Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:29:13-2:29:44

Germany needed a balanced fleet, not simply more U-boats

Submarines could not replace destroyers, cruisers, carriers, and access to the open ocean in solving Germany's wider naval problem.

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Question

Did Germany need more U-boats instead of battleships?

Short answer

It needed a balanced navy and better access to the ocean; changing the ratio of submarines to battleships would not solve the larger problem.

Notes

Germany needed a balanced navy rather than a different ratio of battleships to U-boats. It lacked destroyers, cruisers, carrier aviation, and the force needed to support varied operations. Geography compounded the material weakness because every route to the Atlantic ran past British-controlled approaches. More submarines might strengthen commerce war, but they would not supply the missing fleet functions or remove the blockade problem.