Why weren't submarines used extensively prior to World War 1?

Answer 1

The H L Hunley was used during the Civil War, and was credited with the first sinking by a submarine. Look it up on the web for more details. Here is one site: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2000/09/ I believe that submarines became more practical when the internal combustion engine was refined. This corresponds with WW1 in many respects. There are probably Metallurgy issues with hull design, but I don't know enough to comment on that issue. The biggest issue for submarines is the lack of air. Not only is it vital for the crew of the submarine, all of the early means of mobility required air. The Hunley was 'man powered' and the crew had to breath. Steam and gas engines depend upon burning of fuel, which requires air. Most of the early submarines were diesel powered when they where on the surface, but required battery technology to run when underwater. The electric motors and batteries powerful enough to run them for any length of time were not available prior to the turn of the century. When the above problems were solved and reliable self-powered torpedoes were introduced, the submarine was added to the arsenal of the World's navies, but they were still held out of wartime participation because these navies were controlled by admirals who saw the sub as a dangerous and dirty way to fight, which it was, and a far cry from lines of battleships dueling each other gloriously as they had done in previous centuries. Only World War 1 broke this cycle. In the Russo-Japanese War of 1905-06, both sides operated submarines obtained from the USA, but they never saw any important action. The Spanish Navy had a few subs in 1898, whereas the US Navy had none at the time, but these were not properly used either.

Answer 2

Because of the German use of "unrestricted submarine warfare", and considering the First Battle of the Atlantic started with the beginning of the war in 1914, I to believe the U-Boats were used throughout the war from the very beginning.

Answer 3

Until the late 1890's, the technology had not yet developed that made them able to safely submerge, stay submerged, and attack other vessels effectively.

Until John Phillip Holland designed and patented modern submarine technology (e.g., diesel-electric design, batteries, oxygen, ballasting systems, etc.) in the 1890's, the only previous successful submarine attack during wartime was the Confederate submarine H.L.Hunley. Since the Hunley was lost after her attack on the Union sloop-of-war USSHousatonic, and the wreck wasn't found/salvaged again until just a few years ago (the Hunley had sank and been raised twice prior), there was no definitive answer on why she was lost. Such information would've been critical in furthering submarine designs.

As such, submarines were seen as just another naval warfare failed experiment until Holland's USS Holland(SS-1) in 1897 (The US Navy's first commissioned submarine). Its success led to several new designs, and eventually the wide use of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare by the Germans in WWI, including the sinking of the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania.

Answer 4

Nations with strong navies fight a war of "Guerre de Escadre", fleet verses fleet.

Nations with weak navies fight wars of "Guerre de Course", commerce raiding (sinking merchantman).

Germany had a weak navy.