Germany's mine-warfare blind spot

Germany became synonymous with submarine warfare, yet its navy repeatedly resisted using submarines and surface ships as minelayers. Even officers who pressed hardest for unrestricted submarine warfare had to be pushed toward the mining role, despite having proof of concept and capable vessels. The comparison with artillery and naval gunfire support rests on the same pattern: each can inflict disproportionate damage while losing funding and attention to more visible platforms. A modest program of fast minelayers between 1908 and 1915 could have preserved a capability the navy already knew it needed.