Type VII-C bow curvature

[corsaire]

After my visit to Laboe - Kiel, Germany (U-995) last year I couldn't help
notice what seems to be a distinctive hull feature on most Type VII-Cs: the slight curvature (right above the Uboot number U-995 making this deck part a tad wider before narrowing down to the bow tip) on both sides of the deck by the bow, which I think gives it this peculiar look (see pic). After checking some books I have about U-Boats, the photos also show this feature for the most part, which
makes wonder if each and every Type VII-C was made identical (mold like) or like a hand-made shoe, there were never two quite alike? I think this slight curvature of the deck by the bow gives the Type VII-C this so characteristic, sexy look. Which BTW all Type VII-C model makers unfortunately don't capture in their hull kits.

Brian

[hakkikt]

From 19.07.1941, new Type VIIs

From 19.07.1941, new Type VIIs were fitted with a new bow, the "Atlantiksteven" ("Atlantic Bow"), which was a tad longer and wider. This is probably what you see on U 995 and on the photos.

[mylo]

Brian,

I spent a lot

Brian,

I spent a lot of time researching Type VIIc bows when doing my scratch build. I highly suspect that the features of the bow you are describing are exactly what hakkikt is suggesting, in that it is the characteristic of the Atlantic Bow, which was not overly common on the VIIc, but more so on the VIIc/41, which is what U-995 in Laboe is.

As for each Atlantic Bow being unique, that I don't know.

Mylo

[JWLaRue]

Atlantic bow it is. While

Atlantic bow it is. While WW2 U-boats and submarines were built with a lot of manual labor, tooling and forms were used to ensure that they were built correctly...as in built to the plans.

In the specific case of the U-995, there is a lot of sheet metal work on her that is not correct. The area around the bow is the most prominent area. Most of it appears to have been done since she was returned to Germany to serve as a memorial and is pretty shoddy repair work. She really needs a full restoration along the same lines as the U-505.

-Jeff

[corsaire]

I've noticed this same feature

I've noticed this same feature on Eric Topp's U-552 (book pics, U-Boat documentary films, etc) as well as many other boats.

Brian