Big Gun Subs

Letum · 12-21-06, 05:07 AM

From The London Treaty:

Quote:

Each of the High Contracting Parties may, however, retain, build or acquire a maximum number of three submarines of a standard displacement not exceeding 2,800 tons (2,845 metric tons); these submarines may carry guns not above 6.1 inch (155 mm) calibre. Within this number, France may retain one unit, already launched, of 2,880 tons (2,926 metric tons), with guns the calibre of which is 8 inches (203 mm).

So France had a U-Boat with 8 Inch guns shortly after WW1 ?
Blimey!

Did big Gun Subs ever work in WWI or in the inter-war years? Are there any impressive examples?
The Germans had planns for a Type XI in 1937. The boat had 4 X 12.7cm Guns but was never built. Or was it....? http://www.uboatwar.net/XI.htm
(highly unlikely!)

Here is a artists impression of the Type IX:

hyperion2206 · 12-21-06, 05:45 AM

Yes, the French had such a U-boat: The Surcouf.

http://images.google.de/imgres?imgur...icial%26sa%3DN

Patboot · 12-21-06, 07:16 AM

peterloo · 12-21-06, 07:31 AM

They are called "U-cruisners" (if I didn't make it wrong)

However, that boat won't do any good job because

(a) Slow speed (just like battleship), unlikely to evade plane attacks

(b) High consumption of diesel

(c) Weak armour (with pressure hull damaged, you can do nothing!) when compared to warships

(d) Not enough fire-power, 2 huge naval guns can never defeat a destroyer easily, since DD gets more guns than you (ABSOLTELY)

(e) Stealth is gone when you are attacking on surface, since what the the most precious for a U-boat is its stealth

LeafsFan · 12-21-06, 08:07 AM

Exactly,

The cruiser submarine was just a bad idea in its entirety.

HB

Letum · 12-21-06, 10:58 AM

The Surcouf is impressive!
If it sank in 1942 did it see any action in WW2?

12-21-06, 07:31 AM	#4
peterloo Commander Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 462 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	They are called "U-cruisners" (if I didn't make it wrong) However, that boat won't do any good job because (a) Slow speed (just like battleship), unlikely to evade plane attacks (b) High consumption of diesel (c) Weak armour (with pressure hull damaged, you can do nothing!) when compared to warships (d) Not enough fire-power, 2 huge naval guns can never defeat a destroyer easily, since DD gets more guns than you (ABSOLTELY) (e) Stealth is gone when you are attacking on surface, since what the the most precious for a U-boat is its stealth __________________ Romeo is here, but where is Juliet? The 中国水兵 (Chinese Sailor) in subsim

12-21-06, 05:45 AM	#2
hyperion2206 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 1,227 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Yes, the French had such a U-boat: The Surcouf. http://images.google.de/imgres?imgur...icial%26sa%3DN

12-21-06, 07:16 AM	#3
Patboot Engineer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 212 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0

12-21-06, 08:07 AM	#5
LeafsFan Watch Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 332 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Exactly, The cruiser submarine was just a bad idea in its entirety. HB

12-21-06, 10:58 AM	#6
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	The Surcouf is impressive! If it sank in 1942 did it see any action in WW2?