A few U-boat questions ...

[rmfield]

Hi, all -
I'm working on the Revell Type VIIC U-96 and a few questions come up:

1) When would the net cutters have been removed from the bow?
2) Were the hydroplanes folded up when the boat was on the surface?
3) The vertical wooden slats on the interior walls of the tower - what color should they be? Varnished wood, or same as the metal?
4) When in harbour, would there have been propeller guards installed?

TIA for any help!

[raalst]

what I think I know

what I think I know :

1) before or early in the war
2) no
3) these things were wooden, but painted.
so it depends on the amount of time out at sea
4) good question, I'v never seen such like in photo's, but it seems logical
that the props should be protected.

[JWLaRue]

To add to what Ronald

To add to what Ronald has already answered:

1) They were removed after the March 1, 1941 order that instructed their removal.

2) Same answer, the design of the Type VII did not include folding hydroplanes.

3) Same answer.

4) I have never seen a photo that would show this, including launch photos.

-Jeff

[rmfield]

Thanks for the help! A couple of things ...

Uboat.net shows that U-69 was in St. Nazaire 2/28/41 - 4/12/41, so it's an odds-on bet that the cutters were removed from U-69 during that time.

Also, Don Demers told me that U-boats never had propeller guards (which may explain why we've never seen them!).

Thanks for your help!

[steveuk]

3) The vertical wooden slats

3) The vertical wooden slats on the interior walls of the tower - what color should they be? Varnished wood, or same as the metal?

I found this question interesting too. It is hard to tell with so many photos that are B&W. But here'e one of a few wartime colour photos I have seen showing some wooden insulating slats in the conning tower.
It is on the back cover of 'Warship Pictoral no 27 - Kriegsmarine Type VII U-boats'

click on image to enlarge