Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Pressure Hull Material
Posted by:
Scott Sorenson
()
Date: September 17, 2008 03:48PM
tlebert,
Here is some more information about the hull design.
Within the pressure hull the forward and aft trim tanks, and the WRT tanks, are the only structural tanks designed for more than a gravity pressure head. The remaining structural tanks consist of four fuel oil tanks, the lubricating oil tanks, the fresh water tanks and the sanitary tanks.
The conning tower is a relatively small oval cylinder mounted vertically on the pressure hull. Plating thickness is 40mm (1.18 inches). Frames are vertical. The structure is closed at the top by an elaborate steel casting incorporating periscope and hatch rings, and ribs extending to the top of the frames. The specified plating material is identifiable with available reference material. The cover casting is of chrome-molybdenum-vanadium steel.
The entire pressure hul is welded except for the patches mentioned above. Butt joints are employed on the sheel, and where heavier plating adjoins lighter plating, the heavier plating is scarfed to the lighter thickness at the weld. Where the shell is welded to the cast and bulkheads and where the conning tower plating joins the cover casting, however, the outwe surfaces are flush, but the inner surfaces are not, and a fillet of weld metal has been built up from the plate to the thickness of the casting. Intermittent welding is used only on the stiffeners for the two light fabricated bulkheads. The cast type of pressure bulkhead is welded to a ring on its periphery, which in turn is welded to the pressure hull. The door frame in these bulkheads are riveted.
That is all that I have without going into the outer shell section of the boat. I hope this help you out. I do not know the frame web thickness, but wil try and fine out for you.
Here is some more information about the hull design.
Within the pressure hull the forward and aft trim tanks, and the WRT tanks, are the only structural tanks designed for more than a gravity pressure head. The remaining structural tanks consist of four fuel oil tanks, the lubricating oil tanks, the fresh water tanks and the sanitary tanks.
The conning tower is a relatively small oval cylinder mounted vertically on the pressure hull. Plating thickness is 40mm (1.18 inches). Frames are vertical. The structure is closed at the top by an elaborate steel casting incorporating periscope and hatch rings, and ribs extending to the top of the frames. The specified plating material is identifiable with available reference material. The cover casting is of chrome-molybdenum-vanadium steel.
The entire pressure hul is welded except for the patches mentioned above. Butt joints are employed on the sheel, and where heavier plating adjoins lighter plating, the heavier plating is scarfed to the lighter thickness at the weld. Where the shell is welded to the cast and bulkheads and where the conning tower plating joins the cover casting, however, the outwe surfaces are flush, but the inner surfaces are not, and a fillet of weld metal has been built up from the plate to the thickness of the casting. Intermittent welding is used only on the stiffeners for the two light fabricated bulkheads. The cast type of pressure bulkhead is welded to a ring on its periphery, which in turn is welded to the pressure hull. The door frame in these bulkheads are riveted.
That is all that I have without going into the outer shell section of the boat. I hope this help you out. I do not know the frame web thickness, but wil try and fine out for you.