General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Invasion?
Posted by:
Fredrik Härenstam
()
Date: April 28, 2001 01:59PM
<HTML>AL,
\">The U-boats certainly made a major contribution, but you should not neglect tonnage attributed to the other anti-shipping forces.<\"
I realize I\'m generalizing, but is it not more or less justified by the \"failure\" of Plan Z (far from complete, at least), and the overwhelming statistical majority of U-boats causing tonnage sunk throughout the war? Again, generally speaking?
SuperKraut,
\">The objective of the blockade could not have been an invasion since the Kriegsmarine did not have anywhere close to the required assets to perform such a feat.... A successful blockade would have put Britain into the position of having to decide between economic ruin or loss of political influence on the European Continent.<\"
True.
But, another question, can the Happy Times be more or less credited to the Admirality\'s ignorance towards the U-boats in the outbreak of the war? After what I\'ve read, they focused on a battle-fleet war - as Plan Z promised?
After time, when they did realize (&took action) the significance of´making the Atlantic Uboat-free, introducing proper convoy systems, aeirial support and such, lead to a decline in U-boat effectiveness. The decline, of course, was greatly facilitated by US entering the war, and developments such as the radar.. But, if the Admirality had realized the significance which the U-boats would play in the Battle of the Atlantic, they would have made sure they were better equipped to face them in the outbreak?</HTML>
\">The U-boats certainly made a major contribution, but you should not neglect tonnage attributed to the other anti-shipping forces.<\"
I realize I\'m generalizing, but is it not more or less justified by the \"failure\" of Plan Z (far from complete, at least), and the overwhelming statistical majority of U-boats causing tonnage sunk throughout the war? Again, generally speaking?
SuperKraut,
\">The objective of the blockade could not have been an invasion since the Kriegsmarine did not have anywhere close to the required assets to perform such a feat.... A successful blockade would have put Britain into the position of having to decide between economic ruin or loss of political influence on the European Continent.<\"
True.
But, another question, can the Happy Times be more or less credited to the Admirality\'s ignorance towards the U-boats in the outbreak of the war? After what I\'ve read, they focused on a battle-fleet war - as Plan Z promised?
After time, when they did realize (&took action) the significance of´making the Atlantic Uboat-free, introducing proper convoy systems, aeirial support and such, lead to a decline in U-boat effectiveness. The decline, of course, was greatly facilitated by US entering the war, and developments such as the radar.. But, if the Admirality had realized the significance which the U-boats would play in the Battle of the Atlantic, they would have made sure they were better equipped to face them in the outbreak?</HTML>
