Naval Warfare and the U.S. Entry into the War World War I Naval Warfare and the U.S. Entry into the War

Massive expansion to keep ahead of each other! GERMANY vs. GREAT BRITAIN Arms Race & Dreadnoughts Massive expansion to keep ahead of each other! HMS Dreadnought, 1905 Long range guns, steel armor, heavy caliber guns, steam engine propulsion…

British BLOCKADE and Strategy August 1914; Harbors & Mines …by the Allied Powers during WWI in an effort to “restrict the maritime supply of raw materials to the Central Powers” “contraband” that all but prohibited American trade with the Central powers… Nov. 1914, GB declared the North Sea to be a War Zone, with any ships entering at their own risk… NORTH SEA, ATLANTIC and the ENGLISH CHANNEL “War-zones” and Strategic importance

German Blockade of Great Britain February 1915; U-BOAT CAMPAIGN and Allied Merchant ships August 1914, initial phase in the North Sea – the focus was on GB’s fleet! Germany and “UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE” …in the “war-zones,” February 1915 MERCHANT SHIPS Contraband and Tricks

The LUSITANIA, Germany and Submarines May 1915 …went down off the coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 (128 Americans) “Sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany, contributed to the American entry into World War I and became an iconic symbol in recruiting campaigns of why the war was being fought!” …resumes “unrestricted submarine warfare” February 1917

The ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM January/February 1917 U.S. Declaration of War April 6, 1917

Allies use the CONVOY SYSTEM to cross the Atlantic June 1917