So how deep did the u.s subs go max?

[Zero Niner]

I read in "Red Scorpion" that the USN had a safety factor of about 2.5x when it came to max depths for their boats. So if for instance a Balao class was rated for 400ft, in reality it could have been able to go to as deep as 800 ft safely.

[MadMike]

The USS Salmon (Salmon class) went to 500 feet when depth charged by the Japanese (then battle surfaced!)-

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=97573

And here's the link to the story of the USS Chopper (Balao/Guppy I)

http://www.usschopper.com/Chopper%20...e%20Report.htm

Yours, Mike

[TheSatyr]

Remember though that in alot of situations it isn't going to matter how deep your sub can go because you will be in water too shallow to need to worry about it,heh.

[Redwine]

I think so here we will have the same matter than in SH2 and SH3, max operative depths and max safe depths are not the same than crush depths.

[Safe-Keeper]

I took the liberty to run the feet through Google's calculator.

S-Class, Baracuda Class : ~200 feet = 60.96 meters
P-Class, Salmon, Sargo, Tambor, Gar Classes: ~250 feet = 76.2 meters
Gato Class: ~300 feet = 91.44 meters
Argonaut, Narwhal Classes: ~330 feet = 100.58400 meters
Balao, Tench Classes: ~400 feet = 121.92 meters

[Sailor Steve]

But those are only approved test depths. It's like saying a type VIIb can only go to 90 meters.

[Subnuts]

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

I read in "Red Scorpion" that the USN had a safety factor of about 2.5x when it came to max depths for their boats.

I wouldn't take an S-boat to 500 feet if I were you!

[cmdrk]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

I wouldn't take an S-boat to 500 feet if I were you!

The safety factor probable applies to fully welded hulls. I think the P class was the first to have them.

[AS]

Sorry to say so, but you are WRONG if you compare the VIIb depth (90m) to that of a U.S. Sub. The reason is quite simple: The German Navy calculated a safety-factor of 2.5 for their "operational depth", while the U.S Navy calculated with approx. 1.5. This means:

Type VII U-Boat: 100m "safe" operational depth, multiplied by the factor 2.5 = 250m assumed maximum depth close to crash depth (today we know that the crash depth assumption were too pessimistic in those days, as you all know, U-Boats could go a bit deeper than 250m)

US-Sub: 90m (later 120m) operational depth, multiplied by 1.5 = 135 (respectively 180m) maximum depth near crash depth.

So, U.S. subs couldn´t go very deep, but they were not meant to, either, because in the Pacific both crash dive time (VIIc: 25sec., US Gato: 50sec.) and maximum depth didn´t play such an important role, whereas long range travelling, a huge torpedoe load-out and comparatively comfy crew accomodations were much more important for the Pacific theatre.

My two cents, AS

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AS

The German Navy calculated a safety-factor of 2.5 for their "operational depth", while the U.S Navy calculated with approx. 1.5.

Calculated crush depths are not necessarily the reality. I've heard of at least one Gato surviving 600 feet and more. Also, I've seen one source that shows the German depth as twice the test depth, not 2.5. This is not to say the German boats didn't go deeper, but US boats could go quite a bit deeper than they were rated.

[WilhelmSchulz.]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Calculated crush depths are not necessarily the reality. I've heard of at least one Gato surviving 600 feet and more. Also, I've seen one source that shows the German depth as twice the test depth, not 2.5. This is not to say the German boats didn't go deeper, but US boats could go quite a bit deeper than they were rated.

Yes the Later boats(Balo and Trench) could easly go down to 600ft. But thats only as far as they went because that was the limit on the guage.

[MadMike]

From what I can find in historical narratives,the deepest depth that an S-boat went to was 267 feet (81.38m) by S-37.

Yours, Mike

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by WilhelmSchulz.

Yes the Later boats(Balo and Trench) could easly go down to 600ft. But thats only as far as they went because that was the limit on the guage.

:rotfl:

Excellent point!

[CruiseTorpedo]

Originally Posted by cmdrk

The safety factor probable applies to fully welded hulls. I think the P class was the first to have them.

Ummm wait a minute.. They didnt weld the hulls all the way around on the early boats? How the heck were they water tight without welds going all around them? Did they use seals and crap instead of relying on tougher welds??

[Hylander_1314]

No boat is completely "sealed". That's why you have bildge pumps, and during Silent Running, they get shut off completely so as not to give away the position of the boat.