A diagram of a XXI Type German U-Boot - the "Elektroboot". Type XXI reached a speed of 17 knots while submerged which was faster than Type VII U-Boots reached while running top speed at surface.
While the tide turned against Germany in the WWII the government directed renewed propaganda at its population. Claims had about new advanced weaponry and designs in development which would change the course of the war and favor again the Germans. The Nazi regime sold the idea of revolutionary technology soon arriving with a purpose to keep the people pushing for the war effort past the desperate moments as early as in 1942-1943 and after the heavy German defeats in North Africa, Stalingrad, Kursk, etc. In reality, to put advanced weapons still in the development phase into production takes a long time. However, some advanced designs and technology were hurried in production without a respect in quality assurance. A certain very prominent and promising design was the Type XXI U-Boot.
Elbe II was a German U-Boot pen in Hamburg during the WWII - a bunker and shelter for the U-Boots allowing the submarine maintaining, repairs and preparations in cover - a point of departure and return for the U-Boot patrols. In 1945 during the Allied occupation of Germany the British blew up Elbe II, but the construction only half-collapsed and was left as a pile of rubble for the decades to come. In 1985 three U-Boot historians were exploring the ruins of Elbe II and inside the half-collapsed concrete scrap they discovered three wrecks of Type XXI U-Boots of which two were in remarkable good condition despite the explosion and eaten by the time.
Type XXI U-Boot was the first submarine to operate primarily submerged rather than being a surface vessel. Increased battery power allowed Type XXI to run and spend several days submerged and the new supercharged diesel engines allowed reaching speeds which barely was reached at surface by the earlier German U-Boots. Also, snorkel allowed batteries to be recharged at periscope depth - no need to surface. The hull was a new design, as well the conning tower was streamlined allowing better rapidity. Stealth capabilities and silent running was increased while Type XXI was much more quiet than the predecessor types. XXI had improved diving-time, power-assisted torpedo reloading and improved crew accommodations. Still the design proved to be disappointing as having several mechanical failures and it was prone for combat damage. This was due to the Type XXI rushed into production too early without being properly tested neither the design model fully completed, further adding the construction of Type XXI-models were usually completed lower quality materials and with insufficient facilities. In total, 118 Type XIIs were constructed in Germany during 1943-1945 of which 4 were fully combat-fitted and 2 went on patrols, but never did any combat.
Regardless of all the shortcomings, several navies operated Type XXI U-Boots and basing on the design many nations introduced their own submarines during the post-war years.
Here's my question. Germany suffered of heavy casualties in the Battle of Atlantic - up to 75% of the total U-Boot crew in service throughout the war was eliminated, as well the German U-Boot fleet lost some 60% of its 1 500 vessels. Type VII U-Boot was the standard of the German navy - Type XXI was a "green fruit" and didn't affect for the outcome. But, what if Type XXI would had been running through the tests already earlier and would had been a reliable and a new standard of the U-Boot Flotilla Kriegsmarine? Appearing for the German side during the Battle of Atlantic with multiple Type XXI U-Boots in Wolfpacks and being mass-produced, could the "Elektroboot" make a response for the Allies in the Battle of Atlantic which in real was a decisive Allied victory?
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