Nazi resource use and V weapons

Perhaps it's an idea if we try think of other terrains the Germans could have used the resources a toned down V weapons program (as the OP first stated) other than in submarines or jets.
It looks to me as both the submarines and jets are discussed by now.

What about my earlier suggestion of more investments in the Atlantic Wall? That should be a less controversial/unconventional investment than new toys like jet, elektroboot and the like?


Any other ideas?
 
Actually I think Hitler's idea of using Me-262 as a Schnellbomber was fairly good one.
What does that make the Ar-234, then?:mad:

I read somewhere every V-2 cost as much in labor & material as 10 Me-262/Ar-234s. I figure that's 100 or more V-1s...& V-1s could've been in service in 1940.
I think possibility of putting more effort on submarine research has been overlooked in ATL scenarios. It is perhaps difficult to justify without really analyzing impact of radar
The effect of radar against subs is somewhat overrated, since Doenitz didn't really appreciate how effective HF/DF was. And he was indifferent, even hostile, to the new elektrobooten, so "more research" won't do it. The Type XXI, with more streamlining, better batteries, & schnorchel, could've entered service in '42, IMO; trying to add automatic torpedo-loading gear was plain dumb, IMO.

Had even a "Type XXI light" appeared in numbers that early, RN/RCN ASW would've been overwhelmed. It might've been enough for Doenitz to lay off his stupid insistence on regular, trivial reporting, which helped Allied DF find & sink his boats (& crack KM Enigma, BTW). Blind to their location, RN/RCN would've been in big, deep trouble. Give U-boats the ability to home on convoy TBS, to reduce the need for "trailer" boats to report, you make them virtually invulnerable to WW2-era ASW.:eek::eek: You now need something like SOSUS in the Bay of Biscay & helicopter-capable DDs or CVEs. Tanker/bulk carrier-converted CVEs would do it... You'd have to develop earlier-than-OTL sonobuoys ('44 OTL, IIRC) & a fast (25+kt) homing fish, like the Mk24 FIDO (capable only 12 knots, it entered service 3/43 OTL), too, & something like an uprated R-4 (first flown 1940 OTL), with around 500hp & able to carry at least 2 crew & 1 "Super FiDO", could be flown from these CVEs. If somebody has the foresight, adding a helicopter flat to every tanker would obviate the need for specialist conversions, & could be easily retrofitted as the "R-4bis" begins to arrive.... What the Germans do in response is anybody's guess, but something like an acoustic-homing sub-launched SAM, in this vein, minus the wire-guidance, wouldn't surprise me a bit...
 
Last edited:
Top