Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
RE: U-47 Ventilation duct
Posted by:
Jeff LaRue
()
Date: October 25, 2000 04:37PM
While I too haven't been able to find a 'definitive' photo that proves this question either way, I would like to offer the following thread for discussion:
All the photos that we have that *definitely* show the U-47 on her return from Scapa Flow clearly show a series of vents on the aft vertical walls of the conning tower....this would be the area of what would later become the wintergarden. There is also no visible external ductwork on the side of the conning tower. This is what I believe would represent the original, 'as-built' configuration for the Type VIIBs.
On photos of the U-47 that do show some external ductwork on the sides of the conning tower, the wintergarden is now the more familiar round shape. In these photos, the original set of vertical vents are apparently now gone.
I haven't been able to find any photos of the U-47 with the external ductwork and the original conically-shaped 'wintergarden.'
My guess is that the U-47 started out 'as-built' with no ductwork or vents that came above the level of the conning tower deck. This would be the configuration for her foray into Scapa Flow.
I've read in various sources that after gaining some ocean experience, Type VIIB's like the U-47 were modified to move the inlet for the ducts higher up....and this would probably also be when the round wintergarden showed up. Based on the photographs, there appears to be two different ways that the inlets were moved higher up. One is that teardrop-shaped duct aft of the rear periscope shear and the other is the externally applied ducting to the outer walls of the conning tower.
...so, I would say that the Amati U-47 is incorrectly showing that teardrop-shaped duct aft of the rear periscope shear since she was later modified to have the external ducting.
-thoughts/comments?
Jeff
All the photos that we have that *definitely* show the U-47 on her return from Scapa Flow clearly show a series of vents on the aft vertical walls of the conning tower....this would be the area of what would later become the wintergarden. There is also no visible external ductwork on the side of the conning tower. This is what I believe would represent the original, 'as-built' configuration for the Type VIIBs.
On photos of the U-47 that do show some external ductwork on the sides of the conning tower, the wintergarden is now the more familiar round shape. In these photos, the original set of vertical vents are apparently now gone.
I haven't been able to find any photos of the U-47 with the external ductwork and the original conically-shaped 'wintergarden.'
My guess is that the U-47 started out 'as-built' with no ductwork or vents that came above the level of the conning tower deck. This would be the configuration for her foray into Scapa Flow.
I've read in various sources that after gaining some ocean experience, Type VIIB's like the U-47 were modified to move the inlet for the ducts higher up....and this would probably also be when the round wintergarden showed up. Based on the photographs, there appears to be two different ways that the inlets were moved higher up. One is that teardrop-shaped duct aft of the rear periscope shear and the other is the externally applied ducting to the outer walls of the conning tower.
...so, I would say that the Amati U-47 is incorrectly showing that teardrop-shaped duct aft of the rear periscope shear since she was later modified to have the external ducting.
-thoughts/comments?
Jeff
