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Originally Posted by Warmonger
Well, I think there's a difference between "duty" and "favor". The examples you are talking about are favors, the "I owe you one" situations.
But as a sub commander it is my duty to sink ships and earn renown and climb up the ladder in this process. I'm not doing a favor for the BdU. And military ranks and decorations are mostly dependent on good results in your operations which are consequently rewarded, but not in this way "You've done good and are promoted/are allowed to buy upgrades but you have to start from scratch now". That doesn't make sense for me.
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Ok heres an example more directly related. I don't have the book infront of me, but i remember it distinctly. Herbert Werner, in "Iron Coffins" towards the end of the war, meets up with one of his old captains thats still around, that was put in command of one of the newer type XXI's going through sea trials. His captain asked him, "they don't have you sailing one of those old coffins do they?", His response was that , to paraphraise, "I dont have the same level of influence that you do."
Simply put, he wasnt a high enough reknown skipper to be intrusted with that type of boat. It's not fair, but thats how the world works. I think of renown as an emulation of that. Same thing with snorkels. They weren't widley available until 44. Herbert Werener knew of them in 43, but coudlnt aquisition one. Supplies were limited, and he just didnt have the strings to pull to make it happen.