Presumably, the only time crew were permitted on deck would have been when they were on watch. (Another reason for the low morale mentioned in the report was the number of other U-boats known to have been lost.)
Did U-boats have wooden decks?
A U-boat of that type is not always submerged,the wooden deck was a simple way to avoid some tragic accidents with slipping sailors when rearming or refuelling from raider ships at sea.
How many crew were on a German U-boat?
The typical U-boat was 214 feet long, carried 35 men and 12 torpedoes, and could travel underwater for two hours at a time. In the first few years of World War I, the U-boats took a terrible toll on Allied shipping.
Did U-boats have to surface to fire?
And it must have done so on the surface of the water, where it was able to travel at a faster speed than the ships it pursued. By approaching from astern, where the lookouts rarely checked, the U-boat would be able to slip inside the convoy undetected, fire at close range, then submerge in order to get away.
Did U-boats shoot survivors?
There was only one proven case of a U-boat intentionally machine-gunning survivors during the whole war. It was never the policy of the U-boat service to shoot men in the water or in lifeboats.
What color were uboat decks?
Some artists may also have known that dark grey was the real colour used on wartime U- boats, but preferred to opt for red.
How deep can a German U-boat dive?
What is the maximum depth to which submarines can dive? All modern German submarines are tested for a depth of 197 feet, but for short periods they can go deeper. Cases are known of boats having dived to 250 to 300 feet without injury.
What did U-boat crews eat?
Lunch would be soup, potatoes, cooked meat and vegetables, and fruit. Dinner included sausages or canned fish, cheese, bread, and coffee, tea or chocolate. The galley was located on the starboard side, between the chiefs’ quarters and the wardroom, and was made up of three hotplates and two small electric ovens.
How did they load torpedoes on U-boats?
The torpedo was hooked up to overhead pulleys, and hoisted up. Then it was manhandled forward (the pulleys often travelled on overhead rails in the torpedo room) and positioned in front of the tube, and then shoved into the tube.
What happens when a submarine reaches crush depth?
Originally Answered: What happens when a submarine goes too deep? The pressure outside of the pressure hull overcomes the compression strength of the metal hull and suffer a catastrophic hull breach/collapse and sinks to the bottom.
At what depth will water crush you?
Human beings can withstand 3 to 4 atmospheres of pressure, or 43.5 to 58 psi. Water weighs 64 pounds per cubic foot, or one atmosphere per 33 feet of depth, and presses in from all sides. The ocean’s pressure can indeed crush you.
How deep can nuclear submarines go?
A nuclear submarine can dive to a depth of about 300m. This one is larger than the research vessel Atlantis and has a crew of 134. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is 2,200 meters, or about 1.3 miles. The average depth of the world’s oceans is 3,790 meters, or 12,400 feet, or 2 1⁄3 miles.
What did U-boats smell like?
To make matters worse, because of the diesel engines that propelled the vessel on the surface of the sea, the odor of diesel fuel permeated the U-boat. It was accompanied by the stench of unwashed bodies, dirty clothes and unsanitary toilet facilities.
What was being on a U-boat like?
During this time, U-boat crews were not able to fully bathe, shave or even change their clothes – for a crew set constantly on high-alert, life was unpleasant. … There was no privacy, and all space was filled – crew members even slept in the loading torpedo room.
Why did submariners eat lemons?
His reported experiment on board a naval ship in 1747 showed that oranges and lemons were a cure for scurvy.
What did Germans eat on U boats?
Meat, vegetables (mainly potatoes), bread and fruits were the basic ingredients in the submariners’ menu on German U-Boats during World War 2.
Do submariners get the best food?
When a submarine leaves on patrol, food fills every available corner. Eating takes place in the crew’s mess. Despite the tight galley space, good meals are the rule, with the same menu for officers and enlisted men. Extra funding for food makes submarines the best “feeders” in the Navy.
How is food stored on a submarine?
British submarine crews have the added luxury of a small bar with ale on tap, but alcohol is prohibited on U.S. Navy vessels. Space is at a premium, so food is stored in virtually every nook and cranny on the Jefferson City: beneath seats, behind pipes, under decks. There is a freezer for the meat.
How do you shower in a submarine?
The proper way to take a shower on a submarine is:
- Once inside turn on water and wet down and turn off water at shower head to somewhat maintain temperature.
- Soap down.
- Rinse off and secure the shower.
- GET OUT! make room for the next guy.
How do submarines get air?
First, oxygen must be pumped into the vessel as the crew uses it up by breathing. Oxygen is typically supplied to the submarine from pressurized tanks. A computerized system monitors oxygen in the air and releases fresh oxygen as its needed by the crew.
What cooking oil is used on submarines?
Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn’t smoke unless it’s heated above 450? F.