Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
But is it anywhere stated that any u-boat ended a patrol because they ran low on food? That's the real question.
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Page 91 of Blair's first volume Indicates that a number of boats did return due to low food stores, but also indicates it wasn't the only reason.
U-69 had to resort to killing dolphins to gain food (pg 301).
Type VII's only had enough fuel and food to patrol for ten days when they were assigned to canadian waters (pg 440).
U-332 arrived off of hatteras in feb '42 low on fuel, and u-128 was ordered to divert from Florida on their return trip to resupply u-332. They refused citing not enough food to make that detour. Pg 517.
There are also numerous accounts of both food and fuel being limiting factors in the campaign in American waters.
So, yes, I would say food did affect patrols.