Question re: Diesel used in U-Boats and Ships in general during WW2

FeatsOfStrength · 02-06-22, 05:06 AM

I am doing a review of the (god awful) 2018 remake of Das Boot, there is a scene in the TV Show where the U-Boat comes across a small ship which they board and then use it's fuel to refuel the Diesel on their submarine.

Would this have even been possible though? as far as I know historically this wouldn't have happened as when a U-Boat was short on Fuel a rendezvous with either a German Fuel carrier like the Belchen, a Milch Cow or another returning Submarine that had fuel to spare was arranged via radio.

I was under the impression that most standard merchant/engined ships of the time either used coal or Ship Fuel, which is I think a cruder type of oil than Diesel and wouldn't work properly in a U-Boats engine?

Can anyone give me any information on whether standard Ship Fuel from the 1940's would be usable in a U-Boat or if there are any examples of U-Boats taking fuel from non-German ships?

02-06-22, 05:06 AM	#1
FeatsOfStrength Gunner Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 100 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Question re: Diesel used in U-Boats and Ships in general during WW2 I am doing a review of the (god awful) 2018 remake of Das Boot, there is a scene in the TV Show where the U-Boat comes across a small ship which they board and then use it's fuel to refuel the Diesel on their submarine. Would this have even been possible though? as far as I know historically this wouldn't have happened as when a U-Boat was short on Fuel a rendezvous with either a German Fuel carrier like the Belchen, a Milch Cow or another returning Submarine that had fuel to spare was arranged via radio. I was under the impression that most standard merchant/engined ships of the time either used coal or Ship Fuel, which is I think a cruder type of oil than Diesel and wouldn't work properly in a U-Boats engine? Can anyone give me any information on whether standard Ship Fuel from the 1940's would be usable in a U-Boat or if there are any examples of U-Boats taking fuel from non-German ships?