Submarines V.

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The submarine as an asymmetric weapon of war!

Thanks again for the excerpts taken from the magazine "SUBMARINES SINCE 1919".

"Asymmetric warfare is war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly . . . Such struggles often involve strategies and tactics of unconventional warfare, the 'weaker' combatants attempting to use strategy to offset deficiencies in quantity or quality."

The submarine in both world wars demonstrative of how a much weaker opponent can confront and defeat the much stronger adversary, often in a manner that is almost casual and leisurely, seemingly without effort to a degree!

1.  Three British cruisers torpedoed and sent to the bottom [1914] in rapid fire fashion by the German submarine U-9, Captain Weddigen at the helm, the unexpected and unanticipated occurring in a traumatic fashion, surface combat vessels of the most capable variety sunk, catastrophic loss of life and consternation at the British Admiralty. What WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN DID HAPPEN!

"22nd September 1914 . . . SM U-9 (Kptlt. Otto Weddigen) sank the three cruisers HMS Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy (12,000 tons each) off the Hook of Holland in 75 mins. 1,460 British sailors died in this world shattering demonstration of the U-boat's terrible capabilities."

In the aftermath of this catastrophe the British dispersing their Grand Fleet to temporary anchorages, the "closed fist" of focused energy now an "open hand", the combined striking power of the fleet  now weakened, all as a response to the combat actions of one submarine!!

2. The older but still very potent English battleship Royal Oak, while moored in a "safe" location, beyond the threat of attack [so it was thought], torpedoed and sunk [1939] by the German submarine U-47, Captain Prien at the helm. Again, catastrophic loss of life, unexpected and unanticipated, much consternation at the Admiralt! What WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN DID HAPPEN!

"On October 14, 1939, Prien risked shallow water, unknown shoals, tricky currents and detection by defenders to penetrate the Royal Navy's primary base, Scapa Flow. Although most of the Home Fleet was at sea, Prien sank the battleship Royal Oak and returned home to instant fame."

In the aftermath of this catastrophe the British dispersing their Home Fleet to temporary anchorages, the "closed fist" of focused energy now an "open hand", the combined striking power of the fleet  now weakened, all as a response to the combat actions of one submarine!!

"The Royal Oak was an elderly second-line unit . . . but U47's exploit had far more impact. The realization that Scapa Flow could be penetrated by a submarine forced the British to remove their entire Home Fleet to a series of temporary anchorages, just as the Grand Fleet had gone a-wandering in 1914 after a submarine scare. At a crucial moment the whole British strategy . . . had been drastically changed all by one submariner and his crew's determination and courage."

3. Allied submarines attacking German surface vessels during the Norwegian campaign [1940], German naval and merchant losses severe, any possibility of the Kriegsmarine effectively participating in an invasion of England [Sealion] greatly diminished!

"The increased German naval activity in the Norwegian campaign gave Allied submarines much greater opportunities for attacking. The Polish Orzel sank a large troopship, the Spearfish damaged the pocket battleship Lutzow severely, and the Sunfish sank four ships, among others. Later the Clyde inflicted heavy damage on the battle-cruiser Gneisenau. These casualties . . . were sufficient to reduce the Kriegsmarine's strength below the level needed to support the invasion of England . . . the submarine had intervened decisively in the conduct of war at sea, and had exerted an influence beyond all proportion to her size and cost."

"AN INFLUENCE BEYOND ALL PROPORTION"! Unquestionably so! And the submarine as an asymmetric attacker - - also without doubt!

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