Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: US Submarines vis-a-vis U-Boats
Posted by:
kurt
()
Date: December 05, 2005 06:21PM
Keep the questions coming...they're good ones.
First, before ten other guys point it out, the U-boat at Chicago is a Type IX, not a Type VII. Bigger, longer ranged, etc.
Their was a general feeling among the yanks that the German U-boats fell short because of thie small size. The crew accomodations were too primitive, with a lack of refrigerated food storage, air conditioning for crew comfort, decent galley, crews mess, water for bathing etc.
This would worsen crew morale and cut short patrol length, especially in the tropics. Or so it was thought. Actually, German U-boats had high morale, and were highly effective, even in tropical climates, with patrols often much longer than US boats, so the 'too small to be comfortableenough to function' impression was incorrect.
>However, their was a big impact with range and top speed. German U-boats were constantly scrounging for oil and running short, while running low on fuel rarely affected an American boat's war patrol, even over far vaster differences. The larger size also meant that they could go faster on the surface, making for better surface end-around capability in the absence of strong air patrols. US boats were faster on the surface than most allied escort vessels, though not many Japanese escorts; some IJN destroyers were among the fastest war vessels that ever put to sea.
>the large number of allied ships sunk indicates that the smaller torpedo load and number of tubes didn't handicap the U-boats much; more reliable torpedoes more than made up for it. In the merchant war broadsizeds of more than 4 torpedoes was rare anyway....
Not a complete list of all the important differences..the flexibility and ruggedness of indirect drive, and superior radar and radar detectors also comes to mind in favor of US boats, deeper and faster diving and schnorkels for the U-boats, but this is a start.....
Regards,
Kurt
First, before ten other guys point it out, the U-boat at Chicago is a Type IX, not a Type VII. Bigger, longer ranged, etc.
Their was a general feeling among the yanks that the German U-boats fell short because of thie small size. The crew accomodations were too primitive, with a lack of refrigerated food storage, air conditioning for crew comfort, decent galley, crews mess, water for bathing etc.
This would worsen crew morale and cut short patrol length, especially in the tropics. Or so it was thought. Actually, German U-boats had high morale, and were highly effective, even in tropical climates, with patrols often much longer than US boats, so the 'too small to be comfortableenough to function' impression was incorrect.
>However, their was a big impact with range and top speed. German U-boats were constantly scrounging for oil and running short, while running low on fuel rarely affected an American boat's war patrol, even over far vaster differences. The larger size also meant that they could go faster on the surface, making for better surface end-around capability in the absence of strong air patrols. US boats were faster on the surface than most allied escort vessels, though not many Japanese escorts; some IJN destroyers were among the fastest war vessels that ever put to sea.
>the large number of allied ships sunk indicates that the smaller torpedo load and number of tubes didn't handicap the U-boats much; more reliable torpedoes more than made up for it. In the merchant war broadsizeds of more than 4 torpedoes was rare anyway....
Not a complete list of all the important differences..the flexibility and ruggedness of indirect drive, and superior radar and radar detectors also comes to mind in favor of US boats, deeper and faster diving and schnorkels for the U-boats, but this is a start.....
Regards,
Kurt
