UK Friday 5th 21:00 BBC2 - Timewatch: The Hunt for U-864

[Gezoes]

I missed it too unfortunately, if anyone can put it up that would be smashing! Or any other online possiblities for U-boat documentaries for that matter.

I think that, given the genuine audience here, the BBC won't mind too much?

[Jimbuna]

So has anyone got any ideas what the Japs wanted to do with the mercury ? :hmm:

[azn_132]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

So has anyone got any ideas what the Japs wanted to do with the mercury ? :hmm:

make a bomb out of it?

[Letum]

Originally Posted by azn_132

make a bomb out of it?

I would guess that they where using it as a metallic coolant. Perhaps for stationary jet engine recherche. Jets get hot quickly if they are not flying, so you need a effective way to keep them cool if you want to do tests for a few hours on them.
Mercury a very effective coolant when used at high temperature.
(I'm just speculating that they where useing it for that, but it seams likely)

There are myths about "red mercury" being used in nuclear bombs, but there isn't such a thing and mercury is not used in any explosives I know of.

[azn_132]

Originally Posted by Letum

I would guess that they where using it as a metallic coolant. Perhaps for stationary jet engine recherche. Jets get hot quickly if they are not flying, so you need a effective way to keep them cool if you want to do tests for a few hours on them.
Mercury a very effective coolant when used at high temperature.

There are myths about "red mercury" being used in nuclear bombs, but there isn't such a thing and mercury is not used in any explosives I know of.

Jets? well, Japan have been bombed by weapons of mass destuction but if Japan recivied that mercury.....

[Letum]

Originally Posted by azn_132

Jets? well, Japan have been bombed by weapons of mass destruction but if Japan receive that mercury.....

Japan already had examples of working jet engines, but they where a long way from building a production jet. However they did have working rocket planes which was a little action as manned flying bombs.
Even without mercury there are plenty of other ways to cool down primitive jets anyhow.

*edit* Heres a nice article on Japans jets project:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_Kikka

[azn_132]

Originally Posted by Letum

Japan already had examples of working jet engines, but they where a long way from building a production jet. However they did have working rocket planes which was a little action as manned flying bombs.
Even without mercury there are plenty of other ways to cool down primitive jets anyhow.

*edit* Heres a nice article on Japans jets project:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_Kikka

Okha or JW somethang.

[bigboywooly]

I would guess they wanted it for jet engine testing as Letum said

11 March-15 April 1944:
The I-29 arrives safely at Lorient. She anchors next to Kapitänleutnant Max Wintermeyer's U-190. The U-boat's crew cheers and waves welcoming greetings to the I-29's crewmen on parade in their dress uniforms on her deck. Later, the I-29 is berthed in one of Lorient's massive Keroman bunkers.

Lorient is the home of the 2nd U-Flotille "Saltzwedel" commanded by Knight's Cross winner Fregattenkapitän (later Kapitän zur See) Ernst Kals (former CO of U-130) and the 10th U-Flotille commanded by Knight's Cross winner Korvettenkapitän (later Konteradmiral, Bundesmarine) Günter Kuhnke (former CO of U-28). The German submariners entertain the I-29's officers at a dockside bar at Lorient. The bar's low ceiling rafters are covered with the carved signatures of U-boat officers. The I-29's Chief Engineering Officer Lt Taguchi Hiroshi, her Chief Navigation Officer Lt Otani Hideo and several other of the I-29's officers carve their signatures into the rafters.

Later, the Germans host the I-29's entire crew in their luxurious Château de Trévarez that overlooks the small town of Châteauneuf-de-Faou. Cdr Kinashi and the I-29's crew are well fed, engage in competitive sports and party with their German counterparts. The Kriegsmarine arranges a train trip to Paris for the I-29's crew. One of their sightseeing stops is at the Palais de Chaillot that houses the French Maritime Museum and overlooks the Eiffel Tower.

Cdr Kinashi travels to Berlin. Adolf Hitler presents him with the Iron Cross, 2nd Class for sinking the USS WASP.

Meanwhile during her stay, four Japanese Type 96 25-mm AA guns are removed from the I-29 and replaced by a German 37-mm Krupp AA gun and one quad 20-mm Mauser 'Flakvierling'. The I-29 embarks 18 passengers (including four Germans) and takes on an HWK 509A-1 rocket motor used on the Me-163 "Komet" interceptor and a Jumo 004B engine used on the Me-262 jet fighter.


16 April 1944:
The I-29 departs Lorient, escorted by seven M-class minesweepers. She carries drawings of the Isotta-Fraschini torpedo boat engine, a V-1 "buzz bomb" fuselage, TMC acoustic mines, bauxite and mercury-radium amalgam.*****.

Technical Cdr Iwaya Eiichi carries blueprints of the Messerschmitt Me-163 "Komet" rocket interceptor and the Me-262 jet fighter and Captain Matsui is in possession of plans for rocket launch accelerators. The officers also carry plans for a glider bomb and radar equipment. Twenty "Enigma" coding machines are included in the cargo.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-29.htm

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...b0926d02fac75e

[Jimbuna]

Was hoping for a few more 'theorists'...but I'm very close to your reply (metallic coolant) Letum ...cheers for that mate
@BB....nice one mate...qualative as ever

Cdr Kinashi travels to Berlin. Adolf Hitler presents him with the Iron Cross, 2nd Class for sinking the USS WASP.

Poor bugger...some kaleuns got the 1st class for lesser achievements :rotfl:

[Letum]

Thanks Wooly
Ive just been reading up on Mercury Radium.
It seams that mercury was used as a primitive way of extracting radium from uranium salts. If the mercury was being used for that, then it would have been a nice toy for scientists, but useless for making nuclear bombs.

I'm starting to doubt that japan or Germany had the technology for using mercury as a coolant in the war years. I know it was used in the 1950s - 1980s as a coolant.
They where probably just playing about with radium tho.