A twenty-boat fleet might sustain only seven or eight submarines near British waters at one time. Even twenty boats continuously on station would have been insufficient, and Germany lacked the necessary minelaying strength. The proposal offered the appearance of vigorous action, but its force arithmetic did not support the promised strategic result. The passage tests strategy against availability, transit time, and the number of platforms actually on station.
Notable Point · 28:08-29:03
Why twenty submarines could not close British trade
Operational availability meant a nominal force of twenty U-boats could place only a fraction off Britain, far too few to deliver Pohl's promised shutdown of trade.