U-boat War Badge
U-boat, an abbreviation of Unterseeboot, which literally means "undersea boat", refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly during the First and Second World Wars. Although U-boats were at times used to attack enemy naval warships, they were most commonly used in a commerce raiding role, sinking supply ships and attacking merchant convoys. Initially U-boats were sent out singly on missions, but as tactics evolved, they were often dispatched in groups, called Wolfpacks. Once a U-boat would locate a merchant convoy, it would shadow it while summoning other U-boats. They would then attack as a group, normally at night.
One misperception that many people have is envisioning the submarines as staying submerged and firing torpedoes. While torpedoes were most definitely used, the U-boats most often attacked while on the surface, since their design allowed greater speed and maneuverability when surfaced.
Once the United States entered World War II, the Germans even dispatched U-boats across the Atlantic, where they patrolled along the eastern seaboard and down into the Gulf of Mexico. The results of their attacks were debilitating. In the first six months of 1942, more tonnage was sunk by a small number of U-boats operating in the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern U.S. coast than had been claimed by the entire Japanese navy operating in the Pacific.
As the war progressed, the United States and Britain developed improved merchant convoy tactics, longer range aircraft patrols, and made advancements in technology such as ASDIC/Sonar and Radar, which allowed them to counter the U-boats more effectively.
During the course of World War II, Germany built 1,162 U-boats, of which 632 were sunk at sea. Allied surface ships accounted for 246 U-boats being sunk, and shore-based aircraft accounted 245 being sunk.
One misperception that many people have is envisioning the submarines as staying submerged and firing torpedoes. While torpedoes were most definitely used, the U-boats most often attacked while on the surface, since their design allowed greater speed and maneuverability when surfaced.
Once the United States entered World War II, the Germans even dispatched U-boats across the Atlantic, where they patrolled along the eastern seaboard and down into the Gulf of Mexico. The results of their attacks were debilitating. In the first six months of 1942, more tonnage was sunk by a small number of U-boats operating in the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern U.S. coast than had been claimed by the entire Japanese navy operating in the Pacific.
As the war progressed, the United States and Britain developed improved merchant convoy tactics, longer range aircraft patrols, and made advancements in technology such as ASDIC/Sonar and Radar, which allowed them to counter the U-boats more effectively.
During the course of World War II, Germany built 1,162 U-boats, of which 632 were sunk at sea. Allied surface ships accounted for 246 U-boats being sunk, and shore-based aircraft accounted 245 being sunk.
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The item in my collection is a U-boat War Badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War II. On the reverse of the badge, it is marked Kiel 1944.
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