Merchants vs Warships

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Another thing to consider, The kreigsmarine surface fleet was stuck in port most of the time, due mainly to them being vastly outnumbered.

If the Uboatwaffe had made a concerted effort against the warships of the RN, that may have allowed the surface raiders of the OKM to sail more often, the cruisers and battleships could inflict vast more damage against a convoy than a couple u-boats.

Of course, with Donitz only having 20 or so U-boats at the start of the war, this wasn't practical.

So its kind of a grey area? Because one one hand realistically, the U boats should have gone after war ships, less warships means more easy targets for all surface ships. on the other tonnage is what they were supposed to focus on not to mention, intsead of sinking a convoy of easy 'targets' they could have just as easily threatened them to change course and brought them to Germany to use the supplies for them instead. As well as the ships. a cheaper more effective way! lol