Actually, the Germans DID have a pesky bureaucracy. In 1939-40, the U-Boote suffered a rash of torpedo failures, just as the USN did. The failures ruined a good few attacks on Allied warships and merchantmen alike, especially during the German invasion of Norway. As with the USN, the failures were blamed on the skippers- the torpedoes were not at fault. Unlike the USN, however, Dönitz and Raeder quickly ordered a full investigation, uncovering pretty much the same mess as later discovered in the USN. As a result, it was "action this day!" in Germany and those responsible were severely dealt with (no doubt posted to sentry duty at the North Cape).
|