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Platapus · 12-06-09, 08:33 PM

Alberich - which used a synethic rubber compound called Oppanol, Oppanol pannels were glued to the sides of the submarine as a way of both hindering active sonar by absorbing the active sonar pulses and reducing the sound signature of the submarine against passive hydrophones.

It was first used operationally (1940) on the U-67 Type IXC. The problem with Alberich was in the adhesive used. Gluing synethic rubber to steel alloys under water that can withstand the current effects as well as the temperature effects is difficult. Many experments showed that the tiles would strip away.

By 1944, improvements in adhesives were implemented on the U-480 Type VII successfully. Testing during the war and after showed that the Alberich tiles only reduced the active sonar signal (by absorbtion and redirection) by about 15%. Nice, but ultimately probably not worth the effort and expense.

http://www.uboataces.com/sonar-coating.shtml

12-06-09, 08:33 PM	#8
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,369 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Alberich - which used a synethic rubber compound called Oppanol, Oppanol pannels were glued to the sides of the submarine as a way of both hindering active sonar by absorbing the active sonar pulses and reducing the sound signature of the submarine against passive hydrophones. It was first used operationally (1940) on the U-67 Type IXC. The problem with Alberich was in the adhesive used. Gluing synethic rubber to steel alloys under water that can withstand the current effects as well as the temperature effects is difficult. Many experments showed that the tiles would strip away. By 1944, improvements in adhesives were implemented on the U-480 Type VII successfully. Testing during the war and after showed that the Alberich tiles only reduced the active sonar signal (by absorbtion and redirection) by about 15%. Nice, but ultimately probably not worth the effort and expense. http://www.uboataces.com/sonar-coating.shtml __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.