AHC Challenge: Have the Germans win with unrestricted submarine warfare in WW1

Evidently at the beginning of 1917 the German's position must have been bleak enough before the Russian collapse that this was the best idea they could come up with to win. Is there really any POD where the Germans could have sunk enough tonnage to force the western Allies to the peace table.
 
No. Once the Allies put in place the convoy system the Germans were unable to reach their goal of sinking 600,000 tons worth of materials. In fact they often even failed to get half that.
 
You'd have to delay the convoys at least. An argument against convoys was the need to take destroyers from the Grand Fleet. So if you could sink a lot of destroyers somehow while retaining the HSF, then convoying could be delayed.

Not sure how though. A full-scale slugfest in the North Sea might sink them, but probably also sink a lot of the HSF, removing the need for so many destroyers.
 
You'd have to delay the convoys at least. An argument against convoys was the need to take destroyers from the Grand Fleet. So if you could sink a lot of destroyers somehow while retaining the HSF, then convoying could be delayed.

Not sure how though. A full-scale slugfest in the North Sea might sink them, but probably also sink a lot of the HSF, removing the need for so many destroyers.

Maybe if 1st SG mauls Harwich Force during the Lowestoft Raid.
 
I am thinking, but its not much to go on:

1) Instead of complete unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915. The Germans start USW in a few smaller areas. The North Sea and channel east of Ramsgate-Boulonge. The med east of Malta. Prize rules elsewhere. Less likely to annoy USA and really didn't have the numbers of submarines to do major USW anyway. Should be able to maintain this level. Gradually increase to all of med. All of channel. then full USW by late 1916. Get the USA used to the need for USW gradually.
2) Just build more submarines in 1916. Give up idea of war winning land offensive (i.e. Verdun) if that allows more submarines to be built.
3) Forgo building the larger types, nothing bigger than the UB III class, build more UB II, UB III instead.
 
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