S-Boat battery recharge rate

Sniper297 · 02-09-13, 12:46 PM

Worst trouble is what info you can find often has the internet factor - it's not all accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...lass_submarine

P class was the first experiment with 4 diesels in two engine rooms, using the diesel-electric instead of direct drive with clutches. This source;

http://www.valoratsea.com/boats.htm

Lists all classes before Gato as having;

Power 2 Diesel engines/2 electric motors

Which is wrong for the Porpoise and Salmon/Sargo. Someone using that as a source and assuming all the data is correct would propagate that, then someone else uses HIS incorrect numbers as a source, Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.

I actually met a WWII submariner at a VA hospital several years ago, he served on an S class before the war and a Sargo during the war. That was several years ago and he mostly talked about the Saury, but one thing he mentioned about the S class was the depth limit - there was no way to take it down near test depth since they leaked at all the outboard flanges, the periscope flanges leaked even at periscope depth, the propeller glands leaked even on the surface. Down below 100 feet the bailing pumps had to be kept running full time and the water came in like a hydrant thru stuff like the diving planes shafts and sonar connections. A dive to 150 feet was the furthest they ever went, and after surfacing they needed several hours to drain and dry out the engines before they could start them since the main induction and exhaust valves all leaked.

As for charging rate, I can't find any info either, but even with a WWI design you would expect to be able to have at least 12 hours submergence for 6 hours charge. IIRC the fleet boats did a lot better than that, 1 hour of charging for every 6 hours at minimum speed submerged when the batteries are new.

02-09-13, 12:46 PM	#14
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	Worst trouble is what info you can find often has the internet factor - it's not all accurate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...lass_submarine P class was the first experiment with 4 diesels in two engine rooms, using the diesel-electric instead of direct drive with clutches. This source; http://www.valoratsea.com/boats.htm Lists all classes before Gato as having; Power 2 Diesel engines/2 electric motors Which is wrong for the Porpoise and Salmon/Sargo. Someone using that as a source and assuming all the data is correct would propagate that, then someone else uses HIS incorrect numbers as a source, Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here. I actually met a WWII submariner at a VA hospital several years ago, he served on an S class before the war and a Sargo during the war. That was several years ago and he mostly talked about the Saury, but one thing he mentioned about the S class was the depth limit - there was no way to take it down near test depth since they leaked at all the outboard flanges, the periscope flanges leaked even at periscope depth, the propeller glands leaked even on the surface. Down below 100 feet the bailing pumps had to be kept running full time and the water came in like a hydrant thru stuff like the diving planes shafts and sonar connections. A dive to 150 feet was the furthest they ever went, and after surfacing they needed several hours to drain and dry out the engines before they could start them since the main induction and exhaust valves all leaked. As for charging rate, I can't find any info either, but even with a WWI design you would expect to be able to have at least 12 hours submergence for 6 hours charge. IIRC the fleet boats did a lot better than that, 1 hour of charging for every 6 hours at minimum speed submerged when the batteries are new.