Snorkel in type IXD2 German Uboats

[jorgegonzalito]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

AS I recollect, 7 knots under water on batteries is top speed attainable. If your on the schnorkel and only at a similar speed that's because 6 knots is the limit! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel Bottom line: if SH IV is doing 6 knots that's realistic immersion in the game BBY... Twixt brökken tubes, eardrüms, and telltale 'schnorkel feathers': orders from BdU! Additionally, anything above seven knots would cause a raised periscope vibrate so badly as to be unuseable. As IXD2's were used exclusively in the far Southern Atlantic and Indian ocean, far from home, a cracked periscope tube would spell doom to the long-range mission .
Keep it at 6 and 'mind yer six' when using the schnorkel. https://www.uboat.net/allies/documents/usaaf_asw3.htm THE FIRST ATTACK ON YOUR BOAT, WITH 'SCOPE AND SCHORKEL RAISED, WILL LIKELY BE UP YOUR '6' BY A LIBERATOR AT 50' OFF THE
SURFACE...'

I was unaware of everything you tell me about the subject. Snorkels were obviously not the panacea that solved the problem, but at least they could perhaps recharge the batteries while diving without attracting too much attention. How to know (in SH4) if at 6 knots the submarine is sailing submerged with diesel or electric engines? I suppose that with the option of limited batteries you could check if they recharge, or on the contrary they discharge. Thank you very much for your detailed answer! It's amazing what I'm learning here every day about submarines!

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by jorgegonzalito

Snorkels were obviously not the panacea that solved the problem,

ADM Dönitz having once sent a message to one his U boat aces "Kongrats Kaleun, U haf new baby...mit snorkel!" I can attest in the sense of it...raising the schnorkel is seldom a panacea that solves any problem., especially if it gives away your position to an aircraft with 10 centimeter radar!! My late uncle (passed 2 months ago) age 95; who flew anti-submarine Liberators seldom discussed his wartime experiences, but implied that U-boats didn't have much chance. Essentially WWI technology; upgraded somewhat in WWII, but ultimately no match for Allied technology in the air. Germany didn't just lose the shooting war at sea, it lost the "wizard war" of superior overall technology culminating in the Manhattan Project. Bottom line: as author Blair puts in his Hitler's U-Boat War vol I & II, only sinking 5% of allied shipping overall, from 1939 to 1945, is a poor return for the annihilation of 75% of your entire U-boat force!

[jorgegonzalito]

It's true what you say, they would have needed bigger and more modern submarines since the beginning of the war, like the type XXI. Let's not forget another important ingredient that played against the Germans, which was the cracking of the "Enigma" code by the Allies, which the high command of the Uboats was completely ignorant of. Your comments are very instructive! Gracias amigo!!

[jorgegonzalito]

Sailing at 6 knots submerged the battery remained charged, I lowered the snorkel and then it started to drain the battery. How good!

[Aktungbby]

U R a'learnin' grasshopper! PS: Bresking the enigma code was simply another factor or the "WIZARD WAR".