View Single Post
Old 04-21-07, 01:55 PM   #5
joea
Silent Hunter
 
joea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva
Posts: 3,512
Downloads: 25
Uploads: 0
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeJW
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spruence M
Why do they only last for a few patrols? USN only lost 66 boats during the war, I'm sure a few made it from 41 all the way through..
Skippers made 5-9 patrols, average patrol was around 3 months. They would be taken off line and spend a year or so in a safer enviroment as instructors or shaking down a new sub. A lot made it back for a second tour but the USN didnt expect and didnt need their skippers to serve all war in command. The Germans had no choice.
Wrong German skippers didn't stay out the whole war either.
joea is offline   Reply With Quote