 The Type XIV had no torpedo tubes or deck guns, only defensive armament of anti-aircraft guns.The milk cows operated 300-400 miles off the North American mainland which was the so-called mid-Atlantic gap, far enough from Allied anti-submarine patrols and aircraft while still close enough to provide logistical support to U-boats.In 1942, the milk cows enabled Type VIIC boats to remain on station for a couple more weeks off of the American coast during the "Second Happy Time" raids of the Battle of the Atlantic.