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Originally Posted by Capt.LoneRanger
It's really funny how people still think the German submarine fleet was the most advanced in the world, just because it was the most famous. :hmm:
Anyway - the Netherlands had been experimenting with the snorkel from 1938 on and Germany adopted that system for their boats. The basic problem about the modification was the stability of the snorkel. Even late-war-submarines had to drive rather slowly, not much faster than 6kts to not damage the tube and it was very vulnerable in rough sea.
For the US, this was simply not practicable. They experimented with the system, but refit-programs were only initiated after the war, accompanied with larger refit-programs for the submarine-fleet, including projects to modify the hull for this purpose, to eliminate the drawbacks.
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Yes, but you have to admit that having their u-boats constantly sunk by aircraft was a huge incentive for the German navy to more rapidly install and use devices such as the snorkle. The US had far less need for it.
Also, don't forget the Type XXI. Revoultionary for its day and the first
true submarine.
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GisseleVogue