Why dont american subs have german like conning towers?

CruiseTorpedo · 07-09-06, 05:50 PM

All the american subs I've seen always had their periscopes up and even when they're down they appear to be up compared to the german uboats. I dont get it? I thought that was a dead give away siloette when your showing scopes up and it was a no no. Can some one fill me in on american uboats, were they even called uboats or submarines?

I guess I'm used to the look of the german stuff, havent seen an american uboat in real life yet, saw the u505 last month, hope to stop by cleveland and see the boat they have docked up there sometime this month! Excited about it cuz they never cut away any of the doors for better access, it's all still in tact just the way they made it back in the 40's.

don1reed · 07-09-06, 06:08 PM

US boats were larger and their periscope depth was deeper 65' (19.8m). The scopes were housed in the sheers above the conning tower which also served as lookout platforms, which enabled the lookouts to see farther.

You might want to check out the USS Cobia at Manitowoc, Wis., while you're at it.

75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-684-0218 or Toll free 1-866-724-2356
FAX 920-684-0219

CruiseTorpedo · 07-09-06, 06:38 PM

That's a little too far to drive, the drive to Chicago was a bit much but I figured I love the SH3 game so it would be great to see a real uboat! Was 5 hours from central ohio to see the boat, maybe a 2.5 hour drive to see the one in cleveland from here which is doable. I almost went to see the boat in cleveland rather than go to chicago but I wanted to see the big city too! LOL Was a great trip and the boat was well worth seeing! Here are a few pictures

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01298b.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01288b.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01285b.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...t/DSC01281.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...t/DSC01287.jpg

CruiseTorpedo · 07-09-06, 06:40 PM

So see if I have this right, the reason the scopes stick up on the american boats is because they were longer for the boat to operate a little deeper with them up? Why would they do this? What's the benefit?

don1reed · 07-09-06, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Why would they do this? What's the benefit?

You'd have to ask the Naval Architects that question...

...but, offhand, I say that the deeper they were at PD made less of a chance to broach during foul wx...and during calm, less visible to aircraft.

The Pacific theater presented an entirely different type of war, but, the US submarine force was no stranger to those waters, having had a pre-war presence there, the USN had the subs designed their way (Fleetsubs)for the purpose of screening for battleships under the Mahon Theory of Naval warfare....that theory came tumbling down when the first BB was sunk at Ford Island, Oaho, H.I. 7DEC41. Until America's industrial might could get the military back up to speed, the subs, US, Brits, and Dutch alone, took the war to Japan.

Nice pics, btw.

Saw her before she was moved indoors and before her ASR was returned. She's lookin' good.

CruiseTorpedo · 07-09-06, 07:26 PM

What's the ASR?

Immacolata · 07-30-06, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don1reed

(Fleetsubs)for the purpose of screening for battleships under the Mahon Theory of Naval warfare....that theory came tumbling down when the first BB was sunk at Ford Island, Oaho, H.I. 7DEC41.

The Mahon what? A google turned up nothing about it.

Deamon · 10-20-06, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Why would they do this? What's the benefit?

Becose the longer the periscope is the higher is the sea state in that you can still operate savely at PD

A logical consiquence for boats that are made for oceanic operations. In the ocean the waves are much higher, you know ?

What a spoiler when you cannot attack a target becose the sea is to heavy.

Deamon

07-18-06, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don1reed

US boats were larger and their periscope depth was deeper 65' (19.8m). The scopes were housed in the sheers above the conning tower which also served as lookout platforms, which enabled the lookouts to see farther.

You might want to check out the USS Cobia at Manitowoc, Wis., while you're at it.

75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-684-0218 or Toll free 1-866-724-2356
FAX 920-684-0219

My dad keeps suggesting we go there (I live in wisconsin) :p

don1reed · 07-18-06, 08:48 AM

Wisconsin has a lot of WWII history, i.e., old "Camp McCoy" housed a lot of German POWs (U-Boats) also.

When I was a young Army lad at Fort McCoy, I had the honor of seeing their HQ telephone exchange. It was the entire guts from the BB USS Wisconsin. Nothing but oak switch boards and old fashion stepper switches...Brass....truely a thing of beauty...all gone today...new modern PBXs.

If you get the chance, look up Jerry Calenberg. He used to be the Sub Schools Cmdr over at the Pacific Thunder Campaign. He's one of the volunteers that keeps the USS Cobia alive and well.

All the best,

Don

don1reed · 07-18-06, 09:13 AM

Quote:

They glow in the dark when something moves on the surface.

Phosphorescence.

In a fog, running on fumes, Navy aircraft have been known to follow the glowing, phosphorescence trail back to the flight deck of their carriers to get home safe. (James A. Lovell, Jr. Apollo 13 Cdr)

During peacetime, a thing of beauty. Your ship's bow turns over the ocean like a plow revealing a hidden diamond mine at night.
During wartime, the neon sign is pointing at YOU!!@

07-18-06, 11:26 AM

Moder sonar uses a spinning antenna, similar to radar but much faster. I remember being on a bridge wing late one night and seeing the phosphorescent plankton light up in the beam. It swept completely around in one second or less, and looked like it went all the way to the horizon.

Ghostieguide · 09-08-06, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruiseTorpedo

Can some one fill me in on american uboats, were they even called uboats or submarines?

A famous quote from Winston Churchill

Enemy submarines are to be called "U-boats." The term "submarine" is to be reserved for Allied underwater vessels. U-boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs. --Winston Churchill :hmm:

John Pancoast · 09-08-06, 01:29 PM

[quote=Ghostieguide]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruiseTorpedo

Can some one fill me in on american uboats, were they even called uboats or submarines?

Well, since the "U" in "u-boat" stood for a German word, I think it's safe to say that American boats weren't called "u-boats."

Sailor Steve · 09-08-06, 02:20 PM

'Unterseeboot' is the German word for submarine, or vice-versa if you prefer. Unterseeboot literally means under-sea-boat, which happens to be the exact meaning of sub-marine boat.

I don't know what the Japanese word is, but I'm pretty sure it isn't 'U-boat' or 'submarine'.

07-09-06, 05:50 PM	#1
CruiseTorpedo Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 112 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Why dont american subs have german like conning towers? All the american subs I've seen always had their periscopes up and even when they're down they appear to be up compared to the german uboats. I dont get it? I thought that was a dead give away siloette when your showing scopes up and it was a no no. Can some one fill me in on american uboats, were they even called uboats or submarines? I guess I'm used to the look of the german stuff, havent seen an american uboat in real life yet, saw the u505 last month, hope to stop by cleveland and see the boat they have docked up there sometime this month! Excited about it cuz they never cut away any of the doors for better access, it's all still in tact just the way they made it back in the 40's.

07-09-06, 06:08 PM	#2
don1reed Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Valhalla: Silent Generation Posts: 1,149 Downloads: 910 Uploads: 0	US boats were larger and their periscope depth was deeper 65' (19.8m). The scopes were housed in the sheers above the conning tower which also served as lookout platforms, which enabled the lookouts to see farther. You might want to check out the USS Cobia at Manitowoc, Wis., while you're at it. 75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-684-0218 or Toll free 1-866-724-2356 FAX 920-684-0219 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. ~ George Orwell Last edited by don1reed; 07-09-06 at 06:11 PM.

07-18-06, 08:48 AM	#10
don1reed Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Valhalla: Silent Generation Posts: 1,149 Downloads: 910 Uploads: 0	Wisconsin has a lot of WWII history, i.e., old "Camp McCoy" housed a lot of German POWs (U-Boats) also. When I was a young Army lad at Fort McCoy, I had the honor of seeing their HQ telephone exchange. It was the entire guts from the BB USS Wisconsin. Nothing but oak switch boards and old fashion stepper switches...Brass....truely a thing of beauty...all gone today...new modern PBXs. If you get the chance, look up Jerry Calenberg. He used to be the Sub Schools Cmdr over at the Pacific Thunder Campaign. He's one of the volunteers that keeps the USS Cobia alive and well. All the best, Don __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. ~ George Orwell Last edited by don1reed; 07-18-06 at 08:51 AM.

09-08-06, 02:20 PM	#15
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	'Unterseeboot' is the German word for submarine, or vice-versa if you prefer. Unterseeboot literally means under-sea-boat, which happens to be the exact meaning of sub-marine boat. I don't know what the Japanese word is, but I'm pretty sure it isn't 'U-boat' or 'submarine'. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-09-06, 06:38 PM	#3
CruiseTorpedo Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 112 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	That's a little too far to drive, the drive to Chicago was a bit much but I figured I love the SH3 game so it would be great to see a real uboat! Was 5 hours from central ohio to see the boat, maybe a 2.5 hour drive to see the one in cleveland from here which is doable. I almost went to see the boat in cleveland rather than go to chicago but I wanted to see the big city too! LOL Was a great trip and the boat was well worth seeing! Here are a few pictures http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01298b.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01288b.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../DSC01285b.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...t/DSC01281.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...t/DSC01287.jpg

07-09-06, 06:40 PM	#4
CruiseTorpedo Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 112 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	So see if I have this right, the reason the scopes stick up on the american boats is because they were longer for the boat to operate a little deeper with them up? Why would they do this? What's the benefit?

07-09-06, 07:26 PM	#6
CruiseTorpedo Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 112 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	What's the ASR?

07-18-06, 11:26 AM	#12
Sailor Steve Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Moder sonar uses a spinning antenna, similar to radar but much faster. I remember being on a bridge wing late one night and seeing the phosphorescent plankton light up in the beam. It swept completely around in one second or less, and looked like it went all the way to the horizon.