The Raspberry and the Battle of the Atlantic

At the height of the Battle of the Atlantic, the Allied Navies were struggling to keep merchant shipping convoys safe from the menace of the U-Boat wolf packs. The Western Approaches Tactical Unit (WATU) was set up in Derby House, Liverpool where they had decamped from Plymouth because of the Nazi bombing raids.

The Royal Navy was short of men to go to sea.  So step up the Wrens, the Women’s Royal Naval Service, who joined up to ‘free a man for the fleet’ and for the best hat!  The Wrens were hand-picked and came from a variety of backgrounds, all high achievers in their fields, including Jean Laidlow, who was the first female accountant.

The officer in charge was Cdr Roberts, a retired Naval Officer experienced in wargaming.  He and the Wrens set about understanding the U-Boat tactics and finding ways to beat them.  Jean established that the U-Boats were inside the convoy and then dived after firing their torpedoes, resurfacing to the rear of the convoy.  She designed a tactic where the escorts would rush to the rear and sink the U-Boats.  It was called Raspberry.  Further tactics were developed in time. 

The WATU wrens, who had never been to sea let alone on a submarine went on to train experienced naval officers (including the late HRH Prince Philip) from all the Allied navies involved in escort duties, in tactics that would finally beat the U-Boats.  This was in an age where most women were expected to be typists, clerks and cooks.

At the end of the war Commander (now Captain) Roberts was awarded the CBE.  He took Jean Laidlaw to the palace as his plus one.  None of the Wrens were recognized for their actions in undoubtedly helping to shorten the war and their story has largely been forgotten. This is partly due to the Wrens signing the Official Secrets Act and like many veterans of that time, went on to live their best lives.  The women of today’s Royal Navy stand on the shoulders of women like Jean and it is a shame that their story is not more widely known.  This former Wren considers it her duty to remember and to tell their story.

However, the breakout rooms in the new wargaming centre in HMS Dryad are named after some of the Wrens.  It’s a start!

Thank you to Jude Wilson for this feature. Jude joined the WRNR at HMS President in 1985, did about 3 years of short term contracts (the precursor to FTRS) in the late 80s, did 4 years FTRS in the late 90s, left as a PO in 2007. She shared with us her pride in being a Wren, and believing that the sexism and poor treatment she was subject to has made her the feminist she is today. 

Image credit: Inside life of women who outwitted Adolf Hitler and won brutal Battle of the Atlantic - Mirror Online