Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Dutch Submarine technology.
Posted by:
ROBERT M.
()
Date: April 26, 2004 12:35AM
Rainer, Dirk, Bram, et al:
In 1933, Dutch Naval Lieutenant Jan J. Wichers invented a
"breathing tube" later known as a "snorkel" that would allow a sub to use its diesel engine/s while the vessel was at periscope depth.
One major modification that was not incorporated into new U.S.
Navy submarine construction during WWII was the German
"snorkel" or breathing tube. This invention, first used by the Dutch as a means of ventilating their submarines without surfacing, was
adapted by the Germans in response to the threat of Allied radar-equipped aircraft which could detect and sink German U-boats
that came to the surface to charge their batteries or make a high-
speed run. Faced with a desperately high loss rate, the German submarines needed all the protection they could be given. While
the snorkel had obvious advantages, in many respects it degraded submarine performance. It took up cosiderable space,
added weight and cost, was hard on both engines and crewmen, and reduced propulsion efficiency as compared to surface
cruising.
Since the U.S. submarines by 1945 could operate practically at
will against the Japanese or Germans, the adoption of the snorkel
at that time would have contriibuted nothing to the effectiveness of
the U.S. Submarine Force. Although the concept was pursued to
the extent of installing a primitive snorkel on R-6, the decision was made to shelve real development of this system that permitted submarines to run their diesel engines while submerged until
after the termination of WWII.
During April of 1945, BUSHIPS authorized the experimental installation of a folding-mast snorkel in R-6 and contiinued
experiments with simulated installation in the USS SIRAGO
(SS-485) at the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, ME, the
following August. During August of 1945, R-6 moved south to Florida and operated in the Port Everglades-Key West areas.
WWII ended on 2 September, 1945. R-6 decommissioned at tthe
U.S. Naval Station at Key West, FL on 9/27/45.
The idea of breathing tubes on the C-1 in 1909 wasn't so far-
fetched after all..........
Have a nice day,
ROBERT M.
In 1933, Dutch Naval Lieutenant Jan J. Wichers invented a
"breathing tube" later known as a "snorkel" that would allow a sub to use its diesel engine/s while the vessel was at periscope depth.
One major modification that was not incorporated into new U.S.
Navy submarine construction during WWII was the German
"snorkel" or breathing tube. This invention, first used by the Dutch as a means of ventilating their submarines without surfacing, was
adapted by the Germans in response to the threat of Allied radar-equipped aircraft which could detect and sink German U-boats
that came to the surface to charge their batteries or make a high-
speed run. Faced with a desperately high loss rate, the German submarines needed all the protection they could be given. While
the snorkel had obvious advantages, in many respects it degraded submarine performance. It took up cosiderable space,
added weight and cost, was hard on both engines and crewmen, and reduced propulsion efficiency as compared to surface
cruising.
Since the U.S. submarines by 1945 could operate practically at
will against the Japanese or Germans, the adoption of the snorkel
at that time would have contriibuted nothing to the effectiveness of
the U.S. Submarine Force. Although the concept was pursued to
the extent of installing a primitive snorkel on R-6, the decision was made to shelve real development of this system that permitted submarines to run their diesel engines while submerged until
after the termination of WWII.
During April of 1945, BUSHIPS authorized the experimental installation of a folding-mast snorkel in R-6 and contiinued
experiments with simulated installation in the USS SIRAGO
(SS-485) at the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, ME, the
following August. During August of 1945, R-6 moved south to Florida and operated in the Port Everglades-Key West areas.
WWII ended on 2 September, 1945. R-6 decommissioned at tthe
U.S. Naval Station at Key West, FL on 9/27/45.
The idea of breathing tubes on the C-1 in 1909 wasn't so far-
fetched after all..........
Have a nice day,
ROBERT M.
