Hard to believe

[casey thrower]

I bought both Revell kits, VIIC/41 and the Gato. I never knew how much bigger the Gato is compaired to the U-boat. I've been to the DRUM in Mobile and I knew it was a lot bigger than I imagined, but man I thought the U-boats were the same size.

[mylo]

Casey,

I've been on the

Casey,

I've been on the Drum too and didn't find it overly spacious. .....now imagine a type VIIc. How they did it, and for weeks on end, I'm still not too sure.

Mylo

[casey thrower]

Re: Hard to believe

You got that right. The size of the boats compaired to one another is what I was talking about. Amazing how the Gato looks much bigger.

[tabledancer]

Remember,the Type 9 was bigger

Remember,the Type 9 was bigger than the Type 7,but it was even smaller than the Gato.I was surprised looking at them side by side on the shelf,even the 1/72 Alfa that I am building looks small next to the Gato.

TD

[bigdave]

I squeezed my lard butt

I squeezed my lard butt through a few fleet boats and the type-9 in Chicago and they were small. I can not imagine all those men in a VIIc. BD.

[casey thrower]

When we went to Mobile

When we went to Mobile I just couldn't believe how big the sub was on the outside but small on the inside. You're right, I could not imagine living on the VII for months.

[landlubber]

Now just imagine adding diesel

Now just imagine adding diesel fumes,acid fumes,rotting food, b.o. from 4o + guys who haven't had a shower in weeks or months,very high humidity and best of all hot racking 3 to a bunk.

Not exactly a pleasure cruise,You can almost get a sense of this watching DasBoot...

I think you would be looking forward to getting that hatch open as much as possible,problem with that there was the constant threat of a aircraft stuffing a bomb down it.
It is amazing what early submariners went through,they would consider the Nuke boats of today pleasure craft.

Kent.

[landlubber]

Anyone know the fuel capacity

Anyone know the fuel capacity comparison of the type7 and the gato. seems to me I read the gato carried alot more fuel this could be the reason for the noticable size differance on the outside.....
Just a though???

[kazzer]

Hey! I've been to the

Hey! I've been to the Drum too!

As I walked through the control room, I mentioned to my wife Carol, that I remembered sitting in that area on HMS Sibyl In Valletta Habour, Malta, when I was about 3-4 years old. (1949-50)

My dad sat me on the revolving seat, and showed me all the controls. There were lots of green lights and it was like a cave.

The intercom sounded and my dad was called upstairs by the captain. He told me to behave myself and not touch anything. He then pointed to a button and said' AND DON'T TOUCH THAT!"

It was the klaxon and of course the inevitable happened Well, I was only four and inquisitive!

The horn sounded numerous times over Valletta harbour and the entire Maltese population thought Mr Hitler was attacking again!

Dad got told off, so did I!

A young navy girl overheard me telling this story to my wife, and she asked me if I'd like to hear the Drum's klaxon.
(Does a donkey like strawberries?)

We sounded it off several times
MADE MY DAY!

Thanks USS DRUM!

[JWLaRue]

Anyone know the fuel capacity

Anyone know the fuel capacity comparison of the type7 and the gato. seems to me I read the gato carried alot more fuel this could be the reason for the noticable size differance on the outside.....
Just a though???

As I understand it, the size of the Type VII, Type IX, and Gato/Balao boats were primarily dictated by the operational mission planned for them. The U-boats were (originally) intended for operations in and around the North Sea and the British Isles.....while the Gato/Balao were designed to operate as part of the fleet, screening the capital ships. (Hence the term "fleetboat").

The numbers I have from Rössler for the amount of fuel are:

The Type VII (also known as the VIIA) had 67 metric tons (77.9 cubic meters) of fuel oil. The Type VIIB had 108 tons (125.6 m3) and the Type VIIC had 113 tons (131.4 m3).

(for completeness) The Type IX had 154 tons (179 m3). The IXB had 165 tons (191.8 m3), the IXC had 208 tons (241.8 m3), and the Type IXD had 442 tons 514 m3).

...and then....

The Gato/Balao had 97,140 gallons (310 metric tons or 360 m3).

-Jeff

[casey thrower]

Now just imagine adding diesel

Now just imagine adding diesel fumes,acid fumes,rotting food, b.o. from 4o + guys who haven't had a shower in weeks or months,very high humidity and best of all hot racking 3 to a bunk.

Not exactly a pleasure cruise,You can almost get a sense of this watching DasBoot...

I think you would be looking forward to getting that hatch open as much as possible,problem with that there was the constant threat of a aircraft stuffing a bomb down it.
It is amazing what early submariners went through,they would consider the Nuke boats of today pleasure craft.

Kent.

The only saving grace was, and Jeff can verify, that the U-baots ran 80% of the time on the surface. Still I'm sure it was not very fun. Why would anyone join up for sub duty at that time, I'll never know.

[landlubber]

I wonder what could be

I wonder what could be considered the worst job on a u-boat.. My vote would be the cook, 120 + meals per day prepared in a kitchen the size of two phone booths with basically a camp stove. Incidently I have heard it said that the food was the highlite of a cruise ,something to really look forward to ,hairy pork , mouldy bread and all.

[mylo]

kaz,

VERY cool story.

Mylo

kaz,

VERY cool story.

Mylo

[kazzer]

Mylo

Well, thank you kind Sir!

It

Mylo

Well, thank you kind Sir!

It was my first memory of a submarine! How cool is that!

Even my school mates knew me as having this 'thing' about submarines. I used to draw them in my school books!

[mylo]

....... yeah, ....... me too.

....... yeah, ....... me too. How can ANYONE not LOVE a submarine ?? I just don't understand. People, they're just.....nuts.

Mylo