What would a thermometer have been used for on a U-Boat?

[captainprid]

I have enclosed a picture of a KM thermometer from a collection of U-Boat artifacts. My question is what would it have been used for? I'm completely stumped and it would appear the collection owners are too.....






http://www.atlantik-pirat.com/Gallery1.htm

[Curval]

That is an early version of a rectal thermometer...Bernard came up with it after his XO got a fever.

In all seriousness...there are termometers in the link you posted called salinity thermometers...used for testing the salinity of water re buoyency I assume but am totally guessing.

[ddrgn]

wind chill maybe?

[gutted]

My question is what would it have been used for?

Probably to tell the temperature?

[tonyw]

...of the soup

[Feuer Frei!]

It would appear that thermometers were designed for acoustic use, called ocean thermometer.
here a link, page 161 and page 162 makes mention of this...
http://books.google.com/books?id=mEI...ometer&f=false

not sure if that thermometer is the same or similar type as shown in your pic

[captainprid]

Originally Posted by tonyw

...of the soup

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

It would appear that thermometers were designed for acoustic use, called ocean thermometer.
here a link, page 161 and page 162 makes mention of this...
http://books.google.com/books?id=mEI...ometer&f=false

not sure if that thermometer is the same or similar type as shown in your pic

Great bit of research there. Can't think of any other reason

[Feuer Frei!]

A Bathythermograph?
this:
http://uboat.net/articles/index.html?article=45

interesting read

[SteamWake]

Could it be a sling psychrometer?

Although I have no idea what they would use one for other than weather predictions.

[kylania]

Originally Posted by tonyw

...of the soup

Well played!

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by Curval

That is an early version of a rectal thermometer...Bernard came up with it after his XO got a fever.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

A Bathythermograph?
this:
http://uboat.net/articles/index.html?article=45

interesting read

U boats didn't have that particular piece of equipment, not that it would have mattered in the atlantic anyway. I think wind chill is a more likely explanation.

[caine007]

Determining whether that giant can on the end makes it float or makes it sink would probably be a good start.

If it sinks... maybe it was dropped on a long line to detect thermal layers in the water?

If it floats... that's a bit trickier. Most small, important things on ships and boats have some precautions so they don't sink so it could be used for a number of things.

[Cap.Palla]

Originally Posted by caine007

If it sinks... maybe it was dropped on a long line to detect thermal layers in the water?

I think that is correct...
AND THE REWARD IIISSSSS...... a patrol in the strait of Gibraltar !!!

Ok and now go on with the second question: this strange object was discovered on U-69 , who knows what would it have been used for?


_________________________

sorry...i had to do this...

[captainprid]

Originally Posted by caine007

Determining whether that giant can on the end makes it float or makes it sink would probably be a good start.

If it sinks... maybe it was dropped on a long line to detect thermal layers in the water?

If it floats... that's a bit trickier. Most small, important things on ships and boats have some precautions so they don't sink so it could be used for a number of things.

Seems a good explanation to me. One thing though, if they are sending it down 70m + wouldn't the reading change by the time it was yanked to the surface??