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This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII. 
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RE: Guppy
Posted by: kurt ()
Date: July 21, 2001 04:08PM

<HTML>Guppies (Greater Underwater ProPulsion) were US fleet boats that were, as Steve Cooper pointed out, incorporated lessons learned from WWII, especially the German Type XXI\'s.

The battery capacity was greatly increased. US boats used indirect drive, that is, the diesel engine turned generators, and were not connected mechanically to the screws. They had two electric motors per shaft, both used on the surface, one underwater. For the Guppy, both were used underwater.

The boat was streamlined for underwater operation, with the conning tower and sail streamlined and surface arament removed. A schnorkel was installed, and (unlike German schnorkeling U-boats) an underwater garbage disposal installed.

Most also received advanced sonar systems. Many Guppy converted boats have huge bulbous noses for these postwar sonar systems.

Guppies were designed to stay underwater the entire time of their patrol, and have high underwater performance.

Nevertheless the shortcomings of a diesel boat, even as streamlined \'elektro-boat\' were evident. When the nuclear Nautilus entered service it was considered to be many times more effective than even a dozen Guppies. Overall Guppies were only a stopgap. Guppies were removed from US service as quickly as the new nuclear navy could be brought on line.

The US Navy feels that true submarine capabilities were not achieved till the nuclear powerplant was mated with the teardrop hull - both postwar developments beyond the Guppy or the legacy of the Type XXI. </HTML>

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Subject Written By Posted
Guppy Hank 07/21/2001 01:44PM
RE: Guppy Steve Cooper 07/21/2001 02:12PM
RE: Guppy kurt 07/21/2001 04:08PM
Nuclear &amp; classic subs walter M 07/21/2001 04:31PM
RE: Nuclear &amp; classic subs Hank 07/21/2001 08:27PM
RE: Nuclear &amp; classic subs kurt 07/22/2001 08:53PM
RE: Nuclear &amp; classic subs walter M 07/22/2001 09:09PM
RE: Guppy me109g 07/22/2001 04:30PM
teardrop hulled subs kurt 07/22/2001 09:02PM
RE: Guppy me109g 07/23/2001 12:05AM


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