Question about das boot and flooding...

[fastfed]

I am totally curious here, What was the deal when they sunk down and started to move water, where were they moving the water to? And how did they get it out??

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by fastfed

I am totally curious here, What was the deal when they sunk down and started to move water, where were they moving the water to? And how did they get it out??

IIRC, they moved the water to the command room's bilge and then flushed it out with compressed air.

[Kaleun Cook]

Originally Posted by Dowly

IIRC, they moved the water to the command room's bilge and then flushed it out with compressed air.

Indeed.

I think because all pumps (correct english term?) were broken they couldn't do more than try to stop the flooding. Later in the movie the LI reports to the Kaleun: "Hauptlenzpumpe klar." So they got the main pump ready again. With that and the compressed airmethod they pushed the water out.

I can't wait for drifter's repair mod to have equal situations in the game.

[Sailor Steve]

Yep, they said (in the extra-long version at least) that the control-room pump was the only one working, and they had to get the water there before they could pump it out.

[down and out]

Yep thats about it
Thats why they bucketed the water into the control room

Das Boot

[minute]

Actually, does anyone know if this is something that ever happened with a sub in WWII? I mean, getting hit and sunk to the bottom to then come back again after repairs?

[Sailor Steve]

Sometimes they would lie on the bottom in shallow water, as it made them harder to locate with sonar and less likely that depth charges would do damage. I'm sure if repairs were needed (and could be done quietly) that would be a great time to do them.

[P_Funk]

If I recall the movie correctly they said that they weren't sure if they had any compressed air left. Therefore wouldn't they have pumped the bilge manually?

[Mauser KAR98K]

Originally Posted by minute

Actually, does anyone know if this is something that ever happened with a sub in WWII? I mean, getting hit and sunk to the bottom to then come back again after repairs?

"Iron Coffins!" nuf said.

[Kaleun Cook]

Actually, does anyone know if this is something that ever happened with a sub in WWII? I mean, getting hit and sunk to the bottom to then come back again after repairs?

The movie and the book are based upon a journey of U 96. Well, it's a novel so one never knows how much Buchheim added. From the german wikipedia:

"Siebente Feindfahrt"

Das Boot lief am 27. Oktober 1941 um 9.52 Uhr von St. Nazaire aus, und lief am 6. Dezember 1941 um 19.02 Uhr wieder dort ein. U 96 gehörte zur Gruppe mit den Tarnnamen "Stosstrupp" und "Störtebecker". Es versorgte sich am 27. November 1941 in Vigo 100 m³ Brennstoff und Proviant. Auf dieser Fahrt war der Leutnant (Sonderführer) PK Lothar-Günther Buchheim an Bord. Auf dieser 41 Tage dauernden und 6.829 sm über und 236 sm unter Wasser langen Unternehmung im Mittelatlantik und westlich von Gibraltar, bei der U 96 nach der Versorgung in Vigo in das Mittelmeer verlegen sollte, im Mittelatlantik und westlich von Gibraltar, wurde ein Schiff mit 5.998 BRT versenkt. Der Durchbruch durch die Straße von Gibraltar in der Nacht auf den 1. Dezember 1941 war jedoch gescheitert und das Boot kehrte schwer beschädigt in den nächsten erreichbaren deutschen Stützpunkt an der Biskaya, La Rochelle, zurück.

• 31. Oktober 1941: Versenkung des niederländischen Dampfers Bennekom mit 5.998 BRT. Der Dampfer wurde durch zwei Torpedos versenkt. Er hatte 900 t Stück- und 300 t Militärgüter geladen und befand sich auf dem Weg nach Table Bay. Das Schiff gehörte zum Konvoi OS-10. Es gab neun Tote und 45 Überlebende.

A poor translation:

Seventh patrol

The boat departed from St. Nazaire on october 27th 1941 at 9.52 and returned there on december 6th 1941 at 19.02. U 96 belonged to a group with the secret names "Stoßtrupp" und "Störtebecker". It resupplied on november 27th 1941 in Vigo with 100 m³ fuel and food. Leutnant PK Lothar-Günther Buchheim was on board on this journey. On this 41 days, 6829 sm above and 236 sm under water long journey in the middle antlantic and western of Gibraltar there was one ship with 5998 tons sunk. The breakthrough through Gibraltar in the night of december 1st 1941 was a failure and the boat returned with heavy damage to the next reachable german base in the biskaya which was La Rochelle.

october 31st 1941: Sinking of the dutch steamer Bennekom with 5998 tons. The steamer was sunk using two torpedoes. It was loaded with 900 tons civilian supplies and 300 tons military supplies and was heading for Table Bay. The ship was part of the convoy OS-10. Nine sailors died, 45 survived.