Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Torpedo Launching
Posted by:
ROBERT M.
()
Date: November 01, 2003 05:44AM
Kenn et al:
Thanks for the sources.
From looking those photos of the "piston/plate", it's obvious that its thickness (about 4") would not work by itself; it would cock itself and jam
the tube. Therefore the addition of the guide arm and extension provided for a longer piston overall, reducing weight at the same time.
The hole in the tail end of the torpedo accomodated the forward end of the piston in order to center it. Its after end was centered in the center of the handwheel cavity in the center of the breech door. Aftrer the torpedo was tube-loaded, this handwheel was turned clockwise until it contacted the piston, to prevent any aft movement of the torpedo during an up angle of the boat.
The two semi-circular ends of the guide bar acted as "shoes" to ride in the tapered grooves of the tube.
When calculating for the volume of a 21" diameter torpedo tube, is must be remembered that it's impossible to load a 21" torpedo into a 21" torpedo tube. The inner diameter (bore) of a fleet boat tube is 21.125".
The 4 tube rollers are set at from 0.030" to 0.50" into the tube, allowing adequate clearance in the tube for thr 21" diamter torpedo.
Concerning impulse pressure figures, click :
[www.maritime.org] - scroll down
to Pages 130 to 131.
Later,
ROBERT M.
Thanks for the sources.
From looking those photos of the "piston/plate", it's obvious that its thickness (about 4") would not work by itself; it would cock itself and jam
the tube. Therefore the addition of the guide arm and extension provided for a longer piston overall, reducing weight at the same time.
The hole in the tail end of the torpedo accomodated the forward end of the piston in order to center it. Its after end was centered in the center of the handwheel cavity in the center of the breech door. Aftrer the torpedo was tube-loaded, this handwheel was turned clockwise until it contacted the piston, to prevent any aft movement of the torpedo during an up angle of the boat.
The two semi-circular ends of the guide bar acted as "shoes" to ride in the tapered grooves of the tube.
When calculating for the volume of a 21" diameter torpedo tube, is must be remembered that it's impossible to load a 21" torpedo into a 21" torpedo tube. The inner diameter (bore) of a fleet boat tube is 21.125".
The 4 tube rollers are set at from 0.030" to 0.50" into the tube, allowing adequate clearance in the tube for thr 21" diamter torpedo.
Concerning impulse pressure figures, click :
[www.maritime.org] - scroll down
to Pages 130 to 131.
Later,
ROBERT M.