A submarine is a boat that can submerge in order to avoid an attack. They can also surface and run their diesel engines to keep their batteries charged.
Type 21 uboat or type xxi was a submarine used in World War II by the German navy. These were an improvement on the earlier German submarines.
They were able to submerge more often and stayed underwater for longer periods of time than their predecessors. The Schnorchel technology was used to enable them to achieve this feat.
This breakthrough technology was a big step forward in the world submarines. It was a revolutionary change in how submarines were built and how they worked. The new Schnorchel engine was small and compact. It could be mounted inside a U-boat's hull to allow it to submerge for longer periods than other designs.
It was a significant advancement in technology that allowed the Germans create larger and more powerful submarines which could withstand greater attacks. This enabled them to keep their troops alive and fight longer, which helped them win the war.
The Schnorchel's most significant feature was its ability to recharge their torpedoes under water. This was a huge advantage for the Germans. It allowed them not to have to worry as often about refilling their torpedoes. This allowed them more time to hunt for enemy ships in the sea.
Type XXI is one of the first U-boats built in Germany during World War II. This submarine was supposed to be the new weapon that the Germans could use. It was also a failure and may have contributed to the Third Reich's defeat.
The Germans started work on a new sub-marine design a few decades before the XXI was created. It was a risky venture and they were not ready to take that chance. They were unsure the new boat would be capable of performing well, and they didn’t want that risk.
They were able to make a prototype in April 1944, which gave them hope that production would start sooner. The design used the same Walter gas turbines as the original designs but was doubled with the Deutz SAA SM517 supercharged eight-cylinder diesel engines. The engine, along with the streamlining of hull, allowed for seventeen knots submergence.
Donitz faced a huge gamble when he had to decide whether he would give up submarine warfare or gamble on the design. He knew that if he didn't have this new boat, the war would end with him losing his crews. He also knew that the new boat could do more than simply reload torpedoes, which was a major plus.