Just had my first ever submarine experience. How did they communicate with the world? - Page 2

Dallsim · 09-21-16, 08:28 AM

Some great information on uboat.net. The ultimate site for German submarine info

A lot to digest.

Back to the film, I cannot forget the scene when the submarine goes under after losing control, sinking towards the maximum threshold before collapsing. I now read on Wikipedia that the "crush depth" for the U-96 at the time was somewhere between 250 and 295 meters. While watching, I had no idea how many meters could be sustained, and I wonder if the crew knew of any specific crushing treshold as well. My heart was pumping, to say the least! Was this type of information transparent? In the Film, they test the submarine at the beginning. Is this normal behaviour or once more made for dramatical effects?

Exciting to read that they are making a TV serie sequel to Das Boot, which will be released in 2018. 8 episodes lasting an hour each. Now that they cannot rely on Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock for authenticity, who will they turn to in order to ensure that submarine experts like yourselves won't have a "hissy-fit" when watching

CaptBones · 09-21-16, 11:46 AM

There's also uboatarchive.net...check it out as well.

"Crush depth" is a calculated value; nobody has ever returned to tell of the actual crush depth that their boat experienced. Given the safety factor used in designing and constructing the hull, crush depth could be anything between two and four times the test depth...even more. In practice, it might be substantially less than the calculated value...age, corrosion, wear and tear, undiscovered damage, all would contribute to that.

Yes, it was somewhat "transparent", the crew would know what the test depth and crush depth were; they would most likely have dived to test depth at least once, during final Sea Trials or Acceptance Trials. In wartime they would most likely have gone to test depth, and deeper, on more than one occasion. After every "overhaul" or regular inport maintenance/upkeep period, you would make at least one dive to test depth to verify that everything had been put back together correctly. In wartime, an astute skipper would push that test dive beyond Test Depth, at least 1-1/2 times as deep, twice if they had strong confidence in the engineers and builders.

If you can get your hands on a copy of Dick O'Kane's book "Clear the Bridge!", he treats the subject of Test Depth well in Chapters 1 and 2 and goes on with real-world applications while on patrol, several more times.

We...or rather some of us ,"experts" will always have "hissy-fits" when it comes to movies (and games) about submarines and submarine warfare. I think we're all "rivet-counters" (with apologies to my fellow model railroaders as well) and all prone to expect the impossible from anyone who dares to produce something that is an "authentic" recreation of a world that you can't recreate or duplicate 100% on a screen (big or little).

BTW...I'll share my definition of "expert" with you; an "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is a leak under pressure. One should never let it go to their head.

09-21-16, 08:28 AM	#16
Dallsim Watch Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: London, UK Posts: 21 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Some great information on uboat.net. The ultimate site for German submarine info A lot to digest. Back to the film, I cannot forget the scene when the submarine goes under after losing control, sinking towards the maximum threshold before collapsing. I now read on Wikipedia that the "crush depth" for the U-96 at the time was somewhere between 250 and 295 meters. While watching, I had no idea how many meters could be sustained, and I wonder if the crew knew of any specific crushing treshold as well. My heart was pumping, to say the least! Was this type of information transparent? In the Film, they test the submarine at the beginning. Is this normal behaviour or once more made for dramatical effects? Exciting to read that they are making a TV serie sequel to Das Boot, which will be released in 2018. 8 episodes lasting an hour each. Now that they cannot rely on Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock for authenticity, who will they turn to in order to ensure that submarine experts like yourselves won't have a "hissy-fit" when watching

09-21-16, 11:46 AM	#17
CaptBones The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Rockton, IL Posts: 274 Downloads: 208 Uploads: 0	There's also uboatarchive.net...check it out as well. "Crush depth" is a calculated value; nobody has ever returned to tell of the actual crush depth that their boat experienced. Given the safety factor used in designing and constructing the hull, crush depth could be anything between two and four times the test depth...even more. In practice, it might be substantially less than the calculated value...age, corrosion, wear and tear, undiscovered damage, all would contribute to that. Yes, it was somewhat "transparent", the crew would know what the test depth and crush depth were; they would most likely have dived to test depth at least once, during final Sea Trials or Acceptance Trials. In wartime they would most likely have gone to test depth, and deeper, on more than one occasion. After every "overhaul" or regular inport maintenance/upkeep period, you would make at least one dive to test depth to verify that everything had been put back together correctly. In wartime, an astute skipper would push that test dive beyond Test Depth, at least 1-1/2 times as deep, twice if they had strong confidence in the engineers and builders. If you can get your hands on a copy of Dick O'Kane's book "Clear the Bridge!", he treats the subject of Test Depth well in Chapters 1 and 2 and goes on with real-world applications while on patrol, several more times. We...or rather some of us ,"experts" will always have "hissy-fits" when it comes to movies (and games) about submarines and submarine warfare. I think we're all "rivet-counters" (with apologies to my fellow model railroaders as well) and all prone to expect the impossible from anyone who dares to produce something that is an "authentic" recreation of a world that you can't recreate or duplicate 100% on a screen (big or little). BTW...I'll share my definition of "expert" with you; an "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is a leak under pressure. One should never let it go to their head.