Most effective "possible" WWII weapon at sinking merchantmen?

Deleted member 1487

...However, there were never enough sent out to close the sea-lanes immediately after war was declared. Not very survivable, but a massive distraction for the Royal Navy in the first months of the war.

Did the Japanese ever build their own version of an HSK?
Yeah, because their effectiveness was not predicted, nor was the start of the war. I still maintain that Uboats were the primary weapon and auxillary cruisers were just supplemental.
 
Thank you...

...Japan was sadly ineffectual, thank goodness.

However, the German HSK raiders were remarkably effective and could have caused more havoc. Minefields outside Halifax, NS and New York, NY, could have been disastrous for the convoys. So, too, could clandestine overflights by seaplanes to report when the convoys were due to depart. An HSK could have been used to land spies, saboteurs and frogmen, to attack storehouses and moored or anchored ships. The Great War saw German agents set off a massive explosion on a quayside, so they have the experience to do the same in the Second War - a more effective Operation Pastorius.
 
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Saphroneth

Banned
...Japan was sadly ineffectual, thank goodness.

However, the German HSK raiders were remarkably effective and could have caused more havoc. Minefields outside Halifax, NS and New York, NY, could have been disastrous for the convoys. So, too, could clandestine overflights by seaplanes to report when the convoys were due to depart. An HSK could have been used to land spies, saboteurs and frogmen, to attack storehouses and moored or anchored ships. The Great War saw German agents set off a massive explosion on a quayside, so they have the experience to do the same in the Second War - a more effective Operation Pastorius.
The German HSK raiders, as I understand it, mainly managed to survive through not being noticed. Faffing around Halifax might mess with this.
 
Don't be so negative...

...The minelaying off Auckland was done through flap-hatches in the stern. An HSK passed itself off as a neutral steamer or an allied ship likely to pass through the same area. Then it did what it had to and left to assume another identity.

Now do you understand?
 

Saphroneth

Banned
...The minelaying off Auckland was done through flap-hatches in the stern. An HSK passed itself off as a neutral steamer or an allied ship likely to pass through the same area. Then it did what it had to and left to assume another identity.

Now do you understand?
Yes, but Halifax is a lot more of a busy area than Auckland and will draw more attention - which increases the chance someone will ask a question that will unmask them. OTL this is what happened to Kormoran, for example, when they eventually met a ship that asked the right question and got suspicious. Same for Atlantis, who identified herself as a Dutch ship and was then unmasked when the identification was confirmed false.
 
That is so...

...However, the military objective would have been achieved...

...Think of the terrible losses of Allied aircrew achieving small gains...
 
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