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The Submarine Revolution in World War II: How the Type XXI Submarine Changed Underwater Warfare
During World War II, Germany's Type XXI submarine was considered a major technological breakthrough. This class of submarines was designed to operate submerged for extended periods of time, rather than surfacing as frequently as previous submarines. The Type XXI design demonstrated the potential of submarines in underwater warfare and laid the foundation for submarine design in the following decades.
These submarines were the first designed specifically for underwater warfare, and their design philosophy revolutionized naval strategy.
Design and features of Type XXI submarine
The Type XXI submarine's design includes a streamlined hull and bridge, and is equipped with a large number of batteries, allowing it to operate underwater for long periods of time. Its underwater speed can reach 17.2 knots, which is twice as fast as the Type IX submarines of the same period.
Compared to previous submarines, the Type XXI submarines have significantly increased their submerged time and speed, making them more difficult to track and destroy.
In addition, the Type XXI submarine was designed with an electric torpedo loading system that allows for rapid reloading of all six torpedo tubes and the ability to launch 18 torpedoes in less than 20 minutes. This undoubtedly greatly increases its attack capability on the battlefield.
Construction process and its challenges
Between 1943 and 1945, a total of 118 Type XXI submarines were built at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, AG Weser in Germany and Schichau-Werke in Danzig. These submarines were the first to adopt a modular construction approach, attempting to produce different components in different factories and perform final assembly at the shipyard. However, due to the urgency of design and manufacturing, as well as the factory's lack of technical experience, the final quality of the submarine was seriously affected.
Historian Clay Blair points out that these submarines would not have had a significant impact in the war between Britain and Germany.
Wartime and postwar service
Despite their advanced design, only two Type XXI submarines conducted actual combat patrols before Germany surrendered. However, neither submarine was able to sink the Allied ship. After the war, several Type XXI submarines were adopted by the navies of various countries and operated in a variety of roles, continuing to serve for decades.
For example, France renamed U-2518 Roland Morillot and took part in the 1956 Suez Crisis, while the Soviet Union received four submarines under the names B-27, B-28, etc., further affecting its submarines The development of design.
Influence on later submarine design
The design concept and technology of Type XXI had a wide-ranging impact on the submarine design of navies of many countries after the war. The U.S. Navy made several GUPPY improvements, and the basis of this design also became the foundation for the Soviet Whiskey and Romeo class submarines.ConclusionThe Type XXI submarine had an impact not only in Germany, but its design concept also promoted the advancement of submarine technology around the world.
Overall, the Type XXI submarines ushered in a new era of underwater warfare in terms of both design and technology, and although their use in World War II was limited, their impact on subsequent submarines cannot be underestimated. Future submarines will continue to draw on these technologies, and naval combat strategies will gradually change with the evolution of submarines. What does history's choice tell us: do we really fully understand the profound changes brought about by this submarine revolution?
