Unidentified feature

[Yurek]

Maybe someone knows what is that feature I have marked on the attached photo i what for was installed on late war U-boats ?
I have looked hard for information, but I coudn't find anything...
I've found identical thing on the U-boat wreck, and I would like to know what it is :yep:.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9533/pznx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/pznx.jpg/)

[GoldenRivet]

this has been bugging me, i have searched for a while as well. I have noticed this on later boats.

my assumption is as follows:

given that these features are placed immediately adjacent to the bollards, i assume these are just fairings meant to provide a more rounded surface upon which the mooring lines may rest and to prevent the mooring lines from making contact with a sharper edge on the corner of the boat thereby preventing them from fraying or breaking.

I am not sure why this feature would be added to later boats and not on older boats, my only educated guess is that the installation of snorkels on the forward deck required the bollards to be moved forward a small distance which may have affected the mooring characteristics of the boat altogether thus requiring these devices to be installed. You dont find these fairings on the stern quarters because the original position of the stern bollards would not have been affected by late war modifications (like the snorkel).

thats my best guess

i look forward to other responses.

[Yurek]

@ GoldenRivet

Thanks ! You're right about that.
In the meantime I got the answer from U-boots Archive in Cuxhaven:
Wooden pieces fixed to the upper front hull at port and starboard side in 1943 and after were so-called "rubbing strakes" (= "Scheuerleisten") to protect the body of the hull from the scratching by the mooring lines. I have added a photograph taken in July 1945 at Lisahally, Northern Ireland, where after the surrender of Germany more then 60 still operational U-Boats were moored side by side. The pic shows (from right to left) in the front formation U-1109, U-1058, U-278 and U-901. In the explanatory text below is points at the "Scheuerleisten" (= rubbing strakes), which I circled on the pic and the text.


So, mistery is solved at last...

[Buddahaid]

I was looking through Rossler's "The U-boat" and only found them shown on page 352-353 VIIC(1944) plans and obviously directly adjacent to the bollards. Nice find.