what about the age of the crew
 

Judging on the trailer it looks like the average age of the crew is well above its thirties. (Even in SH3 some of the voices seem to be of men in their late forties.) I thought, especially in the late 1940-ties when many crew were lost, the age of the crew was sometimes in their late teens! Not for Herr Kaleun perhaps, although there were a few examples of them being in their early twenties.

Valid point...

but what about the crew visibly aging over the time of the war... and the men growing hair and beards on patrol

Reasonable statement. As soon as crewmen are draftees and navy (especialy submarines) are more demmanding on helth conditions many of the crew shall be about their 20s. As well as bootsmanmaat's and junior officers who shall be just a little bit older may be closer to their 30s with some exclusions, as older officers usually occupy staff positions ashore.

In the book Das Boot the LI is described as being 27, but looking 40. So they used a 40-year-old actor in the movie. War does make men haggard and tired, and they usually do look older by the end of a patrol.

As for voices, I'm nearly 60 and still sound like a teenager, and I know teenagers who sound like "real men", so the variety in voices is endless.

So that's why I kept getting the voices of Rebel and you mixed up when I was in the room next door :hmmm:

:rotfl:

:rotfl:

You should talk, 'boy'! You sound like an eight-year-old!

That sir....is a compliment and I thank you.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/2063/image2rza.png