Historical crash dive time for fleet boats?

[Ducimus]

Enquiring minds want to know. How long did it take a Tambor, Gato, or similar sub take to get under on a crash dive? Ive looked everywhere, i can't find this info. Making this post is my last resort

[akdavis]

I believe a minute was the "standard" time, but several memoirs (Gato-class subs) note crews training hard to reach 30-35 second dives.

[Ducimus]

So i guess that 1 min and 10 second crash dive in stock is a bit much eh? I toned it down to 58 seconds or so, but was contemplating the feasiblity of shortning it even more. Sort of doing my homework on it as it were.

[OS3 Slickvic]

Well I can understand your frustration. I had gotten so used to ~35 second crash dives in SH3. I do realize that the American boats were not as fast to carry out a crash dive, but Damn......What are you guys doing down there when I issue a crash dive, throwing a keg party or what? :hmm:

I swear to god you guys are half asleep when you throw the levers to flood the tanks!!
I better start seeing some urgency around here soon or some of you guys are swimming back to Pearl!

[NEON DEON]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

So i guess that 1 min and 10 second crash dive in stock is a bit much eh? I toned it down to 58 seconds or so, but was contemplating the feasiblity of shortning it even more. Sort of doing my homework on it as it were.

It is hard to put an exact figure on a crash dive. Fluckey used to flood negative while surfaced if he was expectiing trouble.

The Narwhal (much bigger than a fleet boat) spotted a japanese aircraft comming straight on them from 7000 yards and crashed dived. She past 50 feet when the bomb hit the water.

The Pampanito web site claims 30 second crash dives for a Balao class.

I have read accounts of boats going to 165 feet and level in 70 seconds.

I have read stories of green crews fresh out of dive school diving in 60 seconds.

Since fleet boats are true diesel electric boats they dont lose all power to the screws like a direct drive U boat or S class. So once the planes are down and they have neutral bouancy or less they now are flying in the water and speed takes over.

I dont know how much of a factor crew has in effecting dive speed in SH IV. If it plays a part that is effected by crew exp., then I would set it at 60 seconds worst and 30 seconds best with 45 being the average. It really should be crew dependent.

Anyways. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

[AVGWarhawk]

I just read that 50-60 seconds was the average time. This is from the XO of Trigger in his book "Submarine!".

[Bilge_Rat]

From what I read, 60 seconds was the average, fleet boats took longer to dive than U-Boats. Personally, I would not set it at less than that.

[Loaf]

Does anybody know if crew experience affects dive times in SHIV?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by NEON DEON

Since fleet boats are true diesel electric boats they dont lose all power to the screws like a direct drive U boat or S class. So once the planes are down and they have neutral bouancy or less they now are flying in the water and speed takes over.

I went to the Fleet-Type Submarine Manual looking for a hint about dive times; didn't find any, but this section indicates that they did lose power to the screws momentarily:
http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/chap18.htm#18A

*a. Stop all engines, shift to battery, set annunciators on "All ahead standard," open engine room doors and air locks.

*b. Close outboard and inboard engine exhaust valves, close hull ventilation supply and exhaust valves, close inboard engine air induction flappers, and close conning tower hatch.

*c. Open bow buoyancy vents and all main ballast tank vents, except the group or tank designated to be kept closed until pressure in the ship indicates that all hull openings have been closed.

*d. Rig out bow planes and place on FULL DIVE. Use stern planes to control the angle on the ship.

*e. Diving officer checks hull opening indicator light panel for condition of hull openings. Air is bled into the ship when green lights show all hull openings closed. Watertight integrity is assured when the internal air pressure remains constant.

f. The following operations are performed by direction of the diving officer, who is guided by the existing conditions:

1. At 45 feet, shut the vents and slow to 2/3 speed.

2. At 15 feet short of desired depth, blow negative tank, shut its flood valve, and vent the tank.

3. Level off at specified depth, slow to 1/3 speed, cycle the vents, and adjust fore-and-aft trim and over-all weight.
4. Diving officer reports to conning officer when trim is satisfactory.

Of course that might explain why it took so long to dive.

[AVGWarhawk]

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/USSPampanito.htm


Here it shows with practice the sub could submerge in 30 seconds. It might be related to the type of sub as well. Anyway, nice article. Note the picture of the sub going off the dry dock. Looks like the same pic in the game.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Loaf

Does anybody know if crew experience affects dive times in SHIV?

That's what I was wondering... anyone timed crash dives with a green crew and with a vet crew?

I keep starting new careers so I have yet to get more than 2 patrols with one crew

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

That's what I was wondering... anyone timed crash dives with a green crew and with a vet crew?

I keep starting new careers so I have yet to get more than 2 patrols with one crew

Yahoo! The new CEO of the "2nd Patrol Your Dead Club"

[Bilge_Rat]

nice photos. I read an excerpt of a book once, a war memoir of a U.S. submariner who in intensive training with his new crew had gotten the dive time down to, I believe 50-60 seconds, although I don't remember where now, (ed Beach maybe). 30 seconds seems a tad fast.

[Captain_Jack]

My crews are able to crash dive in under 60 Seconds..

The Historical accounts I have read say the same.

[simsurfer]

The USS Nerka dove and sank a Akikaze DD in 32 seconds.