The “Second Happy Time” lasted from January of 1942 to about August of that year and involved several German naval operations, including Operation Paukenschlag (or Operation Drumbeat) and Operation Neuland. German submariners named it the “Happy Time” or the “Golden Time,” as defense measures were weak and disorganized,[1]:p292 and the U-boats were able to inflict massive damage with little risk. During this period, Axis submarines sank 609 ships totaling 3.1 million tons.