Diesel fleet boat propulsion
 

While reading a book about the Bowfin, the museum boat at Pearl Harbor, a question comes to mind. How did power to the driveshafts get transferred when switching from diesel to electric and back again? Was there some sort of transmission, or did it function similar to a diesel locomotive, where the engine drives a generator that powers the electric motors? I haven't been able to find an answer.

Matt

In American fleet boats the diesels drove generators, one for each of the four engines. The generators charged the batteries and provided power to the propellor shafts.
http://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/elect/index.htm

OK, just like diesel locomotives.
Thanks,
Matt

I suspect there aren't many if any U-boats at Pearl Harbour.