With the new Type IX DLC out and DWS’s previous interest in a Type XXI DLC in the future, I, alongside many others, have wondered just how such a boat would fit into the game given its extremely limited service record. But after having given it some thought, I think I have an answer.

Most of us already know that the Type XXI was introduced in the waning days of WW2 with only a single unproductive patrol carried out days before the end of the war. Sticking to the facts, a Type XXI would only be available to us for about 1 patrol, if even that. 

However, all of that would be assuming that the technology had matured and production ramped up as it did historically. Considering that UBOAT allows us to research technologies and produce equipment ahead of when it was historically introduced, why not a submarine as a capstone to our Kaleun’s career?

The ideas I have for how to integrate it are as follows: either have the Type XXI be a final, multi-stage research project that will allow the player to transfer onto it once completed or as part of alt-history scenarios. 

Path 1: Research

In late 1940 to coincide with the end of the First Happy Time, the Elektroboot Concept project could be made available in headquarters. This would require a Leader type officer to complete with research penalties if started before November 1942 to coincide with a meeting between the BdU, Helmut Walter, and other engineers that ended in the actual conceptualization of the Type XXI.

Completing this project will give the player a checklist in headquarters to track their progress through the requisite projects required to unlock the Type XXI. Those projects being:

• Accumulators level 3
• GHG Balcony
• FuMB-26 Tunis
• Anti-radar coating for snorkel
• Bold decoys
• Improved toilets

Once completed, all other Type XXI research projects will become available for different sections of the submarine, each highlighting the various features of the Type XXI or facets of its integration. Each will require different officer types and take the standard 12 days with penalties if undertaken before January 1944. Ones I have in mind include:

• Hydraulic torpedo loading (engineer)
• Enlarged battery banks (engineer)
• Hydrodynamic hull design (engineer)
• Pre-fabricated modular U-boat assembly (leader)
• Type XXI crew conversion pipeline (leader)
• Radar warning integration with snorkel (radioman)

After all Type XXI projects have been completed, a final headquarters project will become available to initiate and oversee production of the Type XXI, this one taking 30 or more days. The reputation and time penalty could be much steeper than that of other projects the further you are from its unlock date of June 1944. Once done, you will have the option to freely transfer to a new production Type XXI.

Path 2: Scenarios

Alternatively, for those less interested in the long game of min-maxing headquarters projects, there could be two new starting scenarios with varying levels of alternate history. Most have probably already thought of this, but I thought I'd add my $0.02 as to how they can be framed to fit in the game and at least have it done somewhat historically.

Scenario 1: The Last Patrol

U-2511 was initially slated to patrol on March 26, 1945 but was unable to due to damage to the periscope during dive testing, delaying the start of the patrol to its eventual start date of April 30. The Last Patrol would take place had this damage not occurred and U-2511 was able to make its original March 26 patrol date. While short, it would essentially be a familiarization patrol for the player to get to grips with the new technology and mechanics of the boat and get a feel for what it can do.

Scenario 2: A New Era

A New Era would be a more properly paced late-game start but would take much more significant historical liberties to allow time for multiple patrols. This scenario would essentially hand-wave the numerous quality and logistical issues plaguing Type XXI production and assume training of sailors on the new type could be compressed in the typical 3-4 month period rather than the 6 or more required for the Type XXI so that at least one boat could be made operational by 1944. It would start around September of 1944 and follow the lead ship, U-2501, fresh from sea trials.

Conclusion

The Type XXI, if it's ever added, doesn’t need to be the late-war footnote that it was historically, the game already has the tools to allow us to alter the technological timeline through HQ research. In that vein, the Type XXI could work as the centerpiece for late-war alt-history scenarios for those raring to get their hands on an Elektroboot right out the gate or serve as an end-game reward by unlocking it potentially earlier than historically possible for those willing to stick it out on its research path.

It'll probably be a while before we ever see it, if it does come, but I'd like to know what the community thinks about it.