A cornered U-boat fights back

29th March 1944: U-223 sinks HMS Laforey just minutes before she is herself sunk

HMS Laforey during the bombardment of Pantelleria in 1943.

The Battle of the Atlantic may have been effectively won in 1943 but this did not lessen the danger of individual U-boats. Their chances of surviving a patrol had now been much reduced - but the Germans were doing everything possible to fight back. Improved anti-aircraft guns mounted on the deck …