Primary emphasis of this discussion will be early-war Allied submarine operations during the period from 12/8/41 through the torpedo dud rate upgrades in 1943.
In general, Allied submarine inventory during the early-war period can be classified into three groups distinguished largely by the dud rates of torpedoes carried aboard these subs, though other attributes of these subs can apply as well.
• British and Dutch submarines – These subs all carry reliable torpedoes (as reliable as “reliable” can be defined in AE for Allied subs). Individual British and Dutch subs vary considerably in range.
• US S-Class submarines – These are the only US subs carrying reliable torpedoes during the early war period. S-Class subs are relatively short-ranged which limits their employment to mainly in-theater operations. All S-Class subs also have withdrawal dates at various times, mostly in 1943.
• US fleet submarine classes – These US subs carry high (90%) dud rate torpedoes which severely limit their effectiveness in patrol and combat operations. However, these are the longest range subs in the Allied inventory and represent nearly all the Allied submarines capable of deep penetration into Japanese controlled sea areas, including shipping routes from Japanese controlled territories to the Japanese home islands. Virtually all US subs entering the game as reinforcements also fall into this category.
Experience in AE against the Japanese AI and so far in my PBEM vs Pillager has shown US fleet subs equipped with ineffective torpedoes (90% dud rate) attack Japanese ships more actively compared to CHS and occasionally score hits.
Hand grenades... torpedoes... Same thing.
Employment of US Fleet Submarines:
Plans are in effect to more extensively employ US fleet submarines with high dud rate torpedoes in long-range patrol operations, particularly to interdict sea routes between Japanese controlled territories and the Japanese home islands. Doesn’t matter there’s a 90% dud rate for torpedoes aboard these subs, these subs need to be used in whatever capacity they’re capable of filling.
Intended objectives of employing US fleet subs in long-range patrol operations during the early war period.
• Detection and spotting of rear-area Japanese ship movements, including both transports and naval task forces. If nothing else, a miss or dud torpedo hit identifies the Japanese ship it hits or misses and provides intelligence.
• Ongoing training of submarine crews with the goal of having high-experience crew ratings aboard US fleet subs by 1943 when dud rate upgrades for torpedoes aboard these subs come into effect.
• Perhaps actually damage or sink a few Japanese ships.
• Something else to occupy Pillager’s attention and the attention of Japanese forces that Pillager sends to deal with US fleet sub patrols.
Primary deployment of US fleet subs will be mostly from Pearl Harbor, with possible auxiliary bases in Australia and Alaska for use in replenishment and as an emergency refuge for damaged subs. Current plans for employing US fleet subs in AE are projected to considerably reduce their use in submarine transport and mine laying missions.
Employment of US S-Class submarines: During the early war period, S-Class subs are the most combat-worthy submarines in the US inventory in terms of torpedo effectiveness (lower torpedo dud rate).
S-Class submarines will operate in a number of roles that most effectively utilize their shorter range and better torpedo effectiveness, to include the following.
• Close-in patrol operations, mainly in sea areas near front-line Allied or Japanese bases.
• Offensive and defensive combat operations in front-line sea areas – including interception and attack of Japanese invasion, transport and naval TF’s moving into or through these sea areas.
• Screening of Allied surface combat and carrier TF’s during their operations.
Primary deployment of S-Class subs will be from forward bases within the South and SW Pacific theatre areas, possibly other theatres as required.
Employment of British and Dutch submarines: In general, employment of Dutch and British submarines includes elements of practices described above for US fleet and S-Class subs.
The manner in which an individual British or Dutch submarine is employed will depend on the submarine’s attributes including range and armament.
Many longer range British and Dutch subs combine the endurance of US fleet submarines with the more effective torpedo armament carried aboard the US S-Class. This combination makes them perhaps the most versatile submarines in the early-war Allied inventory, suitable for employment in either long-range patrol (like US fleet subs) or in shorter range front-line operations (like the US S-Class). Current plans are to use the long-range British and Dutch subs in both roles, with missions given to individual subs as the situation dictates.
Employment of shorter range British and Dutch subs is expected to closely follow the practice described above for US S-Class submarines.
The deployment area of British subs will almost exclusively be the Indian Ocean.
Expected deployment areas for Dutch submarines will vary depending on where individual subs are sent. I’m currently anticipating the destinations for Dutch subs leaving the DEI to be divided between Australia and Ceylon. Operating areas for Dutch subs based in Ceylon will follow the British pattern, with Dutch subs in Australia to either operate from Perth in the Indian Ocean area or in conjunction with SW or South Pacific naval forces from Australian east-coast bases.
Mine-laying submarines and Submarine mine laying operations: Due to restricted supplies of naval mines in AE (vs unlimited quantities of mines in CHS and WitP), the submarine mine laying mission is anticipated to play a considerably smaller role in AE.
The only submarine mine laying mission to date in this PBEM match vs Pillager is the mine laying “mission to Tokyo” by SS Argonaut in late 12/41. Beyond that, no long-range Allied strategy for submarine mine warfare is currently in effect or under consideration. For now the mines get laid one mission at a time.
