Total Undersea
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Original German Wullenweber array in Skisby, Denmark Photograph of Soviet submarine B-59 close-up with Soviet crew visible, taken by U.S. Navy photographers, circa 28-29 October, 1962 U-858 (IXC/40) at time of surrender US Navy believed the torpedo loading rails were ballistic missile launch rails 4 U-Boats destroyed but 2 were not located despite superb U.S. intelligence and tactical advantage…the snorkel allowed them to remain undetected • Pioneered the concept of ‘Total Undersea War’ in terms of submarine employment • Hydrogen-Peroxide Fuel • High-underwater speeds • Long underwater endurance • Streamlined Hulls • Snorkel • ‘Black Boats’ able to hide from radar and sonar • After the war employed by: • The Royal Navy • Established a new German Engineering Firm in 1948 • Emigrated to US in 1960 to work for Worthington Biochemical Corp in NJ on hydrogen-peroxide products Introduced indefinite underwater cruises After February 1945 Postwar US Navy view of the Snorkel The US Navy's 1961 edition of its submarine technical training manual known as NAVPERS 16160-B The Submarine, issued to all crew members of the new GUPPY modified submarines, offered unusually high praise to their former German enemy less than 20 years after the end of WWII with the following commentary on the snorkel: "The theory of the snorkel had been known for several years; but, it was not until 1943 that the German Navy converted such theory into practical operation. the German Navy perfected snorkel designs and incorporated the device in their submarines. This move increased the efficiency and success of German underseas craft immeasurably." (emphasis added) Allied destroyers can not distinguish between a U-Boat, wreck, or a rocky bottom. U-Boat raises off the bottom when a surface vessel is heard, then fires an acoustic torpedo. It rarely comes to periscope depth if ever. U-Boat hides in the echo of U-Boat moves with the current an uneven bottom by to reposition itself in a new resting on the sea floor and position on the bottom to wait going silent. for another vessel. • Communications were impossible while underwater • Use of snorkel head mounted dipole ineffective • Burst high-frequency radio transmissions required to allow for quick transmission when surfaced • Could only be employed in short range • Unreadable by Ultra (Allied signals decryption) • Employed by significant number of snorkel-equipped U-Boats Phillip CR-101A Receiver Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Creasy stated of Walter's design that "we stand on the threshold of very considerable technical development. ." HMS Explorer HMS Excalibur .