The U-Boat used in Das Boot... Type VIIB or VIIC?

[Raus]

To me the boat they used for the external shots in Das Boot was a VIIC with a bow cutter on it, though VIIC's didn't usually have bow cutters on them, yet VIIB's did, but the conning tower looks more like a VIIC than a VIIB. What gives? Could it have just been a VIIC w/ a bow cutter put on it, or a VIIB with a different conning tower?

[fatty]

From Wikipedia:
Several different sets were used. Two full-size mock-ups of a Type VIIC boat were built, one representing the portion above water for use in outdoor scenes, and the other a cylindrical tube on a motion mount for the interior scenes. The mock-ups were built according to U-boat plans from Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

The real U-96 did have a cutter. From uboat.net forums:
I recently acquired "The U-Boat War: The German Submarine Service and the Battle of the Atlantic 1935-1945" by David Westwood. In this book there is an interesting photo of U 96 which I haven't seen in any other book or internet site. It clearly shows U 96 with a netcutter plus swordfish insignia. In this photo, U 96 has no breakwaters but there is a wind deflector flange at the top of the tower. There are 7 victory flags flying. I can send this photo to anyone who wants to see it.

[CptCrunch]

If you read the Das Boot novel, which I highly recommend (it's so much better than than the brilliant mini series) - it says somewhere that the boat is a type VII C.

The thing about net cutters is that I have seen them on virtually every WWII photo of type VII and above - regardless of the period of the war. I've got a type IX C at the moment and I would really like a net cutter mod for it. They look mean and cool which is maybe why the comanders retained them!
:D

[Thniper]

If you read the Das Boot novel, which I highly recommend (it's so much better than than the brilliant mini series) - it says somewhere that the boat is a type VII C.


I think it's actually a VII C/41 that is mentioned in the book.
Will take a look at it to confirm my speculation.

Thniper

[Heibges]

And they used the same mockup, the bigger one, for the original Indiana Jones.