This all based on perspective, but I'll give it a go.
The IXB and IXC I think are better at what they were built for sinking merchants undetected, and surviving. The IXD2 is moving into the big sub class, where range is increased at the price of many advantages. It's a balancing act and one can't have it all.
The balao is a bigger, faster, and more powerful boat. Speed and endurance go to the USN.
Technology also goes to the USN. With the radar carried on USN subs, plus the way it was mounted high up the IXD2 is at a disadvantage.
But the deciding factor in the contest is none of the above. Ultra is the deciding factor.
US and Netherlands boats win. Germany and Japan loose.
In all of WWII there was only one case of one sub sinking another while both were submerged.
An english sub sunk a german uboat.
Netherlands should never be overlooked in sub vs sub sinking.
The germans paid a fairly high toll to the dutch.
Remember who invented the snorkel.
English subs were also fairly successful uboat hunters.
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