's U-boats to engage in a frantic mission to target British merchant vessels. Meanwhile, the Admir...
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3
The WRENS
Despite the Admiralty's confidence in the Allies' ability to conquer Germany, Roberts and the Wrens begin crafting strategic wargaming techniques to c...
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4
The Game
Roberts and Laidlaw discover a critical weakness in the Royal Navy's approach to countering U-boats and devise their own strategy to address it. Their...
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5
Stalemate
As tensions rise among the Allies, the Wrens face immense pressure to demonstrate their value. The atmosphere is charged as preparations ramp up for a...
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6
The End Game
As the conflict reaches a critical juncture, Donitz reveals a cutting-edge torpedo that shifts the balance of power. In response, Roberts and Laidlaw ...
