After reading this thread I guess I felt the need to post some ideas which came to mind regarding some of the differences which caused Germany to take submarine technology down a different path from the US. Both countries started out building subs which for the most part were considered coastal defence and as such were primarily designed to operate in the lottorals. Also it may be worth noting during the intial stages of submarine development most countries considered the use submarines to be a somewhat cowardly way of waging war and this reason contributed heavily to the diminutive scale of the subs physical dimensions and scope of operations.
However once it became clear that the submarine was the most cost effective means of controling the sea lanes, development around this strategy quickly resulted in the designs we have now come to know. Geographically Germany didn't require the use of ultra long range fleet type subs until the US entered the war. On the other hand the US was well aware of the threat Japan posed to US interest throughout the Pacific region as early as Theodore Roosevelt's presidency.
Two different philosophies one purpose in mind. Both equaliy effective but techology on the US front proved to be the determining factor as well as a decidedly higher quality management of the available resources. US submarines forces amounted to 1.9% of the US Navy however they were responsible for sinking 52% of all Japanese shipping with a loss of 52 units in the process. And that was inspite of prosecuting the war for 2 years with faulty torpedos.
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