Q&A · 4:46:59-4:47:10

Why more submarine docks would reveal Germany's priorities

Existing battleship docks and new submarine facilities presented different construction and intelligence problems.

Naval Intelligence Naval Procurement Shipbuilding U-Boats

Question

Could Germany have built additional U-boat docks instead of the two large battleship docks?

Short answer

The battleship docks already existed, while new submarine facilities would need to be built and would reveal the change in priorities.

Notes

The docks for Bismarck and Tirpitz already existed in this comparison. Additional U-boat facilities would have required construction. That visible work would have signalled a decision to build more submarines.