Just a word about decks awash - this was in reality a very unstable and dangerous position for a submarine to be in and it was rarely done. There is not enough freeboard to prevent severe listing if a large wave hit the boat, and the front deck served as a sort of hydroplane and the boat risked undercutting at speed. It was done in rare cases, but it was really a matter of weighing the benefits versus the risks. Very calm seas at any rate, and on electrics as the exhaust vents are underwater. A U-boat was practically invisible at night even when it was in normal surface trim. What was visible was the tower outline against the backdrop of the sea.
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