The Admiralty Cunningham inherited had just seen 71 German U-boats sunk across July, August, and September while Allied shipping losses fell. Those figures could encourage false confidence about the Atlantic. Snorkels, higher submerged speed, and improved engines allowed German submarines to remain a serious threat through the last day of the war in Europe. Heavy enemy losses did not end the contest with submarine technology.
Notable Point · 39:21-39:54
Why late-war U-boat losses did not end the threat
Even after 71 U-boats were sunk across three months, snorkels and higher underwater performance kept the submarine threat alive through the European war.