First Real Submarine

The final German U-boat built during World War II never sank an Allied ship, but it made every other submersible in the world's navies obsolescent. It was the first true submarine: it went faster under water (25 knots) than on the surface (10 knots). It was able to overhaul any but the fastest surface ships and was capable of days-long submersion. Fortunately, this triumph of naval design came too late. When the war ended the only pilot model was on her trial run.

Outstanding feature of the new submarine was the underwater engine. It was an application of the Walther cycle engine, a new German device using hydrogen peroxide in place of gasoline or Diesel oil. Most apparent weakness: the high cost, in money and storage space, of hydrogen peroxide.

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