The Answer:
The following refers to the German Imperial Navy's conversion of Germany's first commercial submarine, the Deutschland, to submarine cruiser (U-155). Various reports with further details were cited here last Friday.Mystery question:
There were a total of eight boats of Deutschland's merchant class subs built, plus Bremen. Because of their original, merchant design, there were only two 20-inch torpedo tubes both in the bow. How heavy was their surface gun battery?
There were a total of eight boats of Deutschland's merchant class subs built, plus Bremen. Because of their original, merchant design, there were only two 20-inch torpedo tubes both in the bow. How heavy was their surface gun battery?
The Answer:
Deutschland's high freeboard and wide beam permitted a relatively heavy deck gun battery of two 5.9-inch (150mm) and two 3.4-inch (88mm) guns. source: The U-151 Class, U-Kreuzer - SteelNavy.com. '...Intended for serious boat-studiers. - Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2004
Submarine history buffs will enjoy the fascinating details and photos of the Kaiser's U-Boats found in the preceeding link.
Labels: Deutschland U-55 deck guns
posted by Vigilis @ 11:58 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I never could figure out why large, oiler, cargo carrying and troop transporting subs were not built in huge numbers.
If the Imperials had used big subs in the Pacific theater, steaming at night and submerging during the day, the co-prosperity sphere might still co-prospering, not that it isn't anyway.
And if those Liberty Ships had pressure hulls, a lot more of them would have gotten through.
Reddog, a very interesting question. Perhaps an accute shortage of fit volunteers helps explain the prioritization of manpower away from cargo subs.
As submariners we sometimes forget how reluctant many are for submerged service.
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