Depth Capabilities of subs/uboats

DigitalAura · 10-09-09, 11:55 AM

One thing that strikes me about historical sub and uboat accounts is that American fleet boats report going as deep as 300 feet (Silent Running, Calvert) while German U-boats could submerge to 300 meters (Iron Coffins, Werner). That's almost 1000 feet!
Why the difference?
How deep can depth charges be known to go? I think I read that U-557 was able to evade charges because they could go deeper.

Freiwillige · 10-09-09, 02:00 PM

nobody knows. The German VIIc\41 had a thicker pressure hull than most U-boats. Ive also heard of a balao class reaching 8 to 9 hundred feet and living to tell about it. But in the american navies the average test depth was 250 to 300 feet. In the U-boat it was 100 to 150 meters. Both American and German navies have out of necessity exceeded that figure by some margin and lived to tell about it.

V.C. Sniper · 10-09-09, 02:53 PM

A Balao class survived going to 1017 ft and back.

SteamWake · 10-09-09, 03:04 PM

A depth charge will go as deep as you set the fuse to pop at.

What was the max depth on the fuse... dunno someone should fill it in.

But say that either you forgot to set the fuse or the fuse was defective therotically the DC would sink untill it hit bottom even if you dropped it in the Mairannas trench.

It is known though that early in the war american crews underestmated the depth that german subs could attain and more often than not set there triggers too shallow.

Generally speaking German U boats could attempt depths much deeper than their allied counterparts.

A balo at over 1,000 feet ... wow thats some lucky SOB's

Ducimus · 10-09-09, 03:46 PM

Fleet boats could go have gone deeper then many people (including the fans) think. You might find this thread interesting:

http://forum.kickinbak.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=414

Some good and interesting info there, but to summerize a few talking points:

- USS Salmon (salmon class, duh) went to 520 feet and was holding steady, though sinking slowly.

- USS Gurnard (gato class), is beleived to have passed 700 feet. To quote, "The depth gauge was well up against the limit pegs and the sea pressure gauges used to calculate depths beyond the depth gauges were only designed to calculate a depth of 650 feet."

- USS Tang (Balao) went to 620 feet in a test dive out of sea trials. Is reported to have gone to 700 when damaged, but came back up to 600.

- USS Chopper (Balao), out of control, depth exceeded 1000 feet as mentioned by VC sniper.

Now all that said, many areas of operation in the pacific were shallow, so if one were to draw comparisions to uboats, any depth advantage a uboat would have had is irrelevant in many places.

DigitalAura · 10-13-09, 08:05 AM

Surely, with the content of the barrel under such extreme pressure, even a depth charge would have a limit to how deep they could go... are you telling me that they could still explode effectively at 1000 feet?

10-09-09, 11:55 AM	#1
DigitalAura Straight and True Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CANADA Posts: 276 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Depth Capabilities of subs/uboats One thing that strikes me about historical sub and uboat accounts is that American fleet boats report going as deep as 300 feet (Silent Running, Calvert) while German U-boats could submerge to 300 meters (Iron Coffins, Werner). That's almost 1000 feet! Why the difference? How deep can depth charges be known to go? I think I read that U-557 was able to evade charges because they could go deeper. __________________ ... ALL YOUR BEACH ARE BELONG TO US! ...

10-09-09, 02:53 PM	#3
V.C. Sniper Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 339 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	A Balao class survived going to 1017 ft and back. __________________ I only need one torpedo.

10-09-09, 03:04 PM	#4
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	A depth charge will go as deep as you set the fuse to pop at. What was the max depth on the fuse... dunno someone should fill it in. But say that either you forgot to set the fuse or the fuse was defective therotically the DC would sink untill it hit bottom even if you dropped it in the Mairannas trench. It is known though that early in the war american crews underestmated the depth that german subs could attain and more often than not set there triggers too shallow. Generally speaking German U boats could attempt depths much deeper than their allied counterparts. A balo at over 1,000 feet ... wow thats some lucky SOB's __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

10-13-09, 08:05 AM	#6
DigitalAura Straight and True Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CANADA Posts: 276 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Surely, with the content of the barrel under such extreme pressure, even a depth charge would have a limit to how deep they could go... are you telling me that they could still explode effectively at 1000 feet? __________________ ... ALL YOUR BEACH ARE BELONG TO US! ...

10-09-09, 02:00 PM	#2
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	nobody knows. The German VIIc\41 had a thicker pressure hull than most U-boats. Ive also heard of a balao class reaching 8 to 9 hundred feet and living to tell about it. But in the american navies the average test depth was 250 to 300 feet. In the U-boat it was 100 to 150 meters. Both American and German navies have out of necessity exceeded that figure by some margin and lived to tell about it.

10-09-09, 03:46 PM	#5
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Fleet boats could go have gone deeper then many people (including the fans) think. You might find this thread interesting: http://forum.kickinbak.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=414 Some good and interesting info there, but to summerize a few talking points: - USS Salmon (salmon class, duh) went to 520 feet and was holding steady, though sinking slowly. - USS Gurnard (gato class), is beleived to have passed 700 feet. To quote, "The depth gauge was well up against the limit pegs and the sea pressure gauges used to calculate depths beyond the depth gauges were only designed to calculate a depth of 650 feet." - USS Tang (Balao) went to 620 feet in a test dive out of sea trials. Is reported to have gone to 700 when damaged, but came back up to 600. - USS Chopper (Balao), out of control, depth exceeded 1000 feet as mentioned by VC sniper. Now all that said, many areas of operation in the pacific were shallow, so if one were to draw comparisions to uboats, any depth advantage a uboat would have had is irrelevant in many places.