[Leandros]

One way the XXI could have made a difference was combined with better quality armaments. Homing torpedoes were coming of age and a dedicated effort to minimize escort numbers could well have been effective. However, all through the war the BDU was quite passive on this aspect of warfare. If not in wolf packs gathering at sea, two or three XXI's could operate togheter from patrol start under given tactical instructions. With VHF comm. and the combination of high-speed, visible-trail - and homing torpedoes - escorts could have been given a hard time if attacked in concert.

It also seems that the German leadership showed little imagination in countering the escort threat, even when new technology became available. Does anyone have sources on plannning for tactics such as above...?

Of course, this would do little to minimize the threat from the air. Except that higher surface speed and more effective, concerted AA fire could be given from several vessels cruising togheter on the surface. Submerged they could also remove themselves much farther (due to the higher submerged speed) from a detected area, both to surface undetected by aircraft and to get away from ASV's directed to an area by aircrafts.

A main factor, seen from the German side, was that together with the improved submarines the KM should finally get proper reconnaisance support from the Luftwaffe - mainly with the help of the new He 177. This was a result of Dønitz's promotion to head of KM, his improved relations with Hitler and Gøring's demise. As it turned out the Luftwaffe had just as much problems getting these into service as the KM with their XXI's.