To those interested in daily operation of U-boats, a question

[U777]

Tried googling this but not much luck. Where is the best source book or website that deals with day to day maintenance, repairs, and running of systems on a U-boat. Also I would like to know what kind of tools aside basic hand tools were carried. Were there welding units, oxygen-acetylene torches, diesel specific tools? What kind of spare parts were carried and in what quantity? And aside the artificial lungs what other emergency or survival equipment were carried, were there enough life rafts for everyone?

Thanks!

[K-61]

Excellent question! I look forward to the answers. I'm sure they carried a good selection of tools and spare parts for just about any contingency that could be expected at sea. As well, there were U-tankers and supply ships at sea that carried larger stores and tools and specialist mechanics. However, the Allies hunted them down one by one. In "Das Boot" there is a scene where they are doing some welding. Engine parts such as bearings would be stocked, you also see one being repaired or replaced in Das Boot.

[Schöneboom]

A lot of your questions can be answered at this site, though it might take some digging:

http://www.uboatarchive.net/index.html

I would start with the interrogation reports and design studies (esp. the index of design studies, which contains clickable links to specific technical subjects.

Gute Jagd!

[flag4]

Originally Posted by U777

Tried googling this but not much luck. Where is the best source book or website that deals with day to day maintenance, repairs, and running of systems on a U-boat. Also I would like to know what kind of tools aside basic hand tools were carried. Were there welding units, oxygen-acetylene torches, diesel specific tools? What kind of spare parts were carried and in what quantity? And aside the artificial lungs what other emergency or survival equipment were carried, were there enough life rafts for everyone?

Thanks!

it may be you have to read across many books to gain what you need. i found a section in Operation Drumbeat by Micheal Gannon very good for the running of the boat - day to day stuff, but not really in the depth you require. chapter 4 is called A Fighting Machine. in the back are appendices on maintaining trim, using the toilet, the engine room. another one that might help is Neither Sharks nor Wolves by Timothy P Mulligan. this is from the back of the book:

Synopsis
Narratives of convoy battles, technical treatments of U-boat types and even the memoirs of 'aces' have shed little light on the reality of routine, grime and terror experienced by the average U-boat crewman. This book explains what it was like to serve in a U-boat service itself. In researching the details of the men and officers who manned the U-boats the author has been able to discover where they came from, what occupations they held, their career-tracks in naval service, and the associated functions they performed on board. As a result new answers have been found to a number of questions which have never been systematically addressed. How many men served on U-boats? Were they all volunteers? Did morale truly remain high throughout the conflict? Did the U-boat force gradually deteriorate into a 'children's crusade'? What was the true relationship between the naval service and National Socialism? Based on questionnaires returned from over 1000 veterans, and sources at the U-Boot-Archiv in Cuxhaven, this book gives an account of what service in the U-boat arm was really like.

hope this helps.

[U777]

Thanks I'll look into them at the main library in downtown, they ought to have them. I'm a huge gearhead so the mechanical aspects are more interesting than anything else in the u-boat.

[timmy41]

I do remember the page on the batteries on Uboat.net talks a bit about the maintenance but not actually in any depth.
However, based on operation petticoat, bras can always be used in a jiffy!

[flag4]

Originally Posted by U777

Thanks I'll look into them at the main library in downtown, they ought to have them. I'm a huge gearhead so the mechanical aspects are more interesting than anything else in the u-boat.

U777, you'll do well to find Timothy P Mulligan in your library - maybe Operation Drumbeat too?

good luck...

...but they are available through Amazon aswell...