Were US subs Diesel-electric powered?

AVGWarhawk · 08-28-07, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrk

I think the train engines gave the Navy the idea. It saves weight for the gearing and makes it easier to shift from diesel to electric.

You are thinking correctly here. It was the engineers that designed diesel electric configuration for trains that lent itself to the submarine. On the USS Torsk, the four diesels are not connected in anyway to the prop shafts. They only make the electric juice to turn the electric motors. These motors are a big as car. The manerveuring room was situated right on top of them. Two crew man manned the controls for each individual motor. People get confused when told this is the maneuvering room. They believe this is how the sub was steered. It was not, this was only to work the motors. So working in unison with the helm was essential.

seaniam81 · 08-28-07, 02:46 PM

I do belive the old S Boats were direct drive much like U-boats

Sailor Steve · 08-28-07, 04:22 PM

Okay! Here's the rundown from Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships: 1906-1921 and 1922-1946:

'S' Class, Elco type (S-1, S-18 - S-41): BS diesels plus electric motors.

'S' Class, Lake type (S-2): BS diesels plus electric motors.

'S' Class, Navy Yard type (S-3 - S-17): NSLE, MAN or BS diesels plus electric motors.

'S' Class, 2nd group (S-42 - S-47): BS diesels plus electric motors.

Barracuda class: diesels plus electric motors.

Argonaut: diesels plus electric motors.

Narwhal class: diesels plus electric motors.

Dolphin: diesels plus electric motors.

Cachalot class: diesels plus electric motors.

Porpoise class: diesel-electric plus electric motors.

Shark class: diesel-electric plus electric motors.

Perch class: diesel-electric plus electric motors.

Salmon class: diesels (composite drive) plus electric motors.

Sargo class: diesels (composite drive) plus electric motors.

Seadragon class: diesel-electric plus electric motors.

Gato, Balao and Tench classes: diesel-electric plus electric motors.

So the Porpoise class were the first to have diesel-electric drives. The Salmon and Sargo classes reverted to direct-drive diesel because of rising fears of leaks disabling the electrical systems. The Seadragon group of the Sargo class went back to diesel-electric, and they stayed with that system afterwards.

Conway's isn't clear as to what is meant by (composite drive), so I can't explain that; I just copied it as they have it.

I also can't verify the information with another source, but the editor for the United States ships section was Norman Friedman, so it's almost certainly correct.

So there it is.

JSF · 08-28-07, 06:08 PM

On Gatos the wheel shaft was connected to emotor via geared housing. On Balaos and Tench the shaft was directly off the emotor. This was done to further quiet underwater noise. In addition Balao and Tench used 5 blade low cavitation wheels. Gato 4 blade.

08-28-07, 02:46 PM	#2
seaniam81 Commodore Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 624 Downloads: 87 Uploads: 0	I do belive the old S Boats were direct drive much like U-boats __________________ Ultima ratio regum. (The final argument of kings) - Inscription on french cannons, on order of Louis XIV

08-28-07, 04:22 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Okay! Here's the rundown from Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships: 1906-1921 and 1922-1946: 'S' Class, Elco type (S-1, S-18 - S-41): BS diesels plus electric motors. 'S' Class, Lake type (S-2): BS diesels plus electric motors. 'S' Class, Navy Yard type (S-3 - S-17): NSLE, MAN or BS diesels plus electric motors. 'S' Class, 2nd group (S-42 - S-47): BS diesels plus electric motors. Barracuda class: diesels plus electric motors. Argonaut: diesels plus electric motors. Narwhal class: diesels plus electric motors. Dolphin: diesels plus electric motors. Cachalot class: diesels plus electric motors. Porpoise class: diesel-electric plus electric motors. Shark class: diesel-electric plus electric motors. Perch class: diesel-electric plus electric motors. Salmon class: diesels (composite drive) plus electric motors. Sargo class: diesels (composite drive) plus electric motors. Seadragon class: diesel-electric plus electric motors. Gato, Balao and Tench classes: diesel-electric plus electric motors. So the Porpoise class were the first to have diesel-electric drives. The Salmon and Sargo classes reverted to direct-drive diesel because of rising fears of leaks disabling the electrical systems. The Seadragon group of the Sargo class went back to diesel-electric, and they stayed with that system afterwards. Conway's isn't clear as to what is meant by (composite drive), so I can't explain that; I just copied it as they have it. I also can't verify the information with another source, but the editor for the United States ships section was Norman Friedman, so it's almost certainly correct. So there it is. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-28-07, 06:08 PM	#4
JSF Engineer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 208 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	On Gatos the wheel shaft was connected to emotor via geared housing. On Balaos and Tench the shaft was directly off the emotor. This was done to further quiet underwater noise. In addition Balao and Tench used 5 blade low cavitation wheels. Gato 4 blade.