2006-12-24 07:10:20 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Yes, indeed, Brirtain had a Royal Navy submarine fleet. They were intended for service against surface ships, but worked in conjunction with surface ships to sink German U-boats as well.
In 1939, Britain had 58 submarines available, 47 of which could have been considered 'modern'. Around 270 British submarines were eventually deployed, supported by the gallant naval forces of the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Greece, Yugoslavia and the Free French. A high proportion of British submarines were lost in the war - seventy three - reflecting the difficulties of their operating areas and targets: the well protected German shipping around Northern Europe, the clear and shallow Mediterranean and the almost unbearably humid Malacca Straits and Indian Ocean. The lost submarines were almost always "with all hands" - a total of over 2000 men.
During the Second World War, British submarines proved, for the second time in twenty years, their value and importance as a supreme strategic weapon. 475 merchant ships, 105 warships and 36 submarines had been sunk, with many others damaged. The course of the North African campaign had been decisively altered. However, the cost was a heavy one. 74 of the 206 boats in the Submarine Service did not return, while 3,142 men (1 in 3 who served) were killed and 359 captured.
Here is some information about three British subs known to have been sunk by Nazi U-boats:
Thistle 10.4.40 Torpedoed and sunk off Skudenes, Norway, by German U-4.
Spearfish 5.8.40 Torpedoed and sunk by torpedo from German U-34 off Norway
P615 18.4.43 Torpedoed and sunk off West Africa by German U-123.
2006-12-24 09:08:22 · answer #1 · answered by JOHN B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my gosh! I'm watching a movie about it right now!!!! Yes they did. If you want to find out about it watch the movie "U-571". Its a very action packed movie that will tell you about it. Good movie! The British submarine was taken out before the American sub could get there to help.
2006-12-24 07:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have never heard of subs engaging each other, depth charges were how the sub threat was tackled
2006-12-24 08:28:32 · answer #3 · answered by . 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they had sub but they didn't specially use them to hunt at U-boats
2006-12-24 07:43:17 · answer #4 · answered by general De Witte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they had subs but hunted uboats using destroyers with depth charges
2006-12-24 07:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by martinf430 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋