History Daily Episode 1283: Operation Raspberry Takes on the U-Boats
Podcast Host: Lindsay Graham
Date: January 1, 2026

Overview

This episode of History Daily explores the crucial yet underappreciated role of Operation Raspberry in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. Host Lindsay Graham narrates the true story of how a small team led by Captain Gilbert Roberts—and staffed mainly by young women from the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens)—developed innovative tactics that broke the deadly spell of Germany’s U-boat wolf packs and helped secure the Allies’ vital Atlantic supply lines. The episode also highlights the struggles, ingenuity, and overlooked heroism of the Wrens, who changed the tide of naval warfare but received little recognition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The U-Boat Threat and a Personal Tragedy (01:09–05:26)

• Dramatic Opening Scene: August 19, 1941. Commander Adelbert Schnee of German submarine U-201 attacks an Allied convoy in the North Atlantic, sinking a merchant ship and killing many, including 22 members of the British Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens).
• Context: "U201 is so close that the submarine even rocks from the impact... The only trace it leaves behind is a scattered convoy and a merchant ship in flames." (Lindsay Graham, 01:54)
• The loss of the Wrens foreshadows their quiet but pivotal revenge.

2. The Search for a Solution—Introducing Captain Gilbert Roberts (05:26–10:29)

• Gilbert Roberts’ Backstory: Once a destroyer commander, sidelined by illness, now called back due to his reputation for innovative training using “war games.”
• Admiral Usborne’s Request: Roberts is tasked not with commanding ships but with using simulations to decode and defeat U-boat tactics.
  • "[Admiral Usborne]...wants Roberts to use his mastery of war games to turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic." (06:57)
• Desperate Situation: Over 1,500 Allied ships sunk; Britain near starvation without maritime supplies.

3. Building an Unconventional Team—The Wrens (11:47–16:08)

• Liverpool, Western Approaches Command: Roberts is given a dusty room and, due to skepticism among male officers, a team composed mainly of Wrens—young, disciplined women who volunteer for service.
  • “Instead, the only staff made available were from the Women’s Royal Naval Service. But if Roberts was disappointed with his new recruits, he soon changed his mind.” (12:29)
• Simulation Method: War games recreated U-boat attacks using chalk, string, and canvas maps. Confined behind sheets (“fog of war”), Wrens role-played both Allies and Germans to deduce enemy behavior.

4. The Tactical Breakthrough—Operation Raspberry (14:00–16:08)

• Key Discovery: U-boats attacked at point-blank range for maximum impact, disappearing swiftly after firing.
  • "They came to believe the U-boats were actually firing at near point blank range to ensure they hit their targets before immediately diving…" (14:28)
• Countermeasure Devised: Allied escorts should drop depth charges at the site of attack immediately, catching U-boats before escape.
• Presentation to Leadership: Admiral Percy Noble, skeptical but curious, witnesses a demonstration and is impressed.
• Naming the Tactic: “We’ve called it Operation Raspberry, our way of blowing a raspberry at Adolf Hitler and his U-boats.” (Wrens’ response via Janet Ochel, 15:58)
• Official Adoption: Admiral Noble authorizes real-world testing.

5. Operation Raspberry in Action and Impact (16:32–20:00)

• May 6, 1943, North Atlantic: HMS Tay, under Lt. Cmdr. Sherwood, applies Operation Raspberry after a night attack. The tactic works—Allied ships are saved, U-boats are repelled, and oil slicks suggest German losses.
  • “Commander Sherwood knows exactly how to respond. Following the protocol of Operation Raspberry, he steers directly toward the merchant ship the torpedo was meant to hit.” (16:54)
• Significance: The technique quickly spreads—5,000 officers trained by year's end. The U-boat threat collapses, Allied supply lines reopen, and the Battle of the Atlantic turns in the Allies' favor.

6. Recognition—Or Lack Thereof (19:00–20:00)

• Aftermath: Captain Roberts receives honors; the Wrens’ contributions remain unrecognized officially.
  • "The Wrens who work beside him will receive no official recognition, no wartime honors, nor medals. But without their tactical breakthrough, Britain might have starved..." (19:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the stakes and the challenge:
  • “Without raw materials brought in by sea, Britain cannot keep its factories working at full capacity. And without grain imports, the country is edging ever closer to starvation.” (Lindsay Graham, 07:24)
• On the Wrens’ ingenuity:
  • “If Roberts was disappointed with his new recruits, he soon changed his mind. He saw that these young Wrens had sharp intellects and discipline and a desire to learn.” (12:36)
• The Wrens’ playful defiance:
  • “We’ve called it Operation Raspberry, their way of blowing a raspberry at Adolf Hitler and his U-boats.” (15:58)
• The bittersweet outcome:
  • “But without their tactical breakthrough, Britain might have starved and been forced to surrender to Nazi Germany. Instead, victory in the Battle of the Atlantic began with Operation Raspberry…” (19:47)

Timeline & Timestamps

• [01:09] – Opening scene: German U-boat attack; loss of British Wrens
• [05:26] – Gilbert Roberts’ recruitment and assignment
• [11:47] – Arrival in Liverpool; formation of Roberts’ Wrens team
• [14:00] – Discovery of the new tactic and simulation breakthrough
• [15:58] – “Operation Raspberry” unveiled to Admiral Noble
• [16:32] – May 1943: Operation Raspberry applied during battle; triumphant result
• [19:38] – Recognition denied to the Wrens despite their crucial role

Conclusion

Operation Raspberry is a testament to creative problem-solving under pressure, the power of teamwork, and the too-often-overlooked contributions of women in war. Through the lens of Roberts and his Wrens, the episode delivers a compelling narrative about the unsung heroes who helped ensure Allied victory—not just on the waves, but in the forgotten rooms of military headquarters.

For listeners seeking an inspiring true story of intelligence, innovation, and quiet courage, this is essential history—expertly told, and long overdue in the spotlight.