Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:09:20-3:10:41

Project 50 and the limits of steam submarines

German Project 50 tried to obtain nuclear-submarine-like performance with First World War technology and could not deliver it.

German NavySteam PropulsionSubmarinesWorld War I
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Question

Was the First World War German Project 50 submarine a good design?

Short answer

No; it was an attempt to obtain SSN-like performance from technology that could not support it.

Notes

The question concerns the German First World War Project 50 steam-submarine proposal. The comparison is with British attempts to build steam-powered submarines. Its intended performance is likened to what would later be associated with nuclear-powered attack submarines. The technology available at the time is judged insufficient to deliver that ambition.