Naval Dockyards Society 29th Annual Conference
The University of Greenwich
Saturday 5 April 2025
NDS conferences are sponsored by the Society for Nautical Research
Dockyard and Shipyard support for the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War
In this newsletter we invite you attend the 29th Annual Conference on Saturday 5 April 2025 at the University of Greenwich, Maritime Campus, 30 Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9LS.
For bookings please visit the Naval Dockyard Society Website and scroll down to the second page.
Venue
This beautiful venue is across the road from our usual venue which is unavailable due to refurbishment.
The event will be held in King William Building Lecture Theatre KW002 and KW003 for Registration & Catering.
Access is via the entrance to the King William Building (see pictures) which faces Romney Road and the National Maritime Museum. For Campus layout maps and transport directions see all maps below.
Churchill named The Battle of the Atlantic (1939–45), the longest continuous military campaign in the Second World War. British, Canadian and US navies and air forces protected essential convoys, carrying the million tons of imported material Britain required each week to endure and fight.
From 1942, the Axis powers also countered the build-up of Allied supplies and equipment to invade Europe through U-boat attacks. Defeating the U-boat campaign was therefore vital. To combat this threat, merchant ships were grouped into convoys, as in previous global wars, escorted by warships and aircraft. The first Atlantic convoy sailed on 2 September 1939.
The Allies won a strategic victory, leading to success in North Africa, D-Day and ultimately the fall of Germany, but at a huge cost to both sides. Dockyards and shipyards on both sides of the Atlantic, including Halifax and Bermuda, played a key role in the Allied struggle for control of the North Atlantic.
Programme
We have created a superb programme featuring an international cast of speakers. Papers presented at the Conference will be delivered in person to conference delegates whilst simultaneously webcast worldwide. At a subsequent date all papers are published in the NDS Journal Transactions book of conference papers.
9.30–11.00 REGISTRATION Coffee/Tea/Biscuits
10.00-10.50 Annual General Meeting (NDS members only)
11.00–12.45 Morning Conference UK Shipyard facilities.
11.00–11.35 Dr Andrew Jeffrey, “North-Western Approaches – the vital contribution of the River Clyde to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.”
11.35–12.10 Dr Ian Buxton MBE, BSc, PhD, FRINA, “Britain’s Shipbuilding and Repair Yards’ Contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic.”
12.10–12.45 Martin Lawrence, “A River at War: The River Tyne, 1939–1945, a powerful hub of shipbuilding and ship repair.”
12.45–1.45 Buffet Lunch
1.45–4.30 Afternoon Conference Intelligence & Winning the U-Boat War.
1.45–2.20 Dr Samantha Middleton, “The enduring legacy of the Battle of the Atlantic on intelligence outposts within UK dockyards.”
2.20–2.55 Dr David Kohnen, US Naval War College “Now It Can be Told: The WAVES of Combat Intelligence and the U.S. Navy Capture of U-505 in the Second World War.”
2.55–3.05 Afternoon break
3.05–4.30 Afternoon Conference continued Long-range WW2 US shipyard support & the Cold War impact on UK dockyards.
3.05–3.40 Anna Gibson Holloway, PhD, Chief Historian, Office of Strategic Sealift, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation “Ugly Ducklings” in Charm City: “The U.S. Maritime Commission’s Emergency Shipbuilding Program in Baltimore.”
3.40–4.15 Dr Edward Hampshire, Naval Historical Branch, Ministry of Defence, “Preparing to fight a third battle of the Atlantic: The home dockyards during the Cold War.”
4.15–4.30 Questions (15 mins)
4.30 END
NDS Membership – How to join:
The AGM is only open to NDS members. You can, however become a member as membership is open to individuals, students and institutions. Standard membership includes the delivery of two electronic Dockyards newsletters a year and a hardcopy and e-pub Transactions journal. Details can be found here
Parking
There is no free parking except for disabled access. There is payable parking on Park Row run by Greenwich Council. Please contact Ann in advance if you wish to park there avcoatsndschair@gmail.com
University of Greenwich images courtesy the University of Greenwich.