By the 1930s, submarines were becoming safer and more operationally credible, but service conditions remained harsh compared with later boats. First World War crews had endured especially uncomfortable and dangerous machinery with little margin for failure. Historical research cited here suggests that some navies favored recruits with few family ties, including unmarried men and orphans. The practice reflected a grim institutional expectation: early submarines often killed their own crews before they could harm an enemy.
Notable Point · 1:00:31-1:02:09
Why early submarine service carried an exceptional human cost
Interwar boats were becoming recognizable modern submarines, but memories of catastrophic early accidents still shaped who navies sent aboard them.