messages. Once translated, information was passed to the commander-in-chief of Western Approaches, who could then more intelligently direct his escort ships in the Atlantic either to avoid U-boats when in convoy, or to pursue them. Prior to the breaking of the Enigma code, the position of U-boats could only be added to the plots once they were spotted at sea; now the maps were pocked with U-boat markers, based on messages intercepted as they passed between Doenitz and his captains.
