soc.history.war.world-war-ii

Duwop wrote:

>What percentage of men were in U-boots Vs. surface
>for instance? Certainly much higher than the
>USN or RN.

Higher, yes, but not that much higher.

U-boats had small crews, and at the peak
there were 400 in service, with about 50
men each - say 20,000.

Now, just in the mine flotillas, there
were 67 type 1935 minesweepers with 104 men each,
131 type 1940 minesweepers with 76 men each, and over
300 motor minesweepers with about 35 men each.

That's about 27,000 men right there, and
there were lots more mine craft.

There were hundreds of civilian vessels
converted to "Sperrbrechers" with crews
of I guess, 50? or so each (they were
much larger than the purpose-built MSs,
but I don't suppose that they needed a
much larger crew). 10-15,000 there.

There were 600+ 110 ton KFK armed "drifters" -
basically a navalized fishing boat, with 25 men
or so each - 15,000 more.

CAs HIPPER and EUGEN, had over 3,200
men between them.
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