Learn from Fleet Boat Development-USNI Article
 

Learn from Fleet Boat Development.
At the end of World War I, the U.S. Navy discovered that surrendered German U-boats were superior to U.S. submarines. The U-boats could go faster and farther, and they could carry almost twice as many weapons as the newest U.S. submarines. They also could submerge four times faster. The U.S. Navy’s subs possessed advantages only in maximum depth and an extra half knot submerged.1
At the start of World War II 23 years later, however, the U.S. submarine force possessed versatile “fleet submarines” that proved their technological quality throughout the war.
The interwar development of the fleet submarine remains relevant. Today’s Navy has undertaken an aggressive program to develop new platforms and payloads, even as the United States’ competitive advantage shrinks or even disappears in some areas.2 The architects of tomorrow’s fleet should study the lessons offered by their interwar ancestors and base design requirements off realistic strategy, refine requirements and technologies through operational feedback loops, take advantage of industrial collaboration, and accept contributions from the deckplates.


Article from USNI History Essay Contest - February 2020

Donated by KaleunMarco, United States Naval Institute Lifetime Member


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