What are the most important aspects of u boats ww1?

U-boats or submarines generally, were designed to operate in waters dominated by the enemy. Hence they enabled nations with inferior surface fleets like Germany, to project power on the high seas. Because of their ability to evade the enemy simply by diving, U-boats were able to operate far into the Atlantic and other seas, while German battleships mostly stayed idle in port. During WWI U-boats were very effective agains unescorted ships, and by 1917 were threatening to force Britain out of the war by straggling its shipping. Q ships caused U-boats some losses but the ultimate allied answer was the convoy system. By organizing shipping into convoys the allies ensured their merchantmen were escorted or protected. This thwarted the U-boats because they had to travel mostly on the surface and couldn't usually get near the merchant ships without being spotted by an escort. In WWI the germans didn't yet have Doenitz's wolfpack tactics for overcoming convoy defenses. Ergo the U-boatmen were stymied by the convoy system and were unable to keep their promise to force British surrender in 6 months of unrestricted submarine warfare.

World War 1 was the first war with unrestricted submarine warfare.

The prewar submarines generally had been armed with self-propelled torpedoes for attacking enemy ships. During the war submarines also were fitted with deck guns.

The Germans constructed several specialized submarines with vertical mine tubes through their hulls; some U-boats carried 48 mines in addition to their torpedoes.

All World War I-era submarines were propelled by diesels on the surface and by electric motors submerged, except for the British Swordfish and K class. These submarines, intended to operate as scouts for surface warships, required the high speeds then available only from steam turbines. The K-boats steamed at 23.5 knots on the surface, while electric motors gave them a 10-knot submerged speed.

-----------------

These are a few of the points made in the referenced websites. I hope this is helpful.

Submarines were a new eapon,making their debut in warfare on a large scale.

Therefore,both the most effective use of,and tactics for,use of U-boats had to be worked out.

For the same reason,how best to combat U-boats had to be worked out by the Allies - and this took some time.Look at Q Ships and the convoy system,as well as technological aids,eventually turned out to be the best answers.

"Unrestricted U-Boat warfare" in the Atlantic (look up the two sets of dates), meaning that any ship, military or civilian, suspected of carrying war supplies to Britain would be sunk on sight, with no chance for crew and civilan passengers to escape. Obviously an outrage for the USA which was neutral at that time. In fact the second bout of "unrestricted submarine warfare", when American citizens began to be killed in large numbers was a major factor in bringing in the USA on the Alllied side, thus ensuring the defeat of Germany and Austria-Hungary.