Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Torpedo Launching
Posted by:
Harvey
()
Date: October 27, 2003 09:22PM
Torpedo Launching
Please can anyone help with the following points?
I am trying to find out just how the compressed air used to launch a torpedo was "vented back into the boat" - did they use a metal (or what?) plate behind the torpedo which fitted into (how many?) grooves inside the tube so that the air blast did not vent out of the tube giving away the boats position. This plate (proper name?) would then have to be "hooked?" back into the boat to reload the tube? Or what?
After launching a torpedo how soon (did it matter?) was the outer tube door closed?
Did this venting into the boat raise the air pressure inside the boat, if not what did raise the air pressure?
So that on surfacing pressure had to be equalised, how was this equalising done?
Also what started the torpedoes propulsion system (propellers)? - water resistance as the torp hit the water?
I have never heard of a U-boat having what I believe the US Sub Service calls a "hot run" inside the boat or tube - did this happen?
I have heard of many "hot runs" in US subs.
Finally did U-boat torpedoes have contra-rotating propellers?…on all types of torpedo?
Regards Harvey
Please can anyone help with the following points?
I am trying to find out just how the compressed air used to launch a torpedo was "vented back into the boat" - did they use a metal (or what?) plate behind the torpedo which fitted into (how many?) grooves inside the tube so that the air blast did not vent out of the tube giving away the boats position. This plate (proper name?) would then have to be "hooked?" back into the boat to reload the tube? Or what?
After launching a torpedo how soon (did it matter?) was the outer tube door closed?
Did this venting into the boat raise the air pressure inside the boat, if not what did raise the air pressure?
So that on surfacing pressure had to be equalised, how was this equalising done?
Also what started the torpedoes propulsion system (propellers)? - water resistance as the torp hit the water?
I have never heard of a U-boat having what I believe the US Sub Service calls a "hot run" inside the boat or tube - did this happen?
I have heard of many "hot runs" in US subs.
Finally did U-boat torpedoes have contra-rotating propellers?…on all types of torpedo?
Regards Harvey