Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:07:58-2:09:26

Which submarine design caused the most wartime damage?

The panel weighs the German Type VII and American Gato against the Royal Navy's smaller but exceptionally productive U class.

Gato Class SubmarinesSubmarinesType VII U-BoatU Class SubmarinesWorld War II
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Question

What was the best World War II submarine design when judged by the damage or trouble it caused the enemy?

Short answer

The Type VII leads in aggregate, but the panel favors the U class pound-for-pound because a much smaller force achieved outsized results in the Mediterranean.

Notes

The Type VII has the strongest claim by total continuity and scale, while the Gato class was also highly effective. On a per-boat basis, however, the answer favors the Royal Navy U class for the damage and disruption a comparatively small number of boats inflicted in the Mediterranean. The comparison separates aggregate effect from efficiency relative to fleet size.