U-5's extended pursuits show how a submarine's presence could dominate the decisions of much larger armored cruisers. Georg von Trapp first chased Victor Hugo without finding a firing position, then stalked Léon Gambetta for roughly two days. The Adriatic was small enough for either cruiser to summon destroyers or trawlers rather than remain hunted. Weak anti-submarine support and poor command decisions allowed the pursuit to continue even though U-5 could not outrun an armored cruiser.
Chapter · 1:03:13-1:05:06
U-5 hunts French armored cruisers for days
Georg von Trapp's U-5 chases Victor Hugo and stalks Léon Gambetta, exposing weak escort coordination in a confined sea.