What was the significance of the u-boat in world war 2?

Answer 1

The Battle of the Atlantic, as it was called, lasted from 1939 till 1945. The U-boats were defeated mainly be the following: *As in WW1 the Allies relied on convoys which were escorted, for example, by destroyers. *Radar (of varying degrees of sophistication) sometimes made it possible to locate U-boats. *In fine weather, submerged U-boats were often visible to aircraft flying from carriers, and depth-charges could be used. Joncey

Answer 2

There are two ways to fight a war at sea. One is fighting fleets against fleets. The other is conducting warfare against the other country's merchant vessels-hitting his supply lines. Submarines are smaller, quicker to build, than are capital ships (Battleships & Aircraft Carriers). They also use LESS steel than capital ships. Nations that cannot compete with large battle fleets (such as Great Britain's fleets during WWII) will resort to a "Merchant War". Germany chose to build submarines (cheaper, quicker, and more of them) to attack and strangle the British Isles supply lines. Japan had large battle fleets, and chose "Fleet to Fleet Warfare."

Answer 3

It was effective against Great Britain. America wasn't even in the war until the very end of 1941. The war didn't become global until the United States entered into it. Therefore, the U-boat campaign effected Great Britain not the United States.

Winston Churchill lobbied FDR before Pearl Harbor and immediately following the Pearl Harbor strike, begging for assurance that America would attack Germany first and not Japan. Churchill received his guarantee on Germany first; a price that would utimately be paid by the US Army and US Navy at Wake Island, Corregidor, Bataan, and for the British at Singapore.

So, the German sub campaign was effective against Britain, although it shouldn't have been for three reasons:

1. Britain was combat experienced against Germany; they had fought them for 5 years in WWI.

2. Britain was experienced against U-boats; they had fought them for 5 years in WWI.

3. Britain was experienced against Commerce Raiding; they had fought Guerre de Course (Commerce Raiding) for 5 years in WWI.

Why couldn't the British handle a problem that they had dealt with before? Unknown! Who saved Great Britain twice...America did. (Both World Wars).

So the German sub campaign was a problem for the UK not the US; the US handled them with their left hand while America's right hand took out the Imperial Japanese Navy's battle fleets. Translation: America took out two enemies, whilst Britain couldn't even take out one! (Without America's help!)