Posted on 05/27/2022 12:19:31 PM PDT by Az Joe
As described by U.S. naval veteran Edward L. Beach, service on a World War II submarine represented âstress to the ultimate degreeâ. Men had to be constantly on the alert for attacking aircraft, prepared to make dangerous dives and endure prolonged depth-charge attacks.
The dangers faced by submariners during World War II are apparent in the high attrition rates. According to one estimate, 1,280 submarines were lost in action or by accident during the Second World War.8 In the U.S. submarine service, about 16,000 officers and enlisted men made war patrols; from among these 3,406 died in action. This amounted to 22% of the force, the highest death rate of any branch of the American armed services.
Higher death rate than B-17 crew?
I’ve seen a claim that the attrition rate (killed or shot down and captured) of bomber crewmen in the 8th Air Force in WWII was around 70%.
Given the horrendous casualty rates (in an extreme case, Schweinfurt/Oct 43, 20%) prior to all-the-way fighter escort that’s believable.
It may have been safer to be a Marine on Iwo Jima than a bomber crewman in the ETO.
I had an uncle that was a submariner in the war. We never actually knew what he did, he just said he was in the Navy in an aw shucks way that he had. He would take a drag on his cigarette and say, “It was boring, you don’t want to hear about it.”
Before the war he was a baker at Holsum Bread back in the day when our small town had that sort of thing. It was wonderful, you could smell the baking bread all over town.
We found out what he did when we got his military headstone.
“It may have been safer to be a Marine on Iwo Jima than a bomber crewman in the ETO.”
I looked at the tail gunner position in Aluminum Overcast. I’m 6’4” and all I could think of was ‘no freakin’ way’.
There’s a book called “Iron Coffins” written by a former WWII German U-Boat skipper. Their attrition was unbelievably high. I know longer remember the percentage, but volunteering for that service was almost a death sentence.
I’ve never understood how a person could serve extended time on a submarine even in the best of times.
I think it takes a very specific kind of person.
Yep. Those U-Boats were a ticket to death, I believe over 1,000 sunk and over 30,000 sailors went down with them. Nasty business. I suppose that movie Das Boot did a pretty good job of exhibiting the anxiety level of any submariner, on any side of the war.
About 10% of allied aircrews died in WW2. 20% of submariners.
I’ve read that WWII U-boat losses amount to 75%, 28,000 KIA.
the 8th Air Force might not see it that way...
especially the first year
I’ve read that WWII U-boat losses amount to 75%, 28,000 KIA.
don’t know how I did a double post
It was my distinct pleasure to attend the “tolling of the boats” cermony at the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg TX last week. 128 members of the Silent Service Motorcycle Club rode and drove in from all over the country for our annual country wide rally. We gather and read the names of the boats, what happened to it and the number of our shipmates who were lost.
It reminds me every time at the choice I made and the profound effect it had on my life.
While my service was entirely on Nuke boats the WW2 vets who sailed our diesel counterparts have my eternal respect.
To all who have sailed with us, before us and have yet to sail, duty on a submarine is not something you plan. It is something that happens and will become part of your soul. I salute you all
Thank you!
That was the percentage I remembered. It was so high I couldn’t convince myself I remembered it correctly!
Later in the war the Allies’ improved tech and methods enabled them to take out German subs like there was no tomorrow.
US subs were at a huge disadvantage early on (until late 43) because the torpedoes were garbage and the Bureau of Ordnance refused to fix them. Fortunately Japanese ASW tech was terrible else the subs would have suffered far worse.
I took a tour of a Gato class sub when I was in the Navy in 1968. They are nothing like the movies inside. No way would I ever volunteer for those things. My hat is off to those guys. And the aircrews in WW2. Balls of chrome plated steel.
Bad, bad, bad computer!
1280 subs lost in action? Ridiculous. The number, I believe, is 54 on eternal patrol. Balao Class subs averaged 80-85 crewmen.
All navies, not just the US Navy.
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