Whats This?...

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I'd say it's some kind of service (sonar?) hatch cover. It looks like a hinge on the top of it.

I thought about that - it's pretty small though compared to the tubes, if the weapons are 533mm, the hatches won't be too much more than that will they, say 750mm? Which makes the little hatch much smaller.

[ASWnut101]

Strange, it's in none of the scematics, drawings, or anything like that.

Maby its to help flood the ballast tank during dives, but your guess is as good as mine, so keep them coming.

[Linton]

Would the hatch be for a signal ejector?Some of the early WW2 T-boats had external torpedo tubes,that could only be accessed in port for reloading.

[ASWnut101]

Thats a VERY small torpedo, as the ones it's inbetween are 533mm torpedo tubes.
that makes it like 233 mm (guess)

[Linton]

So it is about a signal size then?Submarine smoke candle.

[ASWnut101]

Signaldefenition?)

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

Signaldefenition?)

Subs fire out smoke candles for various communications purposes, see http://www.ukho.gov.uk/content/amdAt...NM8%202006.pdf for a couple of examples. The same launchers can be used for other sensors like expendable bathythermographs or active/passive decoys. RN ones are only about 4" in diameter.

Again - why complicate your life building a launcher out through the superstructure when these can be launched out through the side of the hull with only a simple hull gland to close them off.

[ASWnut101]

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

...aldefen...

how did that come out as a smiley?