Q&A ยท 36:00-37:06

Why more submarines would not transform Jutland

Early submarines were dangerous when positioned, but poorly suited to moving through a fast, crowded fleet action.

Question

Would more German submarines have changed Jellicoe's plans at Jutland?

Short answer

They would matter once detected, but their limited speed and exposure while repositioning made them poorly suited to a moving fleet battle.

Notes

Additional submarines would not change Jellicoe's plans until they were detected. A boat already in position could threaten ships passing its way, but submarines of the period could not reposition quickly. Moving on the surface in the middle of a fleet battle exposed them to destroyers, cruisers, and battleship secondary guns. Dreadnought's ramming of a submarine supplies another example of that danger.