Lone Wolf vs Pack Wolves

Sailor Steve · 01-23-15, 03:51 PM

From what I've been reading American wolf packs, though they did exist, were few and far between. Not starting until late 1943, the few that were assigned usually operated in groups of three, barring of course the one nine-boat pack late in the war.

The problem is that unlike the Germans, who were generally quite chatty, American submarines observed strict radio silence, so once they were in the patrol area they were still pretty much alone. The tactics were coordinated before-hand and the results calculated afterward.

You mention supply submarines. As far as I'm aware US subs carried supplies to island ground troops, but there was nothing in the US arsenal resembling the German milch kuh. Any fuel and torpedo resupply was done via a tender anchored at an advanced, but secure, forward base.

01-23-15, 03:51 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	From what I've been reading American wolf packs, though they did exist, were few and far between. Not starting until late 1943, the few that were assigned usually operated in groups of three, barring of course the one nine-boat pack late in the war. The problem is that unlike the Germans, who were generally quite chatty, American submarines observed strict radio silence, so once they were in the patrol area they were still pretty much alone. The tactics were coordinated before-hand and the results calculated afterward. You mention supply submarines. As far as I'm aware US subs carried supplies to island ground troops, but there was nothing in the US arsenal resembling the German milch kuh. Any fuel and torpedo resupply was done via a tender anchored at an advanced, but secure, forward base. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo