Creation and Use

U-Boats were used to sink supply ships headed to germany's enemies, and help protect its country from further enemy attack.

They were commandeered by Commander in Chief Grossadmiral Karl Donitz. (Left)

Weapons

U boats had a large supply of diverse weapons for their time.

Torpedos: Torpedos are underwater missiles used to damage and destroy a ships hull. U-boats used compressed air torpedoes, and advanced electrical torpedoes.

Deck guns: Where guns mounted to the deck of the submarine used for shoreline attacks and fire on other ships.

Flak: Flak, an anti aircraft weapon was used to defend against aircraft capable of damaging or sinking the sub, most Flak weapons where used prior to surfacing.

Mines: are underwater bombs placed around areas where enemy ships where suspected to pass by. Once struck or activated the mines would explode damaging a ships hull immensely, or sett of a chain reaction setting off other mines near by.

(A deck gun mounted on a U-Boat rotates. as the sub surfaces)

Sparking America's war

During one of the first U-boat patrols, the RMS lusitania a british supply ship en route to britain with americans abroad was sunk by a German U boat, sparking controversy and hate within america due to unauthorised submarine warfare. Later after this event America would enter the War.

(an artist illustration of the Lusitania

during the sinking)

U boats vs Convoys

Convoys where warships deployed to protect allied supply ships from U-boat attacks. During the war convoys and U-boats fought many battles. U-boats where susceptible to torpedos, mines and other underwater weapons the convoys used. Both sides took out a large amount of each other's forces. especially during the battle of the atlantic, a large scale naval battle between U-boats and convoys.

(a convoy sinks during the battle of the . Atlantic as a U-boat surfaces)

My Reaction

I never would have thought before researching this topic that one of the first submarines developed was used mainly for war. What surprised me the most well researched this topic was the arsenal that the U-boats had, I thought they only had torpedos at their sides, not guns railed to the deck to fire upon enemy forces from the safety of the water, able to submerge again whenever needed. In all my reaction was astonished that the german navy was able to build and supply these deadly war machines that would conquer the ocean.