[tcolvin]

Rainer; You say bombing was the main reason for the delay to the Type XXI Elektroboot. You ignore the fixation on the Walther propulsion system and complacency when the war was going well for Germany. It was in 1941 that someone suggested eliminating the Walther engine with its problems and using large electric motors and batteries instead: Project XVIII gave birth to Project XXI. But there was no urgency to get XXI off the drawing board until the defeat of the submarines in May 1943. Then the design was dusted off and rushed to completion in late 1943, having lost two years. There was the main reason for the delay. The second main reason was the choice of sub-contractors by Speer who had no experience of shipbuilding, which meant a large amount of rework, and delays. Wilhelmshaven was bombed heavily throughout the war. The only damage to U-boats on the stocks was by the USAAF, which destroyed two Type VII in one raid, not to be repeated. Wilhelmshaven became a supplier of Type XXI sections which were barged to Vegesack. As far as I know not one was damaged by bombing. Tony