Otto Kretschmer
Banned
Which post war designs were influenced by the Type XXI and to what degree? If it was never designed do you see the design of subs going the same route?
The R class could have lead to the RN developing submarines optimised for offensive Hunter Killer mission agains U-Boats deploying from their bases in WW2The R Class is one of those great 'what ifs' because after the War the RN said "We don't need it and thus no one else will!" and basically scrapped the idea and any research into it The XXI pointed the way forwards, it combined the technologies that were available into a whole unit.
That would require questioning the complacent orthodox belief that the combination of convoys and asdic had neutered the submarine threat to Britain. You also have to persuade the treasury to fund a lot of expensive r and d into solving a problem the Admirals are saying has already been solved.The R class could have lead to the RN developing submarines optimised for offensive Hunter Killer mission agains U-Boats deploying from their bases in WW2
It would also be giving others obvious ideas, anybody can realize that an R class isnt going to be using cruiser rules........ Why work on this like subs that obviously hurt nations like GB that rely on ships?That would require questioning the complacent orthodox belief that the combination of convoys and asdic had neutered the submarine threat to Britain. You also have to persuade the treasury to fund a lot of expensive r and d into solving a problem the Admirals are saying has already been solved.
That would require questioning the complacent orthodox belief that the combination of convoys and asdic had neutered the submarine threat to Britain. You also have to persuade the treasury to fund a lot of expensive r and d into solving a problem the Admirals are saying has already been solved.
The use of Hunter Killer submarines is a deterrent. They would force the nations using submarines against trade to protect their bases from yet another threat. Submarine bases would now have to house ASW assets to create a bastion defense that kept hunter killer subs away.It would also be giving others obvious ideas, anybody can realize that an R class isnt going to be using cruiser rules........ Why work on this like subs that obviously hurt nations like GB that rely on ships?
But the exact same subs are perfect for say France (or Italy the med) to try and blockade GB merchant shipping.....The use of Hunter Killer submarines is a deterrent. They would force the nations using submarines against trade to protect their bases from yet another threat. Submarine bases would now have to house ASW assets to create a bastion defense that kept hunter killer subs away.
Those ASW assets would then in turn need to be protected from enemy surface raids, and so on.
Is it not more that basically all weapons development was stopped (or drastically slowed down) in interwar due to funds (look at how long it takes for the 16" N&R guns to be fixed with actual money spent on them), GB was trying to get treaties to limit subs out of use, so then got far to complacent in 30s for far to long, just like they did with 14" guns and BBs, when they started to actually believe the paper was worth something...?Aye that's the problem! The RN was absolutely sure that ASDIC was the be all and end all solution for the submarine threat, and IIRC they held some heavily biased exercises to 'prove' this. I do recall reading somewhere that the RN did look at an ahead throwing weapon some time in the 30's but felt it wasn't needed so stopped development too.
Commerce raiding required long patrols on the surface, gun armement, and a decent surface speed.But the exact same subs are perfect for say France (or Italy the med) to try and blockade GB merchant shipping.....
Basically HK subs mean you are planning to fight underwater with torpedoes only, at that point the WNT/LNT/etc attempts to get subs banned or limited to cruiser rules are gone and RN/GB would never want to be first to do that?
Not against GB from base in France if you are willing to go for USW rather than Cruiser rules...... Really, HK Subs would be very useful for a close blockade of GB ports from Europe or Malta from Italy?Commerce raiding required long patrols on the surface, gun armement, and a decent surface speed.
They would lack either decent detection/identification of targets or coms to locate shipping.Not against GB from base in France if you are willing to go for USW rather than Cruiser rules...... Really, HK Subs would be very useful for a close blockade of GB ports from Europe or Malta from Italy?