Were TypeIX's used exclusively for long range patrols?

CCIP · 06-17-07, 08:08 PM

I would put it this way: they tended to be assigned long-ranged patrols as this best took advantage of their capabilities. However it depended on many factors including operational requirements, and as you know there was almost always a serious shortage of U-boats.

Aside from the Norway operation where U-64 participated and was sunk, Type IXs were occasionally assigned to wolfpack operations, most famously on the Gibraltar route. A number of them had quite some success there. By anyone but the Germans' standard they were a pretty swift, moderately-sized type of boat. They weren't, shall we say, as ideal (and certainly not as cost-effective) as Type VIIs on wolfpack operations, but they could do them. When possible, of course, they didn't since it made no sense to not exploit their range advantage under any normal circumstances.

06-17-07, 08:08 PM	#8
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	I would put it this way: they tended to be assigned long-ranged patrols as this best took advantage of their capabilities. However it depended on many factors including operational requirements, and as you know there was almost always a serious shortage of U-boats. Aside from the Norway operation where U-64 participated and was sunk, Type IXs were occasionally assigned to wolfpack operations, most famously on the Gibraltar route. A number of them had quite some success there. By anyone but the Germans' standard they were a pretty swift, moderately-sized type of boat. They weren't, shall we say, as ideal (and certainly not as cost-effective) as Type VIIs on wolfpack operations, but they could do them. When possible, of course, they didn't since it made no sense to not exploit their range advantage under any normal circumstances. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)