Snorkel Device???

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Krauter

Thanks for the info, although I always thought that Donitz had never wanted to hear any wrong of his submariners, and thus investigated all possible equipment defects.

Also, all equipment (torpedoes in this case) always have teething problems

With Regards,

Krauter

From what I have read concerning Donitz he was always forthwith concerning the u-boats and the men that sailed them into battle. All complaints were taken seriously and handled quickly. Donitz also required stalwart crews that would not cower in the face of the enemy. Just as demanding as the crews were, Donitz was just as demanding in return. The torpedo situation was much like the US torpedoes in the beginning. Many problems at the start. If I'm not mistaken the two engineers who worked on the torpedoes and did not correct them were summarily removed, either imprisoned or firing squad...not sure which one was their fate.

As far as the US, quite a few German torpedoes made the beaches along the eastern seaboard of the US. These were studied and replicated in a few areas. Specifically electric torps. I believe but not sure about the homing torps and the US getting their hands on one to study for development.

[Krauter]

From what I've heard of both Sub Commands, I'd rather have the Kriegsmarine+Donitz commanding my actions then a High Command willing to deny their skippers the right tools, and who must also be shown over a long period of time the effects of their actions.

However I tend to lean more towards the German Army in WW2 (NOT their political reasons..). You have to admit, comparing forces such as the German U-Boots and the American Fleet Boats, the Germans certainly had an edge; both in technology and experience, as well as tactics.

However, whose to say is the most elite of the submariners, no one can really tell..

With Regards (to this totally weird post)

Krauter

[Krauter]

If I have offended anyone with my ideals on the German and American Submarine Command in the Atlantic and Pacific, I apologize in advance.

With Regards,

Krauter

[Hartmann]

But not in radar and ASW technology, and it makes the difference in the late years of the war.

Radar makes very difficult or impossible surface night attacks, and the planes equiped with it makes the life misserable for the u-boats. forcing it to stay dived running at 3 knts without possibility of recharge battery or chasing convoys.
In radar tech, allies were always a step forward compared with germany.

They have a good submarine tech and designs but they don´t use it until it was too late, like the XXI boats, or they thought that the war could be finished for 1943

[Krauter]

True, radar was lacking in the German U-boots. However, comparing the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, you'll see that the Atlantic would be **Slightly** easier to patrol, especially as in earlier in the war the U-Boots were patrolling off of the British Isles only and could rely on sightings for FW 200?? Condor search planes from the mainland.

So Radar really came handy to the Americans because they had a lot more area to search and could not rely on visual sightings of convoys from land based aircraft until later on in the war.

Please shove this post back in my face if you see any faults in it I am NOT an expert but am recalling only vague memories of some reading on the Pacific Campagins as well as the Atlantic.

With Regards,

Krauter