Oldest surviving war veteran subs?
 

A historical question:

What is the oldest submarine preserved today that
1) Went on war patrol
2) Sank enemy ships

Are there any still left from WWI?

Just wondering.

I'm planning to post pictures (very soon) from the Soviet D-2 that I took last summer, and it struck me that it has to be pretty high on that list (launched in 1928, sank 4 ships in WWII) :hmm:

To my shame.
 

I of all people I would think would know this one but to my shame I do not
know what the oldest preserved combatant submarine in the world is.

unless somebody else know's its going to take a few days.

There are surviving World War I combatants.
for proof have a look at portsmouth harbour in
google earth. but subs?

time to break out the two ended candle.

MM:|\\

Was doing some reasearch and it seems the are a few WWI subs still around.
Found a few via google.:up:

Although I guess it would depend on your definitions of "preserved" and "war patrol," the Civil War submarine Hunley comes to mind.

Beyond that, there are several preserved submarines from that period up to WW1, but none that I can find of that have sunk ships. Yours may very well be it! :up:

Haha, my only reservation would be putting together "Hunley" and "survived" :dead:

It'd be a real shame if not one actual WWI boat survived.

U 1 in the deutsche museum and the Holland 1 are the two oldest I can think of.I am not sure about their service record though.

well
 

I am able to confirm that U1 served throughout the first world war
and survived it she was sliced in half under the versailles disarmament
accords. and became a museum exhibit.

however other than those facts I have nothing on her war record a visit to
the museum website may turn it up.
MM
ps it is reported the class did not have a lucky war I have
more details on the classes war results and will pop back
with them later.

The German U 1: no war patrols, training flotilla only,
http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=1

I think, the answer should be: "CSS H.L. Hunley who attacked the USS Housatonic Febr. 1864",
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.L._Hunley.
On raising and conservation of the Hunley, see here:
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM...Byko-0103.html, cit.:
"When all the work is done, the sub will be moved to a permanent home in the ---Charleston Museum---, a tribute to the cutting-edge technology of 1863, uncovered and preserved with the cutting-edge technology of the 21st century."

well
 

it is restored but it didnt survive the attack or the war.
maybe as far as it goes the oldest preserved to carry out a war
patrol but her story was told by archeoligists.
Mm

I know its unrelated but
 

Has anyone other than me ever thought that the french

Farafadet was an exquisitley ahead of its time hullform.
MM

Those old fusiform designs are all quite impressive. I think the sub hull designs we build today have more in common with ones from the late 19th century than what we put out much more recently (i.e. World War II). It's amazing.

Look at Isaac Peral's design, circa 1890:
http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesU...s/SubIsaac.jpg

Just add stern planes, make it bigger, and paint it black :hmm:

My bet is on the USS Turtle (if she ever turns up).

http://www.historycentral.com/NAVY/MISC%202/turtle.html

well
 

if she does turn up its clearly the winner as she sank after recovery.
Mm

There is also Wilhelm Bauer's Brandtaucher (incendiary diver) from first Danish-German war (1850). The ship was built for military use in mind, but she was never on a war patrol (which would not be her task anyway) and could only sink herself. But she has a score for the first sunken sub(mersible), from which the crew could escape alive (after sitting on the bottom of Kiel Bay for 6 hours).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Dresden_7.jpg
Brandtaucher in Bundeswehrmuseum (Museum of Military History) Dresden

more info:
http://www.science2life.org/wertinge...ish/index.html

nice
 

nice pic.
mm