Thanks for that bit of information Robert. I got that bit off of Wikipedia which goes to show how much you can trust wikipedia. U-21 was operated by German sailors if that counts for anything. We worked with them for a couple days and I was very impressed although we only traded a couple officers for riders. I've also worked with South American type 209's, in particular the Chilean subs which were some of the best I've heard (actually not heard is a better way of saying it). They were also known for conducting fire drills with smoke grenades (of course this is second hand information). My main interest in U-boats is Das Boot which influenced my decision to go into the sub service. Plus I had a grandfather who was German (I grew up in Wisconsin). In some ways its like mountaineering, you have to respect the hardships undergone in their everyday life and to make matters even more amazing is that some if not many did not have a choice (their is always a choice but the alternatives I'm sure were barely considerable). I am in awe of the German U-Boat navy of WWII and for that matter all diesel submariners.

Robert, what did you think of "Sharks and Little Fish".

STS/SS3 1990-1996, qualified Sonar Supervisor in 95'.

USS La Jolla SSN-701 3months in 1992
[en.wikipedia.org])

USS Trepang SSN674 1992-1996
[en.wikipedia.org])

"USS Trepang performed peacetime operations with a German U Boat U-21 in 1992."
[en.wikipedia.org]