Subs,+U-boats,+and+torpedoes

Submarines, U-boats, and torpedoes by Patrick Maclea

**__Su__**** __bmarines, U-boats, and torpedoes__ **

By World War One almost all navies had submarines in their fleets. Most were small and fitted with 2 or 3 guns; they were made for operations along coast because they were only capable of traveling 3,000 miles. The Germans and British were ahead in submarine technology and were the first to demonstrate the potential of underwater warfare. At the start of the war the United States lacked in underwater technology. Europe was ahead in underwater technology and left the United States submarine force outmatched. By the time the war started the United States had twenty-nine subs in commission. They ranged from the Holland VI, eight A, and B-class. The Germans had forty-two subs in commission; they ranged from the K-class, and L-class, they weighed around 450 tons and were around 165 feet long.

U-boats are similar to submarines except they were bigger and mostly functioned on the surface. Like submarines, U-boats had a big impact on World War One. The U-boat was practical and relied on new tactics and technology. Weighing more than three times as much as the subs they weighted around 1,800 tons and could carry 750 tons of cargo.

Torpedoes are the very reason we were in the war. When the war just begun, the Germans blew up a U.S ship with a torpedo and killed 1,195 lives. After that, the U.S joined the ally side with Britain, France, and Russia. Torpedoes were fast, light, and deadly. They are self propelled under water missiles. They were capable of destroying even the most heavily armored boats. References: · __http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_22/ww1.htm__ · __http://www.u-boats.info/ww1.php__ · __http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/weapons.htm__ · __http://history-world.org/world_war_i_and_the_submarine.htm__ Graphic: · **__http://en.wikivisual.com/images/6/69/USS_Virginia.jpg__**