Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 34:45-35:15

Which Second World War submarines offered the best habitability

No wartime submarine was genuinely comfortable, with Dutch boats offering the best relative crew habitability among the major navies.

HabitabilityNaval PersonnelRoyal Netherlands NavySubmarinesWorld War II
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Question

Which navy's Second World War submarines had the best crew comfort, and which would he choose to serve aboard?

Short answer

The Dutch, while stressing that none of the period's submarines were actually comfortable.

Notes

No Second World War submarine provided genuine comfort. Space, machinery, stores, and the demands of submerged operation made every boat a harsh living environment. Within that constrained comparison, Dutch submarines offer the best choice for crew habitability. Relative accommodation standards should not be confused with comfort by surface-ship or shore standards.