(TEC) How many planesmen?

[perisher]

If a boat is on the surface and expects to stay there it is pointless to man the bow planes.

If a boat is cruising submerged and sudden or extreme depth changes are not anticipated, there is no need to man the bow planes.

It would not be at all unusual to see only the stern planes manned, even when submerged. They would only need to be manned at General Quarters and when diving or surfacing.

It was common practise in US subs for the planes to be manned by the lookouts who had just been ordered below.

I am not sure if the stern planes were manned while surface running. I know it was common practise in the Royal Navy but I cannot find out about the USN practise. The movie Run Silent, Run Deep suggests that the stern planes were manned on the surface.

[Sailor Steve]

In Das Boot neither wheel was manned while surfaced. I don't know about the reality either, but you're right - it seems odd to have them sitting there all the time.

[castorp345]

to implement this in-game see ==> http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...7&postcount=19 (from LukeFF's excellent realistic crew mod thread)

[Payoff]

If one were to do this, where would the crewmen go? Will they still be present on the boat?

[perisher]

Originally Posted by castorp345

to implement this in-game see ==> http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...7&postcount=19 (from LukeFF's excellent realistic crew mod thread)

Thank you. I missed that one.

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by perisher

If a boat is on the surface and expects to stay there it is pointless to man the bow planes.

If a boat is cruising submerged and sudden or extreme depth changes are not anticipated, there is no need to man the bow planes.

It would not be at all unusual to see only the stern planes manned, even when submerged. They would only need to be manned at General Quarters and when diving or surfacing.

It was common practise in US subs for the planes to be manned by the lookouts who had just been ordered below.

I am not sure if the stern planes were manned while surface running. I know it was common practise in the Royal Navy but I cannot find out about the USN practise. The movie Run Silent, Run Deep suggests that the stern planes were manned on the surface.

I don't know if it's a bug but my bowplanes are never manned unless I ordered general quarters. Go figure out.:hmm:

[perisher]

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

I don't know if it's a bug but my bowplanes are never manned unless I ordered general quarters. Go figure out.:hmm:

That would be about right in real life. I do know that in a British sub the fore planes were manned at Diving Stations, when radical manoeuvring was expected, and Action Stations, as we call GQs. Otherwise they were not manned, they can be linked to the stern plane control wheel.

[Torpex752]

The Bow-Stern and rudder are suppose to be manned while submerged, not an option on WWII US Boats. Surfaced the helm was manned in the conning tower.

Frank

[perisher]

Originally Posted by perisher

I do know that in a British sub the fore planes were manned at Diving Stations, when radical manoeuvring was expected, and Action Stations, as we call GQs. Otherwise they were not manned, they can be linked to the stern plane control wheel.

I may be wrong on this, I saw an old propaganda short today, Submarine On Patrol (Admiralty ref A 141). It stated that at watch diving both planes were manned. This was a T class boat. I have seen anecdotal evidence that suggests that this was not always the case.

[Torpex752]

I know for fact that the Bow-Stern and rudder stations were be manned while submerged.

Frank

[perisher]

Okay, we have established - Two men while submerged.

How about surface running. There is simply no point in manning the fore planes if they are rigged in. I am sure that in RN boats the after planes were manned at all times while underway at sea (I have seen this in both factual and fictional movies). I think this was the same in the USN. As for the KM, it would seem that they were not routinely manned while surface running, but I'll bet they were in bad weather.