Quote:
Originally Posted by Subnuts
I really wish people would read a serious technical history of conventionally-powered US submarines before indulging in these debates. John Alden's The Fleet Submarines in the United States Navy or Norman Friedman's US Submarines Through 1945 would do just fine.
Seriously, the level of ignorance I see in these sort of threads boggles my mind. A lot of people seem unwilling or unable to understand the basic tenets and trade offs of submarine design. Forget surface speed, habitability, underwater endurance, armament, sonar and radio outfit, range, diving depth, or reserve buoyancy. There will always be those who think that the ability to dive deep was the only important factor in submarine design prior to the Nautilus.  |
I have read and own both of these books and I must to an extent disagree with your statement.You are over thinking the question the OP asked about what one prefers what one thinks is better from the limitations of the Silent Hunter series not what was best in real life.And even from that view better technology alone means nothing if you do not have highly trained and motivated men manning a sub.Also I find Friedman's book to be some what scattered he must have been under pressure of a deadline and have you read any books on German or any other nations submarine technology?You cant simply read two books about one nations subs and say that all others are inferior if you have only read books on part of the subject but consider this enough to be definitive evidence of superiority then maybe you are boggling your own mind.