Just answering some of the quick and easy questions first...

This is not as simple a question as it seems. To appreciate the answer, you need to understand the German officer structure of WWII PLUS forget about the way command was handled by Allies.

In WWII there were two general streams of U-boat officers - "Line" and "Engineering" (and "Medical" in the later years). In some instances the LI (Engineering stream) would actually outrank the Commander (Line stream) either in seniority or rank (look at U-516 for example, at one stage near the end of the war the Commander was an ObLt whilst the LI was a highly decorated KptLt). So it was possible that even the Commander wasn't the most senior on his own boat!

However, it was Line officers that took command of U-boats. The most senior ranked Line officer was always the Commander. The 1WO was the 2IC and the guy who took over should something happen to the Commander, regardless of what rank the LI had. Indeed, there were *many* instances where the Commander was an ObLt, the LI was an ObLt and the 1WO was an Lt.

The 1WO was responsible for the weapons system: torpedo control and aiming. So yes, it should be he providing the weapons assistance.

Apart from the floating LI, no. Two Chief Petty Officers - an Obermaschinist and an Elektro Obermaschinist - were responsible for the diesels and electric motors and batteries respectively. Both reported to the LI (Engineering stream).

Provisioning.

The 2WO was generally a very junior officer and was responsible for the flak and deck guns plus overseeing communication.

The 1WO and 2WO each undertook two 4 hour watches per day, with the Obersteurmann (navigator) and Oberbootsmann (discipline and conduit between officers and ORs) doing a 4 hour watch each. The balance of the watchcrew was made up of enlisted men undertaking one 4 hour shift each day.

See above. The LI was too busy being in charge of the technical department (engines, motors, batteries, trim). It should also be noted that he was the last person off a boat if scuttling was necessary.

Further, out of the usual four Chief Petty Officers, only the Obersteurmann and Oberbootsmann undertook watch duties, with the Obermaschinist and Elektro Obermaschinist remaining below with the engines.

NB: It goes without saying that there were always exceptions based on unique or otherwise circumstances. The above is simply the "usual" way things were done, at least according to a few sources I have here.

Brilliant, that's exactly the information I was looking for, thanks!

So that would suggest the following crew composition/management

-LI One of the first inline for promotion, Helmsman and repair specs, and machinist specs for role-playing purpose to have him hang around in the engine room every now and again, lol. He drives my boat and if there is some heavy-duty repairing to be done, he is the man in charge of that. (When he sleeps, who would take his place at the helm, historically?)

-Navigator/quartermaster. Helmsman and further specs might be Watch and Medic. One of the guys rotating into the watch schedule

-Some dude. Torpedo Specs, possibly watch specs. To be seen as Oberbootsman. Good guy to rotate into the watch for 1 shift a day and to be in charge of torpedo reloading.

-1.WO, Watch, helm and torpedo specs. Takes the weapon officer slot when at action stations. Does the solution and is the spare torpedo reloader if, for example, I need both bow and stern torpedo rooms at full efficiency. (Does it help in game if the weapons officer has helm specs? I never find my control room bar other than fully green because the LI and navigator are on duty, but perhaps the solution is more accurate if the weapons officer has helm?)

-2.WO, Watch, flak, gunner specs. On the bridge at surface action stations. If we are shooting guns, he is the one taking care of business.

Thus I get rid of the 'machinist officer' and my engine room is lead by an oberbootsman machinist, along with an other nco machinist. Another identical engine room crew in their aft quarters. My torpedo officer is not in charge of anything other than reloading the tubes, sleeping a long time afterwards as it seems a very tiring business and rotating into the watch. A junior Oberfahnrich will replace my machinist officer and if anyone ever gets flak and gunnery qualifications, it will be him.

For the watchcrews I now have 3 teams of 4. One on the bridge or sleeping when submerged. one in the control room (4th guy doing the radio when my 2 funkers are resting. the funkers are unique and don't have replacements on board. they just man their stations when necessary and sleep most of the other times) and the 3rd watch team is resting. I rotate them from the helm to the bridge to the quarters, never getting them really tired. This system of being at work 2/3 and sleeping 1/3 works because they sleep 2/3 whenever we are submerged.

this would appear to be quite an accurate system then, correct?

only matter remaining is the torpedo crew. I have 3 sets of 3: one torpedo qualified NCO and 2 matrosen. 2 sets are sleeping and 1 set is manning whichever engine room is not in use. (due to how incredibly tired they get if i stick them in the torpedo room all day)
would these guys have been rotated through the watchcrew historically?

My head hurts! :rotfl:

I'll respond this way. A typical Type VII crew looked like this:

Commander (usually an KptLt, KvtKpt or ObLt)
1WO (usually an ObLt)
2WO (usually an Lt)
LI (usually an ObLt or Lt)
3WO/Navigator (usually the Obersteuermann)
4WO (usually an Oberbootsmaat)

General (ie cook etc)
2 x Oberbootsmann
1 x Bootsmann
7 x Matrosenobergefreiter
3 x Matrosengefreiter

Engine Room
1 x Stabsobermaschinist
2 x Obermaschinist
2 x Maschinenobermaat
5 x Maschinenmaat
11 x Maschinenobergefreiter
5 x Maschinengefreiter

Radio Operators
3 x Funkobermaat
1 x Funkobergefreiter
2 x Funkgefreiter

Torpedo Room
1 x Obermechaniker
2 x Mechanikermaat
1 x Mechanikerobergefreiter
1 x Mechanikergefreiter

Medical
1 x Sanitatsmaat

Of course, crew numbers varied from boat to boat and type to type.

Usual rotation was 8 hours duty, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours misco tasks (inc 4 hours on watch), except for the engine room guys that worked 6 hours on, 6 hours off. No bridge watch for these guys. And no bridge watch for the cook.

If you are running SH3Cmdr, then pls note that it includes a "Realistic Crew" set that pretty much replicates this structure, notwithstanding the usual compromises required to make it fit in with SH3 limitations.

For more detail on this stuff, I highly recommend the book "Grey Wolf: U-boat crewman [sic] of WWII". It's a composite of numerous sources, but gives a nice summary. Also covers who did what during "action stations". ;)