General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
Posted by:
Kurt
()
Date: March 26, 2001 04:53PM
<HTML>As we all know, the type XXI showed tremendous potential. But it never saw combat service.
Why?
The type XXI was really only an evolutionary increase in technology - better shape, more thought out crew support (from bunking to air scrubbers), and a large, but conventional, battery. Even so, developing this advanced type in the midst of allied bombing, using mostly contractors that were novices at sub construction, was a difficult task. Despite these obstacles a large number of XXI\'s were completed - well over a hundred, I believe. But a large number of teething troubles and the difficulties of working up such a complex new type took time. Even though some XXI\'s were completed many months before the end of the war, none of them finished workups and shakedown cruises in time for combat patrols.
OK. So I anwsered my own question. This is the \'traditional\' answer.
My point is this: Imagine the situation in the late war, say after Jan \'45 or later, certainly by March. Germany is being squeezed. The situation is desperate. Troops are being sent to battle with little or no training. Boys as young as 15 and old men are pushed into battle. Meanwhile, the XXI\'s are leisurely (?) going thru a thorough workup and teething program. Why not order them into battle, ready or not? No matter how unready the XXI\'s were by early \'45\'s, they were better than nothing, better than a lot of other desperate measures being taken. Even a teething XXI would have been worth something. It seems strange that as Germany came crashing down around their ears, that the high command never ordered the XXI\'s to go to battle, ready or not, in the final, desperate hour.
Was Doenitz really so optimisitic that he didn\'t see the moment as so desperate? Or did Doentiz figure the game was up, and \'harbored\' the XXI crews, his best, not for a final offensive, as he told Hitler, but for the peace that was sure to follow..?\\
Thoughts?</HTML>
Why?
The type XXI was really only an evolutionary increase in technology - better shape, more thought out crew support (from bunking to air scrubbers), and a large, but conventional, battery. Even so, developing this advanced type in the midst of allied bombing, using mostly contractors that were novices at sub construction, was a difficult task. Despite these obstacles a large number of XXI\'s were completed - well over a hundred, I believe. But a large number of teething troubles and the difficulties of working up such a complex new type took time. Even though some XXI\'s were completed many months before the end of the war, none of them finished workups and shakedown cruises in time for combat patrols.
OK. So I anwsered my own question. This is the \'traditional\' answer.
My point is this: Imagine the situation in the late war, say after Jan \'45 or later, certainly by March. Germany is being squeezed. The situation is desperate. Troops are being sent to battle with little or no training. Boys as young as 15 and old men are pushed into battle. Meanwhile, the XXI\'s are leisurely (?) going thru a thorough workup and teething program. Why not order them into battle, ready or not? No matter how unready the XXI\'s were by early \'45\'s, they were better than nothing, better than a lot of other desperate measures being taken. Even a teething XXI would have been worth something. It seems strange that as Germany came crashing down around their ears, that the high command never ordered the XXI\'s to go to battle, ready or not, in the final, desperate hour.
Was Doenitz really so optimisitic that he didn\'t see the moment as so desperate? Or did Doentiz figure the game was up, and \'harbored\' the XXI crews, his best, not for a final offensive, as he told Hitler, but for the peace that was sure to follow..?\\
Thoughts?</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
Kurt | 03/26/2001 04:53PM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
Rainer Bruns | 03/26/2001 06:19PM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
Joe Brennan | 03/27/2001 07:38AM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
John | 03/27/2001 07:58AM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
Lawrence | 03/27/2001 08:28AM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
kurt | 03/27/2001 04:28PM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
|
tl | 03/27/2001 04:46PM |
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RE: Why did the Type XXI not see combat service
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J.T. McDaniel | 04/04/2001 12:51PM |