By 1940, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations were fighting the Axis powers alone after the fall of France. The convoy route between North America and the United Kingdom was under attack by German U-boats and required protection, but the British lacked adequate ships to defend the shipping lanes. That year, the US offered 50 "flush deck destroyers" to the UK in exchanged for leases to British bases around the world. In September, the deal was sealed and 50 vessels of the "Clemson" and "Wickes" classes were transferred to the UK. Renamed the Town class by the British, their new names were chosen from towns with names common to both nations.