A First: New book about WW1 subs (but ...

Catfish · 06-10-08, 09:37 AM

Hello,
i have heard a lot of Clay Blairs's "Hitler's U-boat war", i did not yet read it though. Seems to be a modern approach to this scenario, and most of the critiques were indeed positive.

[" ... I found it interesting how the the first chapter is devoted to what Germany "learned" from WWI. I found one statistic interesting. The working theory is everything sunk was via a torpedo. But the statistics for WWI U-boats were 70% of what was sunk was by the DECK GUN according to Mr. Clay Blair's records and documentation. Interesting, egh? ... "]

Hmm maybe it is because of my (german) language, but i do not quite understand this. You mean that most sinkings during WWI were caused by U-boat's deck gun fire (right), while most sinkings in WWII were caused by torpedoes (right), and the question is what Germany learned of WWI ? :hmm:

For my understanding Blair does not mean this fact by "learning" of WW1, the circumstances in WW2 were much different. Most merchants were fitted with guns after 1941, and even if there is only one known damage of a U-boat by a merchant's deck gun it sure prevented the U-boats from surface attacks at daytime.
In the first days of the 2nd worls war when international laws were still kept, U-boats indeed stopped and searched merchants before sinking them.
Maybe he means "they" learned something else, like tactics, how to use U-boats with more effect, and the developing technology ?

Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

06-10-08, 09:37 AM	#3
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,777 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hello, i have heard a lot of Clay Blairs's "Hitler's U-boat war", i did not yet read it though. Seems to be a modern approach to this scenario, and most of the critiques were indeed positive. [" ... I found it interesting how the the first chapter is devoted to what Germany "learned" from WWI. I found one statistic interesting. The working theory is everything sunk was via a torpedo. But the statistics for WWI U-boats were 70% of what was sunk was by the DECK GUN according to Mr. Clay Blair's records and documentation. Interesting, egh? ... "] Hmm maybe it is because of my (german) language, but i do not quite understand this. You mean that most sinkings during WWI were caused by U-boat's deck gun fire (right), while most sinkings in WWII were caused by torpedoes (right), and the question is what Germany learned of WWI ? :hmm: For my understanding Blair does not mean this fact by "learning" of WW1, the circumstances in WW2 were much different. Most merchants were fitted with guns after 1941, and even if there is only one known damage of a U-boat by a merchant's deck gun it sure prevented the U-boats from surface attacks at daytime. In the first days of the 2nd worls war when international laws were still kept, U-boats indeed stopped and searched merchants before sinking them. Maybe he means "they" learned something else, like tactics, how to use U-boats with more effect, and the developing technology ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish