Pan-American Security Zone
Encyclopedia
During the early years of World War II
before the United States became a formal belligerent, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
declared a region of the Atlantic, adjacent to the Americas as the Pan-American Security Zone. Within this zone, United States naval ships escorted convoy
s bound for Europe. In practice, this greatly aided the United Kingdom, which was largely dependent upon the Atlantic convoys.
The Zone was one of a number of actions taken by the United States that ran counter to its formal state of neutrality
. It was set up in October 1939 at US behest by the Declaration of Panama signed by the nations of north and south America
. Within the Zone which extended between 300 nmi (555.6 km; 345.2 mi) offshore, the signatories would not tolerate belligerent acts.
Despite formal complaints in December 1939 to Britain over the action
against the Admiral Graf Spee off the River Plate
, US implementation of the Zone was clearly to Britain's advantage. From early 1941, United States Navy
convoy escorts eased British and Canadian difficulties by providing escorts; USN ships and aircraft were ordered to broadcast in clear any U-boat
sightings, thus alerting British listeners. The Kriegsmarine
(German Navy) resented this "cheating" but they were instructed to avoid hostile acts against US ships so as not to give cause for a declaration of war.
On 18 April 1941, Roosevelt extended the Pan-American Security Zone to longitude
26 degrees west, 2300 nmi (4,259.6 km; 2,646.8 mi) east of New York and just 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi) short of Iceland
, a major convoy staging area.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before the United States became a formal belligerent, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
declared a region of the Atlantic, adjacent to the Americas as the Pan-American Security Zone. Within this zone, United States naval ships escorted convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s bound for Europe. In practice, this greatly aided the United Kingdom, which was largely dependent upon the Atlantic convoys.
The Zone was one of a number of actions taken by the United States that ran counter to its formal state of neutrality
Neutral country
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
. It was set up in October 1939 at US behest by the Declaration of Panama signed by the nations of north and south America
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
. Within the Zone which extended between 300 nmi (555.6 km; 345.2 mi) offshore, the signatories would not tolerate belligerent acts.
Despite formal complaints in December 1939 to Britain over the action
Battle of the River Plate
The Battle of the River Plate was the first naval battle in the Second World War. The German pocket battleship had been commerce raiding since the start of the war in September 1939...
against the Admiral Graf Spee off the River Plate
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, US implementation of the Zone was clearly to Britain's advantage. From early 1941, United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
convoy escorts eased British and Canadian difficulties by providing escorts; USN ships and aircraft were ordered to broadcast in clear any U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
sightings, thus alerting British listeners. The Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
(German Navy) resented this "cheating" but they were instructed to avoid hostile acts against US ships so as not to give cause for a declaration of war.
On 18 April 1941, Roosevelt extended the Pan-American Security Zone to longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
26 degrees west, 2300 nmi (4,259.6 km; 2,646.8 mi) east of New York and just 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi) short of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, a major convoy staging area.