Quote:
Originally Posted by LGN1
Glad I could help.
What I could not yet find out is how and when the heating procedure was done. Were the batteries kept at 30°C during the whole patrol? Or just for a few days when combat was probable? Or were they only heated when enemy ships were encountered? Any information on this would be great!
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Hi!
According to Rössler, the torpedo' battery was self-heating, in that it had heating elements that drew power from the battery itself. Heating the lead-acid battery led to the buildup of explosive gasses inside the torpedo after 5-6 hours, as well as draining the battery of power needed to propel the torpedo. The gas could be dispersed by continuous application of compressed air, but not while the torpedo was in the tube.
See Eberhard Rössler,
Die torpedos der deutschen U-boote, p. 75; also, David Habersham Wright's master's thesis, "Wolves without Teeth: the German Torpedo Crisis in World War II" at
http://digitalcommons.georgiasouther...99&context=etd
From this I expect an e-torpedo was heated only when going to battle stations, but that it would not take very long for the torpedo to heat up to 30°C (86°F). If it looked like the torpedo would not be launched then the heater would be turned off.
Hope this helps!
Pablo
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- Theodore Roosevelt,
speech before the Hamilton Club, Chicago, April 10, 1899