Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
RE: Type VllC
Posted by:
kurt
()
Date: September 19, 2001 02:10AM
I don\'t think anyone answered your specific questions.
-A U-boat used primarily the eyes (with binoculars) of the lookouts - four usually, each watching a specific 90 degree quadrant. In clear weather during the day they could spot a plane miles away and get under in plenty of time - if they were on their toes. If the weather was bad and the plane was radar equipped, chances are that the plane would pop out of the mist and clobber them before they could do anything. At night they would be able to see precious little - and be liable to surprise. Remember that the boats engines usually drowned out the noise of an approaching airplane.
Radar detectors and some radars were used, but these had varying degrees of effectiveness. A boat would dive if the radar detector indicated someone was getting close - same as a lookout spotting a plane.
-A well trained VIIC could go from surface running on diesels to fully submerged at periscope depth in a bit over 30 seconds- maybe 35 - 40 secons being a bit long. A lot depended on the crew\'s training.
-The usual tactic when attacked from the air was to get under as fast as possible, and dive deep as quickly as possible. A sudden turn after submerging to throw off a depth charge drop was common. Given enough warning this was very effective against depth charges, but not against the Fido acoustic homing torpedo. If you were slow in getting under or got surprised at or near the surface the shallow depth charges dropped on you would be lethal.
At one point in the war Doenitz ordered U-boats to stay on the surface and \'fight it out\' with added AA armamament. Losses were horrid - it was an insanely stupid order.
-\'The Swamp\'? new one on me.
-A U-boat used primarily the eyes (with binoculars) of the lookouts - four usually, each watching a specific 90 degree quadrant. In clear weather during the day they could spot a plane miles away and get under in plenty of time - if they were on their toes. If the weather was bad and the plane was radar equipped, chances are that the plane would pop out of the mist and clobber them before they could do anything. At night they would be able to see precious little - and be liable to surprise. Remember that the boats engines usually drowned out the noise of an approaching airplane.
Radar detectors and some radars were used, but these had varying degrees of effectiveness. A boat would dive if the radar detector indicated someone was getting close - same as a lookout spotting a plane.
-A well trained VIIC could go from surface running on diesels to fully submerged at periscope depth in a bit over 30 seconds- maybe 35 - 40 secons being a bit long. A lot depended on the crew\'s training.
-The usual tactic when attacked from the air was to get under as fast as possible, and dive deep as quickly as possible. A sudden turn after submerging to throw off a depth charge drop was common. Given enough warning this was very effective against depth charges, but not against the Fido acoustic homing torpedo. If you were slow in getting under or got surprised at or near the surface the shallow depth charges dropped on you would be lethal.
At one point in the war Doenitz ordered U-boats to stay on the surface and \'fight it out\' with added AA armamament. Losses were horrid - it was an insanely stupid order.
-\'The Swamp\'? new one on me.
Subject | Written By | Posted |
---|---|---|
How did U-Boats spot planes? | Keith Wilkinson | 09/11/2001 11:10AM |
RE: How did U-Boats spot planes? | oliver | 09/11/2001 03:47PM |
RE: How did U-Boats spot planes? | Ken Dunn | 09/11/2001 06:02PM |
FuMO | Keith Wilkinson | 09/11/2001 08:52PM |
RE: FuMO | Ken Dunn | 09/11/2001 09:46PM |
U-boats and radar | kurt | 09/12/2001 08:57PM |
RE: U-boats and radar | Keith Wilkinson | 09/14/2001 06:23PM |
Comments | SuperKraut | 09/15/2001 11:10AM |
RE: Comments | kurt | 09/17/2001 05:31PM |
Re: Comments | JAYRSEE | 11/28/2001 07:27PM |
Re: Comments radar | gmansw7 | 05/20/2016 09:43AM |
Re: Comments | gmansw7 | 05/20/2016 09:45AM |
RE: U-boats and radar | James stewart | 09/17/2001 11:10AM |
The HF war at sea | SuperKraut | 09/15/2001 10:56AM |
Type VllC | Keith Wilkinson | 09/17/2001 06:35PM |
RE: Type VllC | kurt | 09/19/2001 02:10AM |
SWAMPS | Keith Wilkinson | 09/19/2001 06:52PM |
RE: SWAMPS | kurt | 09/19/2001 07:51PM |
RE: SWAMPS | walter M | 09/21/2001 08:53AM |