Flood hole inconsistancies

[mylo]

Hey all,


Does anyone have an explanation why there is so much inconsistancy in the flood hole patterns ? In my research, I have found there to be several different variants of flood hole patterns on boats of similar type, even similar years of manufacture of the same type. The differences may not be much, maybe a hole or two, but they are different. Any reason / explanation for this ? Did the shipyards not follow specific plans, or did each shipyard just kind of do it's own thing ?

U-Boats are the most "individual" piece of military hardware that I've ever modelled.

Thanks,

Mylo

[spitfiremk3]

Probably just combat modified... As

Probably just combat modified... As you use anything an everything to maybe gain some advantage, especially in a situation if you loose, you die... I have seen Sherman tank pics with railroad tracks welded to the front and sides... Probably after seeing the tanks in front of you getting knock out by an old 88... The next railroad siding you came across (free steel) you and the crew were out there cutting it up and welding it to the side of your tank... As more is almost always better!!! I have also seen pics of attaching boards ALL over the tanks... They looked like your kids tree house... To keep the Japs from slapping a magnetic mine to tank in the jungle... So the Germans probably combat modified their U-boats too, in similar ways.
THANX
Scott

[JWLaRue]

Combat modified plus I *think*

Combat modified plus I *think* due to some minor differences due to the different yards that built them.

btw: If you think there are lots of differences between U-boats....take a look at the Gato/Balao fleetboats!

-Jeff

[mylo]

So basically.....if a guy had

So basically.....if a guy had one or two more, ....or one or two less flood holes on his model, it could still be considered quite "authentic".

I suspected it was a ship yard thing, that maybe the guys with the torches cutting the holes might not have talked with the foreman that day, cut an extra hole or two, ...or not enough.

Works for me.

Mylo

[JWLaRue]

That's how I rationalize it.

That's how I rationalize it.

[boss subfixer]

It was kind of a

It was kind of a CO's preference, He may have had extra flood holes put in to decrease his dive time. Just a thought

[spitfiremk3]

Here is a pic of

Here is a pic of 2 of the same type of ship built in 2 different yards off the same blue prints at basicially the same time. Check out the bows above the anchor... One yard was New York to other was Philly. Why it's different, I don't know.
THANX
Scott