January 1943: Admiral Karl Dönitz, head of the Nazis’ U-boat fleet, has brought Britain to the brink of starvation by ruthlessly destroying close to a thousand of their merchant ships. If the transatlantic shipping route is cut off, the Allies will lose their last foothold in Western Europe. The Royal Navy turns to retired war gamer Gilbert Roberts. Roberts is to use war gaming to try to decipher and combat Dönitz’s tactics. To do this, he needs a team, but the Navy can’t spare any men. Instead, he risks the ridicule of high command by turning to the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) to war game the U-boats’ tactics. In partnership with Jean Laidlaw, one of Britain’s first female chartered accountants, and a small team of resourceful female mathematicians, Roberts acts out naval battles and games the U-boats’ moves on a linoleum floor, using chalk and wooden model ships.
Cast: Derek Jacobi
Season 1
6 episodes
- 1. The MastermindThe Mastermind: World War II breaks out and a force of U-boats attempt to starve Britain into submission. Meanwhile, Vera Laughton Mathews recruits talented women into the Wrens.12CCFeb 21, 2023
- 2. False DawnsFalse Dawns: France falls in 1940 and Donitz's U-boats embark on a race to sink British merchant ships. Roberts' wargaming ideas are at last entertained by a desperate Admiralty.12CCFeb 28, 2023
- 3. The WRENSThe Wrens: Though the Admiralty are convinced the Allies have the expertise to defeat Germany, Roberts and the Wrens start devising wargaming tactics to combat U-boat formations.12CCMar 7, 2023
- 4. The GameThe Game: Roberts and Laidlaw uncover a fatal flaw in the Royal Navy's anti-U-boat strategy and develop their own countertactic. Their next task is winning over the Admiralty.12CCMar 14, 2023
- 5. StalemateStalemate: With the Allies at crisis point, pressure mounts on the Wrens to prove their worth and the stage is set for a battle that will turn the tide of the Atlantic war.12CCMar 21, 2023
- 6. The End GameThe End Game: The battle hits a turning point and Donitz unleashes an advanced torpedo to flip the momentum. Roberts and Laidlaw must devise a strategy to combat the new threat.12CCMar 28, 2023
U-Boat Wargamers
January 1943: Admiral Karl Dönitz, head of the Nazis’ U-boat fleet, has brought Britain to the brink of starvation by ruthlessly destroying close to a thousand of their merchant ships. If the transatlantic shipping route is cut off, the Allies will lose their last foothold in Western Europe. The Royal Navy turns to retired war gamer Gilbert Roberts. Roberts is to use war gaming to try to decipher and combat Dönitz’s tactics. To do this, he needs a team, but the Navy can’t spare any men. Instead, he risks the ridicule of high command by turning to the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) to war game the U-boats’ tactics. In partnership with Jean Laidlaw, one of Britain’s first female chartered accountants, and a small team of resourceful female mathematicians, Roberts acts out naval battles and games the U-boats’ moves on a linoleum floor, using chalk and wooden model ships.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Alan Griffiths, Noah Morowitz, Tim Dunn, Nikolas Hülbusch
- Cast
- Derek Jacobi
- Studio
- World Media Rights, ZDF Studios, CuriosityStream
