I am certainly no authority on subs, just have a long interest in them. So on a highly subjective note I have been through the USS Drum, a Gato class boat on display in Mobile Alabama and could not imagine living aboard it. Then I went through U 505 in Chicago and felt like the Drum was a Carnival cruise ship by comparision...Well I certainly exaggerare but the difference was very noticable. I do
Forum: General Discussions

Here is a wonderful site, much to explore but I narrowed it to 20mm: As it would seem 20mm's were primarily for anti-aircraft would not HE be normal? Guessing on my part...GB
Forum: General Discussions

Dear Herr Kummrow , I had little knowledge of these events and will now research them , danke. I try to imagine how difficult such times must have been but , of course, cannot begin to comprehend. Thank you too for your kind comments about our recent inauguration. I was born in 1940, the son of a farmer in Alabama, and am increasingly amazed as to how the Internet and wonderful forums such as
Forum: General Discussions

Given that enormous quantities of various valuable metals were lost in WW2 and that the post war period was desperately in need of such metals why did the British deliberately scuttle so many U-Boats. It seems more logical they would have sent them to the breakers as they eventually did all their battleships and we did most of ours, including the carrier USS Enterprise. Of course one would have
Forum: General Discussions

The fact that U Boat is written in English would seem like a strong clue !!!! I imagine it is a replica and worth far far less but I am no authority ... GB
Forum: Technology and Operations

Many thanks Ken, I also thought how hostile an environment the Merchant Mariners faced. I doubt a quickly built "Liberty Ship" provided many creature comforts. As late as 1958 one could see nearly 100 "Liberties" mothballed in the Tensaw River just north of Mobile, Alabama...I was 18 when I saw them. Kindly, Gaines
Forum: General Discussions

I have read vivid accounts of open bridge British warships in the North Atlantic but am very curious about how conditions were inside of U-Boats serving in the North in winter. How were they heated, what were approximate water temperatures at say at hundred meters, 150 meters ? . Was there a thermal barrier between the outer hull and interior surfaces? Fresh food could not have lasted long, was m
Forum: General Discussions

Simon, What an informative link. It more clearly shows the advanced design of the late U-Boats relative to the Allies. Adversity can certainly stimulate activity, as Nietchize said, paraphrased of course. One really wishes a XX1 survived... The description of the difficulties of men existing the turrets under crash dives answers the original question and gives us pause as we imagine it. Vie
Forum: General Discussions

Thanks Ken, That is about what I suspected. I cannot imagine trying to install a plug during a crash dive nor can I imagine the guns responding well after being submerged many times. Automatic weapons rely on tolerances and balance to work probably so old fashion physics comes into play. An object in motion....etc. It would seem to need to be relatively clean and lubricated to work well. Just
Forum: General Discussions

Thought I am an American I am also an Anglophile but this list is so erratic, to me, it borders on idiotic at times. It seems to be a popularity poll of all viewers. We, the forum users , are probably are much more interested in history and authenticity in our war movie fare. I personally found "Das Boot" to be a very compelling movie, it seems to have a gritty reality when I imagine t
Forum: Movies and Films

Search turned up no responce so I will start a post. I am curious as to what happened to the above when a boat dived. . They are too large to take below, it would seem so how were they protected against salt water. Deck guns appear to have muzzle caps and the breech is pretty tight. Would the smaller guns have muzzle caps and was the nmechanism just exposed ? It would seem after many weeks at sea
Forum: General Discussions

Rainer, many thanks...exactly the kind of information I was looking for. an engagement between a well defended u-Boat and a heavily armed Beaufighter or Mosquito most have been a horrendous event, sheer terror, beyond my comprehension. Platon, you open up another new avenue for research. Had not thought of it. kindly, Gaines
Forum: General Discussions

First thanks for the film on the B-24 attack posted recently. I fully realize than planes dropped DC's on or perhaps I should say near the boats and perhaps bombs ( were bombs ever used?) and that machine gun fire was anti-personnel but it raised my curiosity about the possibility of penetrating the pressure hull by gunfire. Since most of the attacking planes carried .30 &.50 machine gu
Forum: General Discussions

Thanks guys, bad memory, I searched "Law" not "War".....Will google next time...GB
Forum: Movies and Films

In this 1970 era movie there are extensive scenes of a submarine that looks post-WW2 but it serves as a U-Boat in the movie. Does anyone know what it really is ? searched Murphy's Law with no result. GB
Forum: Movies and Films

I am certain it was combat footage. The U-boat was not passive in the complete footage I saw.! A second question related to above. I know shallow depth bombs and depth charges were the main anti-sub weapons and that machine guns would be deadly to personnel but would airborne machine guns or automatic cannon, 20mm, etc, be lethal to the sub itself by penetrating the pressure hull? I imagine punct
Forum: General Discussions

Many thanks that must be it but it is not quite as I remembered. Still unlikely there is another so similar. The other was narated and I thought had several passes by the plane but was only seen at a glimpse. GB
Forum: General Discussions

Several years ago I watched a WW2 film of a surfaced U-Boat being attacked by A Sunderland.....My memory may be be incorrect , it could have been a B-24. It was extremely close quarters and short duration but morbidly fascinating and obviously rare footage. The U-Boats 20mm's were fully operational. It appeared on the Military Channel on US cable TV. Would like to see it again if anyone has
Forum: General Discussions

If you ever get chance it is a beautifully barren and isolated place to visit. Little left on the land but HMS Royal Oak is upside down with her keel about 5-10 meters below the surface. HMS Vanguard is too, from WW 1, as well as 70 odd ships of the Grand Fleet scuttled there after WW1. A lot of history at Scapa.
Forum: Warship forum