Chapter 386 Operation Starvation (10)

"Even a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves." The bloodthirsty wolf packs strike fear into all creatures in the natural world. Under their relentless attacks, even the king of beasts struggles to defend itself.

Of course, this also depends on the timing. A wolf pack typically consists of 5 to 12 individuals, and their combined strength is no match for a tiger. However, during the harsh winter, wolf packs can expand to forty or fifty members. At that scale, even a mighty tiger would find it difficult to withstand their assault.

Under normal circumstances, both parties respect each other's abilities and avoid unnecessary confrontation. Even if they encounter each other, it's usually just a brief encounter, as getting injured in the wild often means death. Wild animals understand this well.

During World War II, Admiral Karl Dönitz, head of the German U-boat fleet, demonstrated a keen understanding of the animal world. He devised the infamous "wolfpack tactics," which gained prominence in the early stages of the war. Dönitz earned the nickname "Wolfpack Leader." Alongside Guderian's "Blitzkrieg" tactics, these two strategies became the German military's land and sea "secret weapons."

The essence of wolfpack tactics lies in concentrating the collective strength of smaller vessels to destroy larger fleets. During operations, several submarines are dispatched to hunt and gather intelligence at sea. If one submarine detects an Allied convoy, it sends out a radio signal, summoning nearby submarines.

Wolfpack attacks typically occur at night. The submarines move stealthily through gaps in the enemy's escort formations or along their flanks. With multiple submarines simultaneously targeting the same objective, the hit rate increases, and several torpedoes can strike a single target. This strategy earned the name "wolfpack tactics."

For a time, the "wolfpack" tactics were unstoppable. The German U-boats achieved their highest attack record by sinking 38 Allied merchant ships within two days. In 1942 alone, German submarines sank a total of 471 Allied vessels, with a combined tonnage of nearly 2.2 million tons. British losses were particularly significant. In that same year, the German "wolfpacks" reached their peak, sinking 1,160 merchant ships with a total tonnage of 6.3 million tons, while their own loss rate remained below 7%.

But how did such formidable wolfpack tactics ultimately fail?

According to Dönitz's plan, Germany needed 100 submarines to carry out operations in the designated sea areas. These submarines would be divided into thirds: one-third actively on missions, one-third undergoing maintenance in shipyards and bases, and one-third in transit (traveling between base and mission areas). In essence, they would require a total of 300 submarines.

However, when submarine warfare began, how many submarines did Germany actually possess? Less than 60 submarines, and only about 20 of them were large enough to engage in long-range operations. Considering the rotation and mission execution ratios, the number of submarines actively participating in missions was quite limited.

While this small fleet could still inflict significant damage on the enemy, achieving complete destruction was nearly impossible.

Additionally, Germany lacked aircraft carriers during World War II, which meant there was no aerial cover for their naval forces. Consequently, German vessels were vulnerable to aerial attacks. Throughout the war, approximately 40% of German submarines were sunk by British and American anti-submarine aircraft. If we include the results of coordinated surface vessel support, nearly half of Germany's submarines fell victim to aerial anti-submarine warfare.

Despite increased surface vessel construction plans, Germany's submarine count still fell short of Dönitz's requirements. They had approximately 200 submarines, with around 120 large, ocean-going submarines. According to the 1/3 theory, only about 40 submarines roamed the vast Atlantic, and at most, only ten could actively participate in attacks.

At the ambush point designated as "Point A" by the wolfpack command, an unusual gathering of 12 submarines occurred. Most of these were Type VIIB submarines, featuring five 533mm torpedo tubes (four forward, one aft). Even if each submarine launched five torpedoes, hitting five transport ships, they could sink a maximum of 60 transport vessels. In reality, achieving such results was practically impossible.

After some discussion, the submarine captains decided to lay mines while waiting for confirmation from the wolfpack command. Deploying mines was not uncommon for submarines and had even preceded torpedo launches.

In 1801, American inventor Robert Fulton built the submarine "Nautilus", which had an iron frame and copper shell, measured 7 meters in length, and carried two mines. It was operated by a crew of four and used a folding mast for surface travel, powered by sails. Underwater, it employed a hand-cranked propeller. During the American Civil War in the 1860s, the Confederate Navy constructed the submarine "H.L. Hunley", approximately 12 meters long and shaped like a cigar. It required eight crew members to operate the hand-cranked propeller, achieving a speed of 4 knots. The Hunley successfully sank the Union warship "USS Housatonic" using a mine on the night of February 17, 1864, marking the first instance of a submarine sinking an enemy warship.

In 1866, British inventor R. Whitehead created the world's first torpedo. In 1881, the submarine "Nordenfelt", designed by T. Nordenfelt and G. Garrett, became the first to be equipped with torpedo tubes. Around the same time, the American submarine "USS Holland II" was also fitted with underwater torpedo launch tubes, marking a significant milestone in submarine development.

Each submarine carried six torpedoes, which they strategically placed in the designated sea area. After dispersing, they submerged into the frigid waters, silently awaiting their prey.

Submarine U-124, commanded by Captain Johann Mohr, had a cramped captain's quarters. It could barely accommodate a bed and a writing desk, with a curtain at the entrance to ensure a semblance of privacy.

This was no modern super-submarine with swimming pools and gyms. Every inch of space aboard was precious. Most of the interior housed diesel engines, electric motors, batteries, and other essential machinery. The crew's living and resting quarters were minimal, with limited sleeping spots. Some crew members shared bunks—one slept while the other stood watch.

Before embarking on combat patrols, submarines typically carried around 14 tons of provisions, fuel, and torpedo ammunition. Every available nook stored fresh food: eggs, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, bread, and meat. The two toilets onboard were also crammed with supplies. After leaving port, they'd start consuming from the food-stocked toilet...

Given these conditions, having a separate rest area was an extreme privilege.

"Captain! We've spotted a target!" After an unknown duration, the first officer stood outside the "door," quietly alerting the captain.

"Finally!" Johann Mohr scrambled to his feet, exited the room, navigated the narrow corridor, and energetically took his position at the command station. "Prepare for battle!"