U-BOAT STRENGTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1944, Page 4

U-BOAT STRENGTH

"BENT IF NOT BROKEN" U.S. ADMIRAL'S SURVEY (0.C.) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5. To combat German acoustic torpedoes counter-measures are being taken by the United States Navy, according to an announcement made in Washington by Rear-Admiral Francis S. Low, in confirming reports that the Nazis have developed a weapon which finds its mark by the sound of a, ship's propeller and engines. In a radio interview, Admiral Low said: "We do not pretend to know all the answers, but we are actively working on countermeasures, and have no doubt that we will develop satisfactory ones." He gave no details on either the "acoustic torpedo or the countermeasures. Admiral Low gave his opinion that despite the reported new weapon the U-boat fleet is "bent, if not broken. We estimate their remaining strength in the hundreds. We feel sure that at the present rate they are being sunk they cannot be making great gains." President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill have announced sinking of submarines at a rate that approximates one a day. and estimates have been made that the German submarine replacement production cannot be more than 25 a month.

Admiral Low recalled their announced figures, and said he had no doubt of the "ultimate complete extermination" of the U-boats. But he added a warning that "further great damage" may be caused by U-boats before "we wipe them out. He reported that in the previous six months of the "thousands of ships escorted in Atlantic convoys, the loss rate has been less than one-half of one per cent." Admiral Low forecasts a crackingup of morale of the German submarine crews. He declared that a good captain has a crew with good morale, and a poor captain docs not. "By the law of averages," he said, "many of their good captains should have'been sunk." He added that "there can be no morale without accomplishment. With scores of U-boats at sea the damage they are now doing does not justify their existence. They are either avoiding opportunities to attack or are incompetent to take advantage of those presented."