X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Western Approaches


Hartmann's wolfpack

The first five boats sailed independently in October 1939 from bases in NW Germany, sailing northabout around the coast of Scotland in order to reach the Western Approaches.

No. 15 Group RAF

Its headquarters then transferred to Stranraer, with its squadrons flying from bases in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, to provide support and convoy escorts in the Western Approaches.

Vivian Pitchforth

In early 1944, he was painting on board ships in the Western Approaches.

Western Approaches

The term is most commonly used when discussing naval warfare, notably during the First World War and Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War in which the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) attempted to blockade the United Kingdom using submarines (U-boats) operating in this area.



see also

Stokes Bay

To the east of Stokes Bay is Fort Gilkicker, which was built in 1871 to guard the headland and the western approaches to Portsmouth Harbour and housed 22 gun emplacements.