[AS]

Here´s what I know for sure from various readings (all figures refer to VIIb and c): - unlike the US Navy the German Navy calculated a security factor of 1.5 and 2.5, which means: 100m operational depth - (multiplied by 1.5: 150m maximum depth, e.g. when in danger, multipled by 2.5: 250m calculatzed cruch depth) - the (secret!) crush depth was considered to be around 250m for VIIb/c, but this was a calculted, theoretical figure - several U-Boats, the real U-96 being among them, went much deeper, e.g. U-96 was at about 280m and returned home - later in war, when commanders were more experienced, they normally went to 200m without hesitating, but they were careful not to go way deeper. - today´s scientific calculations estimate the actual cruch depth around 290 or 300m . the BIG problem about crush depth is that the hull didn´t usually just implode ("crush"), but the weak spots became more and more problematic, leading to flooding etc. So the relevant question isn´t so much about "when did the hull actually collapse", but "How ddep could they go without causing so unstoppable flooding"? - whereas SH3 is totally wroing about crush depth, GW is too optimistic, since they have 500m as a standard value. This is certainly exaggerated. I believe in the experience U-96 made and today´s calculation because they both say the same: lethal depth must have been around 300m. Cheers, AS