Hunter 3 All Submarines - Silent

The Type II is not a hunter-killer. It is a minelayer and training boat. In SH3’s campaign, you start with a Type IIA based in Kiel or Wilhelmshaven.

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Best Career Path: Stay in Type II only for the first two (1939) patrols. Sink small merchies in the British coastal zone. Transfer to a Type VIIB as soon as Flotilla allows (mid-1940). silent hunter 3 all submarines

Modded Note: In GWX, the Type II becomes a pure masochist’s challenge. One destroyer depth charge run will crumple it like paper.


Silent Hunter 3 (SH3) is a World War II submarine simulator developed by Ubisoft Romania and released in 2005. It focuses primarily on the German Kriegsmarine’s U-boats operating in the Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1939–1945. Below is a broad, detailed guide covering the in-game submarines, their historical counterparts, gameplay characteristics, and tips for using each class effectively.

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Best for: Late-war ambushes, penetrating harbors, evading hunter-killer groups.


The mod allows you to obtain knockout boats after completing special missions: The Type II is not a hunter-killer


Released in 2005, Silent Hunter 3 remains the gold standard for World War II submarine simulation. Unlike later entries that bounced between theaters and nations, SH3 focuses entirely on the German Kriegsmarine’s U-boat arm—the U-Bootwaffe. For nearly two decades, players have asked the same question: “Which submarine should I choose?”

This guide covers every playable U-boat in Silent Hunter 3, from the cramped Type II coastal boats to the ocean-spanning Type IX and the technological marvels of the Type XXI. We’ll analyze their historical backgrounds, in-game performance, optimal tactics, and the impact of the famous Grey Wolves (GWX) supermod, which expands the roster significantly.


  • Gameplay: In Silent Hunter III, acquiring a Type XXI turns the tables. You are no longer the prey; you are the apex predator. You can sprint into a convoy, fire, and sprint out before the escorts can react.
  • Best For: Reclaiming the Atlantic in 1944/45; high-speed ambushes; escaping danger with sheer speed rather than depth.