What do submarines look like in the late 30s/early 40s if the Central Powers win WW1?
- Thread starter M79
- Start date
Not much different. On a cost per ton basis submarines are an expensive capability, especially in peace time.
There was no real gap as the German Navy set up NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw(IvS) in the Netherlands as an incubator for their submarine research and design knowledge. The technology had reached a plateau.
The classic 'u-boat' was fully developed and matured by 1914. Compare the German U43 class designed pre-WW1 and under construction in 1914 with the later Type VII refined during the 1920's and 30's:
Type U43 - 725 tons surfaced 940t submerged
Type VII - 769 tons surfaced 871t submerged
Type U43 - 65m long, 6.2m beam
Type VII - 67m long, 6.2m beam,
Type U43 - 2,400 hp 17.1 knots, 1200 hp - 9.1 knots submerged
Type VII - 2,800 hp 17.7 knots, 750 hp - 7.6 knots submerged
Type U43 - Range 9,400miles at 8knots, 55miles at 5knts submerged
Type VII - Range 8,500 miles at 10knots, 80 miles submerged at 4 knots
Type U43 - 4TT 2bow/2stern, 88mm deck gun
Type VII - 5TT 4bow/1stern, 88mm deck gun
Type U43 - Crew 36
Type VII - Crew 44
Type U43 - 164ft depth
Type VII - 750ft depth
As you can see, 20 years of development went into structural improvements following war experience to increase diving depth from 164ft to 750ft. Why? Because concealment as a defense wasn't enough, great depth was required too. The second war showed that great speed at depth was also required and thus the Elektro Boot was required. However, the high speed submarine had been developed in WW1 by the RN - the R class submarine from completely different requirements ie. to ambush submarines.
Type U43:
There was no real gap as the German Navy set up NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw(IvS) in the Netherlands as an incubator for their submarine research and design knowledge. The technology had reached a plateau.
The classic 'u-boat' was fully developed and matured by 1914. Compare the German U43 class designed pre-WW1 and under construction in 1914 with the later Type VII refined during the 1920's and 30's:
Type U43 - 725 tons surfaced 940t submerged
Type VII - 769 tons surfaced 871t submerged
Type U43 - 65m long, 6.2m beam
Type VII - 67m long, 6.2m beam,
Type U43 - 2,400 hp 17.1 knots, 1200 hp - 9.1 knots submerged
Type VII - 2,800 hp 17.7 knots, 750 hp - 7.6 knots submerged
Type U43 - Range 9,400miles at 8knots, 55miles at 5knts submerged
Type VII - Range 8,500 miles at 10knots, 80 miles submerged at 4 knots
Type U43 - 4TT 2bow/2stern, 88mm deck gun
Type VII - 5TT 4bow/1stern, 88mm deck gun
Type U43 - Crew 36
Type VII - Crew 44
Type U43 - 164ft depth
Type VII - 750ft depth
As you can see, 20 years of development went into structural improvements following war experience to increase diving depth from 164ft to 750ft. Why? Because concealment as a defense wasn't enough, great depth was required too. The second war showed that great speed at depth was also required and thus the Elektro Boot was required. However, the high speed submarine had been developed in WW1 by the RN - the R class submarine from completely different requirements ie. to ambush submarines.
Type U43:
Riain
Banned
This is pretty much the same as the other Naval powers. Despite some interwar experiment the British went to war with designs evolved from their late successful ww1 designs that entered service in the 20s and early 30s.
The only major powers who had significantly different submarines by WW2 as compared to their WW1 subs were the US and Japan and that's mainly due to the planned fleet scouting/skirmishing role they had in the vastness of the Pacific
After the steam powered K class the RN wanted 20 2,200ton 22knot River Class Fleet Submarines but only built 3 due to cost and tonnage restrictions.
OP doesn't say what "CP win" means, but if England isn't invaded (which CP were hardly capable of), whatever peace the UK eventually accepts (presumably after the fall of France) will not involve the RN being dismantled. Lots of colonial territory being returned and maybe a little extra conceded, sure, but the UK would rather fight on indefinitely than give up RN, and the Central Powers did not want to fight on indefinitely.
You would have to think that in a WW1 Germany victory time line where the merchant subs happened, perhaps with the USA neutral in such a time line, maybe even more of them.
That the Germans might build a handful of big cargo capable subs to run supplies to the colonies in a future war.
In the absence of unrestricted submarine warfare happening the German might continue to develop mine-laying subs.
The cruises of the various commerce raiders being a highlight of German naval activity would lead to continued interest in such raiding in the future, and large diesel powered subs would be good raiders.
That the Germans might build a handful of big cargo capable subs to run supplies to the colonies in a future war.
In the absence of unrestricted submarine warfare happening the German might continue to develop mine-laying subs.
The cruises of the various commerce raiders being a highlight of German naval activity would lead to continued interest in such raiding in the future, and large diesel powered subs would be good raiders.