For Count Tirpitz, submarines were not an unfamiliar concept. In 1906, the Germania Shipyard had constructed the first submarine, designated U-1. However, submarines of this era were slow and had limited range, serving primarily as coastal defense weapons. The naval powers of the time scarcely valued the development of submarines, viewing them merely as tools for sneak attacks by weaker nations. Even within the German Navy, submarines were not given due attention. With the increasing number of large surface warships, almost everyone was fervently focused on their construction, dismissing the notion of submarines—mere vessels lurking underwater for ambushes.
Count Tirpitz himself was influenced by this prevailing attitude. Had it not been for Qin Tian's advocacy of submarines as a secret weapon, he might have openly derided the concept. However, given Qin Tian's esteemed position and his substantial contributions to the advancement of the German Navy, Count Tirpitz remained silent. Curiously, he wondered if submarines harbored potential that he had overlooked.
"Indeed, Your Excellency," Qin Tian affirmed, "the secret weapon I refer to is the submarine. Yet, the vessel before you is not the rudimentary U-1, but rather a powerful submarine capable of actual combat. I assure you, should the German Navy possess a formidable fleet of submarines, it would yield unexpected advantages."
Count Tirpitz furrowed his brow. The submarine before him was undeniably different from the U-1—not only larger but also far more aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, in comparison, the U-1 resembled nothing more than an ugly duckling.
"Mr. Holland, please introduce this formidable submarine to the Minister of the Navy," Qin Tian instructed an elderly man.
This elder was none other than the illustrious John Holland, the first person in the world to construct a submarine capable of combat. Although in his sixties, Qin Tian had managed to enlist his expertise. A significant factor in Holland's willingness to assist Germany in submarine construction was his Irish heritage. With Ireland striving for independence, Qin Tian had assured Holland that if Germany triumphed over Britain in future conflicts, it would support Ireland's quest for independence. This assurance had motivated Holland to devote his efforts to this endeavor.
Thanks to Qin Tian's unique insights, the Germania Shipyard was able to construct submarines that were ahead of their time.
"Indeed, Your Highness," John Holland acknowledged.
"This is our newly designed submarine, which His Highness has named the U-100 class. This vessel has a surface displacement of 328 tons, a submerged displacement of 279 tons, a length of 42.7 meters, a width of 4 meters, a height of 8.6 meters, and a draft of 3.9 meters. It is powered by two diesel engines and an electric motor, achieving a maximum surface speed of 13 knots and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots. Its surface endurance reaches 3,100 nautical miles, while its underwater range is 43 nautical miles, with a maximum diving depth of 100 meters. The armament comprises three 533 mm torpedo launchers arranged in a two-forward, one-aft configuration. Additionally, the internal ammunition bay can store six torpedoes, totaling nine. A 75 mm naval gun is mounted at the bow, with a complement of 100 rounds," Holland stated proudly.
From these specifications, it was evident that the U-100 class submarine was highly advanced, surpassing not only Germany's own U-1 but also submarines built by other nations.
"Count Tirpitz, the capabilities of this submarine are undoubtedly impressive. Its extensive range allows it to traverse from Germany to the East Coast of the United States. Should conflict arise, the entire East Atlantic could become a hunting ground for our submarines. Any enemy warships or vessels would find themselves under the threat of our submarines. If we could deploy a hundred of these submarines, we could severely disrupt the British maritime supply lines. Should we sever the shipping routes around the British Isles, it would spell disaster for them," Qin Tian asserted.
Count Tirpitz nodded in agreement. While he considered submarine attacks to be somewhat ungentlemanly, he recognized that war permitted the use of any means necessary. As long as they could defeat the enemy, any tactic was justified.
"Your Highness, this submarine is indeed remarkable. Nevertheless, I still maintain that surface warships are the cornerstone of victory," Count Tirpitz remarked.
"Of course, submarines alone cannot determine the outcome of a naval battle, as they serve as disruptive weapons, while surface warships are meant for control. Our submarines are primarily intended to target British supply lines and ambush their main fleets, thereby alleviating pressure on our surface forces," Qin Tian explained.
Count Tirpitz acknowledged this perspective. Although he harbored reservations about the true combat efficacy of submarines, he did not oppose their procurement.
"Your Excellency, to fully harness the combat potential of these submarines, I have devised a strategy I call the 'Wolfpack' tactic. This involves several submarines, or even a dozen, lying in wait along the enemy's shipping routes, launching surprise attacks. I believe this will be catastrophic for the enemy. If executed at night, it would be even more advantageous. I am confident that no fleet could evade such an assault, and they would suffer devastating losses."
Upon hearing Qin Tian's proposal, Count Tirpitz felt a chill run down his spine. He had to concede that this was an exceptionally ruthless tactic, capable of fully exploiting the advantages of submarines. Certainly, if this strategy fell into the hands of the German Navy, it would result in significant enemy losses.
"Your Highness, this tactic is truly ingenious. It seems submarines have immense potential after all!" Count Tirpitz expressed with satisfaction.
After returning to the Ministry of the Navy to confer with other officials, Count Tirpitz resolved to procure fifty U-100 class submarines initially. If subsequent improvements were made, another fifty would be ordered, thus raising the German Navy's submarine fleet to one hundred.
Meanwhile, Qin Tian remained at the Germania Shipyard, discussing improvements for the submarines with John Holland.