Britain, being a small island relied heavily on the imports and exports of food and raw materials. This was transported by something that we call the Merchant Navy today, although it wasn't named that until after the war.
German officials knew how important the shipping lines were to Britain and set about trying to control and blockade them in order to disrupt Allied trade and thus in turn weaken Britain. For many years Britain's naval fleets had been known all over the world as the best and so rather than just trying to sink naval vessels, German submarines were told to target any enemy vessel, including the Merchant Navy. German headquarters had ordered an unrestricted submarine warfare that would have devastating consequences.
In 1916, Britain formed a new strategy for their ships, which was desperately needed when ships were being sunk quicker than they could be made. The idea was for ships to sail in convoys, with the hope of being strength in numbers. This meant that warships would help escort merchant and passenger vessels for protection. The new ideas didn't stop there though - courses were made in a zigzag to confuse German submarines of the route and destination the British vessels were taking. The Royal Naval Air Service provided extra surveillance and protection as they flew over the convoys, spotting submerged submarines and as air cover should enemy planes arrive.
Despite these new tactics, the Merchant Navy alone suffered greatly. With German submarines sinking ships on sight, the British Merchant Navy lost an estimated 15,000 sailors who were travelling on over 3,000 merchant and fishing vessels during the course of the war. After the war, King George V recognised just how much of an important part the Merchant Navy and its crew played in helping to win the war and as a result, those ships that helped get supplies to the island, the sailors who helped make it happen and the service they provided became named the Merchant Navy.
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