Major Plot Hole?

This was one of the first movie that attempts to make the Germans of World War II seem human. The plot shows the captain disillusioned with the Nazi Party, plus war in general, and very paternal in nature to the crew. These are qualities that should make him very protective of the boys on his ship.

A captain as experienced as that of the U-boat would have little trouble deducing that not altering his course was a severe handicap and likely the reason the American anticaptes his tactics. The reason given for stubbornly remained on course 140 was to deliver a recovered British code book to Nazi authorities.

So doesn't the captain's character development create a huge plot hole? Why would he gamble with his crew's lives to deliver the code book to help a war he doesn't believe in. Granted he is still an officer and follows orders, but it makes the struggle to the death a bit harder to believe. Doesn't it make more sense for a man sick of war to protect his crew, avoid battle, and deliver the code book a few days late?

What does everybody else think? If you read the goofs section its pretty clear there are several points that became a bit twisted from the original novel to suit Hollywood. Perhaps the character of the captain was another of those changes. Hollywood may have figured since the war was long over they should stop portraying all Germans as blood thirsty monsters. I think the captains character development was a good thing, but to me it seems to create a plot hole as well.