The most phenominal thing about the XXI from a battlefield perspective i would imagine would be it's underwater speed and added depth capabilities. If the XXI's true abilities remained a secret, it could seriously beffudle most Allied subhunting warships out there.
Battety recharge in the game taking too long?? I've never played the XXI yet so today i'll check that out.
The XXI would have been a viscious killer in WWII from what i've read and the documentaries ive seen. Main thing is the 6 front torpedo tubes with the capability to stay submerged longer and escape faster after firing. Not sure what the actual crush depth was. Maybe 400 meters??
Anyhow, at deeper depths, depthcharges take alot longer to sink down. Giving the XXI alot more options to maneuver out of their blast radius at 17 knots speed. Though perhaps a couple destroyers could harass an XXI until it ran out of battery power.
Smartest thing with Destroyers around is to do is fire off 6 fish at cargo ships from a couple kilometers away at least and immedietely evade. Then re-surface, circle ahead of the Convoy and simply repeat. Maybe knocking of one of the typical 4 Destroyers on patrol first, to clear out a side to attack from.
Workd in the game. Probably in real combat as well. Had it worked well. The 75% german submarine casualty rates would have been far lower. With added XXI underwater cruising distance and air time underwater being the key to staying concealed. Like nuclear subs.
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