Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Air Conditioning on Type XXI's ?
Posted by:
J.T. McDaniel
()
Date: June 23, 2002 02:38PM
According to Friedman, it became standard in the FY35 (Perch class, SS-176-181) boats. First installation was in Cuttlefish (SS-171, laid down 1931, launched 1933, commissioned 1934). It was installed in everything built after the Perches though, as I mentioned earlier, mostly for dehumification, with crew comfort really little more than a happy side effect.
At least one S-boat (S-44, SS-155) did have A/C, purchased by the shipyard workers in Philadelphia at the time of a 1942 overhaul, and installed by her crew. I'm not aware of any others with that luxury, though. Arguably, the S-boats were more in need of dehumidification than the fleet boats, as their riveted hulls added seepage to the condensation problem. But they also had simpler electronics, with less to short out.
J.T. McDaniel
At least one S-boat (S-44, SS-155) did have A/C, purchased by the shipyard workers in Philadelphia at the time of a 1942 overhaul, and installed by her crew. I'm not aware of any others with that luxury, though. Arguably, the S-boats were more in need of dehumidification than the fleet boats, as their riveted hulls added seepage to the condensation problem. But they also had simpler electronics, with less to short out.
J.T. McDaniel
