Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: U480 A stealth Uboat
Posted by:
ThomasHorton
()
Date: October 09, 2009 05:42PM
"There is is no question that the boat was revolutionary and that had there been time the defects would have been worked out. Cheers, Jerry"
I think we are in absolute agreement here. The overall design of the Type XXI was revolutionary and represented a significant improvement in submarine design.
There were, however some design flaws as well as manufacturing flaws that can't be ignored.
In theory, the Type XXI was a wonderful submarine, however, as built, I don't know how effective it would have been in the 1945 submarine war environment.
I have no doubt that a fictional Type XXI-B, where the design flaws were fixed and the manufacturing would have been better, could have had a significant impact on the Submarine war. As built, the Type XXI was a good prototype. However, I disagree with the viewpoint that if BDU had 100 Type XXIs in early 1945 that it would have had a significant impact on the Submarine war.
The Type XXI was too little too late to coin a term.
All the more reason that Hitler started the war 5 years too soon. (another pet hypothesis of mine)
I think we are in absolute agreement here. The overall design of the Type XXI was revolutionary and represented a significant improvement in submarine design.
There were, however some design flaws as well as manufacturing flaws that can't be ignored.
In theory, the Type XXI was a wonderful submarine, however, as built, I don't know how effective it would have been in the 1945 submarine war environment.
I have no doubt that a fictional Type XXI-B, where the design flaws were fixed and the manufacturing would have been better, could have had a significant impact on the Submarine war. As built, the Type XXI was a good prototype. However, I disagree with the viewpoint that if BDU had 100 Type XXIs in early 1945 that it would have had a significant impact on the Submarine war.
The Type XXI was too little too late to coin a term.
All the more reason that Hitler started the war 5 years too soon. (another pet hypothesis of mine)