Just my two bits on offer,
I think ton for ton if I had to fairly rate them, I think US boats would in fact emerge as the winner.
With their sizes, weights, powerplants, electronic equipment and armament, US boats were like 'dive capable destroyers', vs the German 'torpedo attack boat, that can also dive'.
If you really want to know what clinches it in my books, is, crew comforts and accommodation. Aboard German operational subs, the crew were little more than flesh and blood links in a badly designed chain. Very little thought was given to their lives or comforts while at sea. As evidence, we have not enough bunks to go around. So they rest in shifts. Except when all crew has to lie down or conserve energy, there is no room. So they buddy up, or they lie on the deckplates. Not enough space for food or supplies. So they store it everywhere they can find a place. ...Everywhere. Only 2 W/Cs, and one of them is often acting as a 'pantry', until those supplies are used up. 1 crapper, 50 guys, I don't see a problem here, do you? Nah, what could go wrong? No privacy, only the Captain is afforded even the illusion of it, but he's the only one. And on, and on...
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