Figure 1.--.

The Germans developed a vastly imoroved U-boat--the Type 21. If the NAZIs had succeeded in deploying Type 21s in numbers, they could have had a significant impact on the War. An inovative naval engineer Herman WAlter designed what was to be the first true submarine. It could operate for extended periods and at great speed underwater--17 knots. This was considerably faster than the speed of any other submarine at the time. Walter conceived of using hydrogen-peroxide as fuel. This was dangerous, but allowed extended operation without surfacing. The Type 21 project had to be substabtially scaled back, however, when Hitler allocated available hydrogen-peroxide to the secret V-2 project. The new Type 21 U-boats were designed with conventional engines, but banks of batteries allowing for fast operation unferwater. The Type 21 with its stremlined hull was in fact faster under-water than on the surface. These U-boats would have wreaked havoc in the North Atlantic if the Germans had been able to deploy them. Construction began on over 120 of these U-boats, but many had been destroyed or damaged in the shipyards by Allied bombing. A smaller new U-boat the Type 23 was also developed and 63 were built. It wa primarily for coastal patrols. Two Type 21s were sent out the last days of the War. Doneitz on May 4, hoever, ordered the 35 Uboats at sea home, NAZI Germany surendered a few days later on May 8. While the new Type 21 boats proved of little use to NAZI Germany. The U-boas seized by the Soviets became the nucleus of the new Soviet submarine force after the War. The Soviets found them, however, to be dangerous to operate.

Significance

The Germans developed a vastly imoroved U-boat--the Type 21. Many of the German weapons were revolutionary, but offered little real opportunity to change the course of the War. The Type 21 U-boat, however, was a weapon system of real significance. If the NAZIs had succeeded in deploying Type 21s in numbers, they could have had a significant impact on the War.

Characteristics

The Type 21 was a quantum leap in submarine design. It was the first true submarine as opposed to a ship hat coukd submerge. Modern submarines today show the influence of the Type 21. An inovative naval engineer Herman WAlter designed the type-2. Allied patrols were able to find U-boats because they had to run for houurs on the surface to charge their batteries. The Type 21 U-boas were able to run for extended period under water making them far stealthier than the old Type 7s and 9s. This made the boats much more stealthier. Submarines up to this point had really been surface ships that had the capability of sumerging. It could operate for extended periods and at great speed underwater--17 knots. Some reports suggest even higher speeds were possible. This speed could be maintained for only 1.5 hour, but the Type 21 could run at slow speeds (5 knots) underwater for 50 hours. This was considerably faster than the speed of any other submarine at the time. The Type 21 with its stremlined hull was in fact faster under-water than on the surface. They had advanced passive sonar allowing them to acquire targets at distances of up to 100 miles. They also did not have to ping wth theor own sonar and gibe their position away. The Type 21swere also deadlier than earlier types. They had substantial fire power with six forward topedo tubes.

Propulsion

Walter conceived of using hydrogen-peroxide as fuel. This was dangerous, but allowed extended operation without surfacing. The Type 21 project had to be substabtially scaled back, however, when Hitler allocated available hydrogen-peroxide to the secret V-2 project. The new Type 21 U-boats were designed with conventional diesel engines, but banks of batteries allowing for fast operation underwater. One report indicates that the boats had banks of 372 batteries. As a result the Type 21 became known as Elektricboots.

Potential Impact

These U-boats would have wreaked havoc in the North Atlantic if the Germans had been able to deploy them.

Black May (May 1943)

World War II turned against the NAZIs during late 1942 and early 1943. The first major reverse was the British 8th Army's vistory at El Alemain (October 1942) and the Anglo-American Torch landings in North Africa (November 1942). The Soviet Red Army then surrounded the German 6th Army at Stalingrad (November 1942). The war at sea turned a few months later--May 1943. German intellience learned of a major convoy from Britain to America, ONS 5. German wolf packs find the convoy and sink seven ships. The next day the U-boats press the attack. Allied escorts with air cover engage the wolf packs. In the single engagement 6 U-boats are sunk, 5 wrecked, and 12damaged. It is a stunning reversal. During May the building Allied naval strength in the Atlantic and widening technical superiority succeeded in sinking 41 U-boats, but in damaging 37 others. Damaging U-boats was important as by 1943 the expanding Allied strategic bombing campaign had brought German ports and shipyards under increasingly intensive attack making repairs of serious damage increasingly difficult. The U-boats were no longer the hunters, but the hunted. Increasingly after May there was less and less a chance of a U-boat returning from a cruise. Doenitz had to break off the campaign in the North Atlantic. The Germans by the end of 1943 had built 442 Uboats, but had lost 245 U-boats. After mid-1943 the Allies were able to deliver convoys virtually unmollested across the Atlantic. Losses were so high that Doenitz had to withdraw U-boats from the North Atlantic and considerably scale back operations.

Type 21 Program Approved

Doenitz realized that if the U-boat campaigned was to be rebived in the North Atlantic, new improved boats would be needed. The answer was the Type 21. He received Hitler's approval for the construction of a new fleet. The Kriegsmarine ordered 280 of the new Type 21s (July 1943).

Allied Strategic Bombing Campaign (1943-45)

Ordering and actually constructing the Type 21s were two different matters. German shipyards had to gear up for the larger new boats. The Allies by 1943 were targeting German shipyards with their expanded strategic bombing campaign. And U-boat facilities were the highest pririty target in 1942 and 43. German shipyards located on the coast rather than deep in Germany were the easiest to find and hit. The Allies did terrible damage to German ports in 1943. The Luftwaffe wreaked terrible damage to Allied air armadas, but by 1944 with the arrival of escort fighters, the Allies gained control of the skies over Germany. There was a repreve from heavy bombing during mid-1944 to focus on the D-Day landings, but much intensified bombing was resumed (September 1944). Raids in shipyards and canals devestated the Tye 21 construction program.

Construction

Construction began on over 120 Type 21s. Many U-boats had been destroyed or damaged in the shipyards by Allied bombing. Doenitz and Speer conceived of prefabricaing the boats in nine sections. The sections would be delivered to hardened pens at Bremerhaven where they would be assembled and launched. Hitler approved this plan (July 19, 1943). The NAZIs planned to assesmble a boat in 56 hours. This never proved possible. The massive pens could hold 5-6 boats at a one time. Construction of the prefabricated sections, however. was not done underground and the Allies hit the yards where they were being built. The Allies also hit the canal barges delivering the sections. A successful prefabrication progam requires that the sections be built to very precise standards. The NAZIs apparently found this difficult. Some observers suggest the use of slave labor was a factor here. I am not sure this is accurate or not. It the end by the time the British reached Breverhaven (April 1945), only a small number of boats had been built.

Deployment

The Type 21s were never tested in combat conditions. We do not know how successfully Allied ASW operations would have dealt with it. The Germans had lost their French Atlantic ports. Two Type 21s were finally sent out into the North Sea during the last days of the War. The first type 21 was unveiled (January 1945). Two protypes were sent out on missions (April). It was, however, much to late. Dönitz ordered all 35 U-boats at sea home (May 4). NAZI Germany surendered a few days later (May 8).

Cold War

While the new Type XX! boats proved of little use to NAZI Germany. The victorious Allies seized U 21s that they could find. The Americans and British got two each. The Soviets got six because they seized the Baltic sea ports. The U-boats seized by the Soviets became the nucleus of the new Soviet submarine force after the War. They were the first blue water Soviet subs. The Soviets found them, however, to be dangerous to operate with the hydrogen peroxide engines. The many advanced features of the Type XXIs made every sub in the American and British submarine fleet obsolete. German submarine design this alter the course of American designs well into the 2000s and the American nuclear navy owes much of its succss to German Type XXI design innovations. Swedish sub designers also contributed to American submarine technology. The Soviet commitment to build submarines made anti-submarine warfare one of the vital Western military efforts during the Cold war..

Created: 5:07 AM 7/12/2005
Last updated: 9:19 PM 12/31/2017