The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions, separating North and South America from Europe and Africa. With a total area of about 106,400,000 sq km (41,100,000 sq mi), it covers approximately twenty percent of the Earth's surface and about twenty-six percent of its water surface area. The name refers to Atlas of Ancient Greek mythology, making the Atlantic the "Sea of Atlas".
The continent of Atlantis was located in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly half-way between Europe and Terranova. Their similarity in names is more or less a coincidence: English fisherman Edward Radcliffe was more enchanted with the "other-worldly" quality of the smaller continent when he first saw it in 1452.
Ocean the Great was both a mystery and a terror to all. Cheiron led an expedition of centaurs along the rim of Ocean the Great in order to reach the Tin Isle. Once out on the ocean, his crew discovered that the ocean had tides and far greater storms which were unknown in the Inner Sea. He did not know how far the ocean extended but was sure that the edge of the world lay some where beyond.
On 1 May 1951, Roman Amfiteatrov announced on Radio Moscow that Red Fleetsubmarines continued to strike heavy blows against convoys in the North Atlantic. Ihor Shevchenko privately wondered about this, how much the sailors in the submarines could actually see and then if the submarines actually existed in the first place.[1]
Slue-foot Sue's out-of-control bustle bounced her across the Atlantic Ocean. After she got straightened out, she returned home by crossing the same ocean on the back of a whale.
The Atlantic Ocean was the most heavily trafficked ocean in the world. All major powers in both Europe and North America had stakes in the water ways from the United Kingdom, to France, and the United States. Maintaining a strong naval force was the key to ensuring dominance and protection of trade. During the War of Secession, the US Navy had managed to blockade the Confederate seaboard, but the strength of the Royal Navy forced the US to seek an armistice. A generation later during the Second Mexican War, the US lost control of the Atlantic Ocean to the British and had their eastern seaboard ports blockaded.
By the 20th century, the major powers in the Atlantic were the Central Powers on one side, and the Entente on the other. When the Great War began in 1914, both major powers were forced to contend with not only each other, but their rival neighbors like the Confederacy, France and Canada for the US, and Germany for the UK. The Grand Strategic Plan of the Central Powers was for the combined might of the US and German Navies to smash the English between the two of them and link hands. While the Battle of Jutland ended in victory for the Germans, it did little to alter the situation as the majority of the fighting was done by submersibles and raiders as all sides attempted to strangle the others trade. By 1917, the war was turning in favor of the Central Powers, with Brazil entering the war on their side, and the US had taken the offensive in the South Atlantic Ocean. The Royal Navy prepared for one last major battle, which never came to pass, as the UK asked for a full armistice before it could happen. In spite of the UK losing the war, the Royal Navy remained undefeated.
When the Second Great War began a generation later, the Atlantic once more became a battle zone. The first major action occurred when the Royal Navy tricked the US Navy, and allowed Bermuda to fall to the Confederacy. Submarines and raiders of both the UK and the CSA prowled the waters, while the US Navy attempted to keep it's water ways open. In late 1942, the Royal Navy won a battle against the German Navy, allowing it to then turn its might on the US Navy in 1943. This battle was a failure and it allowed the US Navy to retake Bermuda and put pressure on CS submersibles. This also made it easier for US raiders to slip into Ireland to supply rebels with weapons. By 1944, German and US submarines were taking their toll of the Royal Navy, but the deployment of superbombs put an end to the war before any decisive conclusion to the war in the Atlantic could be made.
The Atlantic Ocean became a major naval battle ground as GermanU-Boats attempted to sink supply convoys crossing the ocean from Canada, and Argentina to England.
The Atlantic Ocean was playing host to a large submarineBattle of the Atlantic when the the Raceinvaded in mid 1942. The Atlantic was the most important ocean of shipping traffic. For a while, ships received a reprieve after the arrival of the Race, who were unfamiliar with seafaring. Ships were once again subjected to heavy air attack after the Race took notice of shipping lines around the world, and the Atlantic received the most attention of all the oceans. This caused many VIP transports to resort to submarines.
1=denotes a character who was a POV for one volume or less
2=denotes a character who was a POV for two volumes
3=denotes a character who was a POV for three volumes
† Denotes a deceased POV.
*=denotes a character who was a POV for a single scene
1=denotes a character who was a POV for one volume
2=denotes a character who was a POV for two volumes
3=denotes a character who was a POV for three volumes
4=denotes a character who was a POV for four volumes
5=denotes a character who was a POV for five volumes
6=denotes a character who was a POV for six volumes
† denotes a deceased character.
