parsifal
Colonel
no mention of the Hudson.
My sources say RAF Hudsons were responsible for the destruction of 26 U-boats, several I-boats of the IJN (I think with the RAAF) and played a key role in the capture of U-570. I know also that they played a role in the destruction of at least 5 Italian submarines.
swordfish were responsible for the destruction of 22 U-boats and at least 14 RM submarines and I think 2-4 Vichy controlled subs.
other aircraft not mentioned include whitley (5), Ventura (USN) 9 Uboats, plus ? Iboats and ? Italian Boats,
Avengers according to my sources sank 35 DKM U-Boats and including other Axis boats as well, not sure how this breaks down.
martlets of the RN and wildcats of the USN sank 27 boats, but this is a misleading number since they are mostly shared with the Swordfish and avengers. the fighters flew flak suppression mostly in support of the strike aircraft were awarded a kill whenever there was one. again this is U-boats only.
Catalina and maybe the PBY destroyed at least 38 U-Boat kills awarded to PBY/Catalina, unknown numbers of Italian boats and Japanese subs in the pacific. I have a suspicion these numbers are RAF and commonwealth only, but it might be everyone......
Mosquitoes only destroyed 8 U-boats, mostly because they did not enter the battle until late 1943. by that time the Germans were proceeding to sea in Uboat convoys reinforced by sperrbrecher ships with augmented with masses of AA weaponry basically armoured AA ships . This is seldom reported in allied accounts. The measures greatly reduced loss rates in the Biscay area, but also cut the uboat sortie rate in half, and many other u-Boats were forced back to port due damage from Rocket near misses and repeated hits by the 57 Molins guns used by RAF CC mosquitoes
Last edited:
