Live updates as military ships take over Pier Head for Battle of the Atlantic anniversary

Thousands of people are set to turn out to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic this weekend.

The city will mark the anniversary of one of WWII’s most important battles with a whole host of events including a military village at the Pier Head. People will be invited to look inside a number of military ships which are participating in the commemorations.

Pictures taken by the ECHO show the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Defender alongside the French Navy’s FNS Bretagne berthed on the Liverpool waterfront for the occassion. The American destroyer USS Ramage will also call into Liverpool.

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Activities on offer at the military village include a Typhoon simulator, a Royal Navy VR speedboat simulator, climbing walls, bungee runs, a Spitfire replica, tanks, helicopters, and vintage military vehicles.

Liverpool played a key role in the Allied success in the Battle of the Atlantic. From 1941, Derby House on Rumford Street was the headquarters of the Western Approaches Command Centre, which controlled the defences of British shipping. It is now the Western Approaches Museum.

The United Kingdom relied on more than a million tons of imported materials every week to survive and counter the enemy threat. As Britain’s main transatlantic convoy port, Liverpool received 1,285 convoys during the war.

A tactical unit was also established at Derby House in 1942. The team looked at the tactics used by Hitler’s U-boats – submarines which were used to target British shipping. By mid-1943, Britain had effectively neutralised the U-boat threat.

We’ll be keeping you up to date on the events taking place across the city to mark the anniversary this weekend.

Updates Available

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