Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Torpedo Launching
Posted by:
ROBERT M.
()
Date: October 28, 2003 05:16AM
Ken:
You wrote: ".......didn't have counter-rotating propellors......."
"In both G7a and G7e the power unit drove a propellor shaft, which in turn drove a gearbox powering two contra-rotating propellors, which
were necessary to overcome the effects of torque.
You wrote: "........early G7a torpedoes (used compressed air and a chemical to form steam..........."
The chemical used was DECALIN (decahydronapthalene)
In one of my previuos posts, I mentioned a "tripping latch" located on top of the torpedo at the afterbody section. A photo of this "tripping latch" (or lever) is shown (just slightly aft and to the left of the torpedo's "guide stud") on page 95, of "U-BOATS: The Illustrated History of
the Raiders of the Deep" by David Miller - Pegasus Publishing, LTD -
cc 1999.
Incidentally, the torpedo is prevented from rotating itself in the tube by a
"guide stud" and the top of the vertical control stabilizer located on the tail of the torpedo, which ride in the longitudinal groove atop the interior of the tube. The guide stud comes in contact with the retractable torpedo stop mechanism located at the top of the torpedo tube's exterior when it is tube-loaded.
The above reference to the G7a and G7e can be found on page 92 in the same publication.
Later,
ROBERT M.
You wrote: ".......didn't have counter-rotating propellors......."
"In both G7a and G7e the power unit drove a propellor shaft, which in turn drove a gearbox powering two contra-rotating propellors, which
were necessary to overcome the effects of torque.
You wrote: "........early G7a torpedoes (used compressed air and a chemical to form steam..........."
The chemical used was DECALIN (decahydronapthalene)
In one of my previuos posts, I mentioned a "tripping latch" located on top of the torpedo at the afterbody section. A photo of this "tripping latch" (or lever) is shown (just slightly aft and to the left of the torpedo's "guide stud") on page 95, of "U-BOATS: The Illustrated History of
the Raiders of the Deep" by David Miller - Pegasus Publishing, LTD -
cc 1999.
Incidentally, the torpedo is prevented from rotating itself in the tube by a
"guide stud" and the top of the vertical control stabilizer located on the tail of the torpedo, which ride in the longitudinal groove atop the interior of the tube. The guide stud comes in contact with the retractable torpedo stop mechanism located at the top of the torpedo tube's exterior when it is tube-loaded.
The above reference to the G7a and G7e can be found on page 92 in the same publication.
Later,
ROBERT M.