I cant remember if the U-boats used comparable methods for filling and blowing the ballasts. Now keep in mind this is totally subjective, i have no real basis to back it up, but I cant help but feel in my readings that the pumps and blowers where much more substantial in US boats because the skippers made reference to them a lot. It was like they couldnt help but notice them when operating.
Now i know U-boats had these pumps and blowers, but US boats seemed to operate like US V8s, big, loud and powerful, while U-Boats had high-end 6 cylinder, highly tuned, quiet models of efficiency. Both did the job but were better and worth in some areas compared to the other.
I remember references to US boats and their blowers seemingly willing the sub to ride exeptionally high in the water to squeeze out every inch of height to allow for greater area scans and ranges. The skipper who talk about the deafing howl and whirl as they blew the ballast dry as a bone.
If you didnt care so much about running silent, i'd assume those pumps and blowers could certainly help in increasing rate of depth.
Once again, this is purely subjective.
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