US vs. German subs - which was better?

[rifleman13]

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

Pfft.
How can you even put that Bf109 heap of junk in the same category as the Supermarine Spitfire!?
Yeah yeah, fuel injectors, negative-g's, highest kills of any aircraft, blah blah, boring...
What you really want is eight machineguns superglued to a Merlin.

Like a P-51?:hmm:

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by rifleman13

Like a P-51?:hmm:

2nd choice
Hey I just check wikipedia... it says 6 guns. :hmm:

[msalama]

Yer Biffers, Ponys and Spits... BAH!!! The sexiest prop fighter of all time is, of course, Yak-3.

Er, I'll get me coat then

[Puster Bill]

Originally Posted by msalama

Yer Biffers, Ponys and Spits... BAH!!! The sexiest prop fighter of all time is, of course, Yak-3.

Er, I'll get me coat then

False. Sexiest prop fighter of all time:



Albatros DVa

(This is the one at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome)

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

2nd choice
Hey I just check wikipedia... it says 6 guns. :hmm:

True, but the P-51 had six Browning .50s, as opposed to eight .303s.

So, who had the better trench-digging shovels?

[raymond6751]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

True, but the P-51 had six Browning .50s, as opposed to eight .303s.

So, who had the better trench-digging shovels?

The 50's had better range and better punch, so I vote P-51. Aarh...

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice discussion here lads , let's get back on track though with the OP regarding subs. Maybe Dowly you could start something up with regards to planes in the FS Forum, sounds like there is interest

By the way, got IL46 the other day, man, could not get over the amount
of planes to fly


RDP

[Phaedrus]

Just a few final notes:


- A P-51 is really an unfair comparison, designed in 1940 as opposed to 1933 for the 109, and 1934.
- Early model Spitfires had the eight .303's, later had two Hispano 20mm's and four .303's.
- The 109 is the most produced fighter design in history, so that counts for something.


Now, to return to the original discussion:

There are similar circumstances in the fleet boat / u-boat debate.
When trying to compare the boats, we would do well to remember that the VIIA was designed in 1934, with the VIIB following in 1936. While the IX boats were conceived in 1936.
The VIIC which shouldered the bulk of the load was first commissioned in 1940, but as has been mentioned, it was essentially a WW1 design.

The U.S. Gato class was quickly conceived and built, and entered production in 1940. The Balao class entered production in 1942.

U.S. design included internal torpedo storage and many forward tubes, but had terrible torpedoes and inferior fire control, particularly in when surfaced at night.
Pre-war U.S. training was also inferior compared to the German submariners, with just about half of U.S. commanders being relieved of command within the first 8 months of the war. I will allow that the comparison in training is not necessarily a useful comparison due to the vastly different missions of the two nation's sub forces (fleet engagement vs. blockade action).

Summary:

Each boat has it's own advantages and disadvantages, because they are really two different tools.
Yes, they are both submarines and they go under water, but just because my tin snips and pliers go into the same tool box, it doesn't make them the same tool.
Each is used for it's own designed purpose.

[JU_88]

Their both rubbish!!!
I prefer Royal Navy subs so there!