Button or key request--decks awash

[Farinhir]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

They certainly could do that and I'm sure some did use the diesels in that condition. [...] One thing I am sure of is that they didn't "run all over the oceans" in that condition, just so they could dive faster.

My responce to that is an excerpt from the service history of the Dutch boat, K XV.

18 Dec 1941: K XV sails in the direction of the Discovery East Bank. The submarine transits with decks awash (airplane attacks are expected) with a speed of 11.9 kts to the South China Sea. (see 15 Dec 1941, radio message #389 1215-1402)

Source: http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/boats/boat_kxv.htm

This shows that at least the Dutch were traveling this way sometimes at least when planes were expected. This, however, does not indicate (though it could be assumed by the speed) that they were using their diesels. As far as I can tell, the running of decks awash with the diesels did not begin until the creation of the snorkel. If you can find it, you should try to read the article, "Give Credit Where Credit Is Due" by Mark C. Jones. This appears in "The Journal of Military History - Volume 69, Number 4, October 2005, pp. 987-1012". This article describes the role of the Dutch in the invention of the sub snorkel (and how the Germans took their idea from the Dutch).

Well, Have fun
~F~