Type VII Interior Tour Series

[derstosstrupp]

Decided to use the Wolfpack interior for a series detailing the various components in each compartment. Note this is informational only and discusses the historical boat - not a guide on how to play the game.

For the first episode we look at the bow torpedo room:



For the second episode, we look at the chief petty officers’ and officers’ quarters:



For the third episode, we look at the components of the forward half of the control room:


For the fourth episode, we look at components in the after portion of the control room:


For the fifth episode, we look at the tower interior and do a deep dive into the fire control system:


STAY TUNED FOR:

Bridge and Top Deck

Petty Officers’ Quarters

Galley

Diesel Engine Room

E-Motor and Aft Torpedo Room

Radio and Sound Shacks (TBD based on when WP inserts models)

Enjoy!

[Onkel Neal]

Nice, I was looking for a good news item to start the week. Good work, Matt!

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

Nice, I was looking for a good news item to start the week. Good work, Matt!

Frankly, the only good news on the spinning mudball these daze comes from this forum!?

[GrenSo]

It looks great.

[Nimmo55]

Hi Derstosstrupp, thanks for the first of the series: really interesting. You must have spent years looking at this subject to attain that level of SME.

I have a question if it is not outside scope: it’s not about systems per se, rather about the construction of the U boot. I have always wondered what was the decking used externally of a type VIIc U boot? Can’t determine it; sources are generally silent on it, although I have seen suggestions it was wood? I mean the top decking you’d walk around on to man the gun or haul in berthing ropes, etc. In photos, just can’t tell: it looks metal and not wood planking, and all aftermarket upscale kits for model U boots are done not in wooden planking, but metal.

So, my question is, once and for all, what was the outer decking made of: wood planking or metal sheet? Or both? And if wood, was it painted and does that make it look like metal?

Thank you.

Apoll

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by Nimmo55

Hi Derstosstrupp, thanks for the first of the series: really interesting. You must have spent years looking at this subject to attain that level of SME.

I have a question if it is not outside scope: it’s not about systems per se, rather about the construction of the U boot. I have always wondered what was the decking used externally of a type VIIc U boot? Can’t determine it; sources are generally silent on it, although I have seen suggestions it was wood? I mean the top decking you’d walk around on to man the gun or haul in berthing ropes, etc. In photos, just can’t tell: it looks metal and not wood planking, and all aftermarket upscale kits for model U boots are done not in wooden planking, but metal.

So, my question is, once and for all, what was the outer decking made of: wood planking or metal sheet? Or both? And if wood, was it painted and does that make it look like metal?

Thank you.

Apoll

Thanks for the kind words! Yes indeed, it was made of teak and pine, painted black.

From the building regulations:
“ (e) Deck planking. The upper deck shall be fitted with planks of German pine 80 mm wide and 35 mm thick, laid at intervals of about 20 mm. Planks of teak, if available, shall be provided around the bollard and capstan head and under the cleats. If planks are laid on an iron thickness, they shall be taken 100 mm wide and laid tightly. Planks shall be fastened to the joists by 10 mm galvanized wood deck screws. Slots shall be cut in larger numbers near the vents, but all openings shall be avoided immediately above the vents. Galvanized iron rails are to be placed on deck around the capstan head to prevent the crew from slipping out of the capstan head during the
operating the capstan. The necessary hatches for torpedo entry, companionway hatches, stowage spaces, and for other below-deck arrangements are to be provided.”

[derstosstrupp]

OP updated to include second installment.

[Nimmo55]

Thanks Derstosstrupp. Much appreciated.

Primary source material: can’t get better than that. Painted black. Ok. I guess the wet and black paint made it look metal like. Photos are notorious for getting colour wrong.

Looking forward to your continuing Pro series.

Regards,

Apoll

[derstosstrupp]

OP updated to include third installment:

[BrendaEM]

Good Videos, informative, unabashed and honest. Thank you.

@derstosstrupp, ask you anything? Do you have colored pictures of an unrestored uboat interior, from the 1940s?

I've been looking into original uboat colors.

ref: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=253394

(Also, posted on youtube)

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by BrendaEM

Good Videos, informative, unabashed and honest. Thank you.

@derstosstrupp, ask you anything? Do you have colored pictures of an unrestored uboat interior, from the 1940s?

I've been looking into original uboat colors.

ref: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=253394

(Also, posted on youtube)

Thanks BrendaEM! I don’t have any from the ‘40s, however this of U-995 from the ‘50s under the Norwegians appears to be accurate colors still.



Also, U-505 has been restored to historical colors and can also be a good reference. The only difference here being the interior light used at the exhibit makes the paint appear more cream colored.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...aXD_5ZYS5Oz496

[Onkel Neal]

Very nice, I am getting started into it now. Great use of real pictures and Wolfpack interior. Good work, Matt, and thanks for being thoughtful and thorough with this.

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

Very nice, I am getting started into it now. Great use of real pictures and Wolfpack interior. Good work, Matt, and thanks for being thoughtful and thorough with this.

Thanks Neal! Aft section of control room sometime this coming week. Some more very important systems there too so that’ll be another long one.

[Onkel Neal]

Matt! some questions about the CR video 1

43:50 you say the night scope could elevate higher?more? that the attack scope; does that mean the night scope could raise higher than the attack scope? Or it could tilt the view to scan more straight up and away from the horizon? Right now the night scope in WP does not raise as high as the scope above it in the conning tower.. so, I'm interested in knowing this, thanks.

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

Matt! some questions about the CR video 1

43:50 you say the night scope could elevate higher?more? that the attack scope; does that mean the night scope could raise higher than the attack scope? Or it could tilt the view to scan more straight up and away from the horizon? Right now the night scope in WP does not raise as high as the scope about it in the conning tower.. so, I'm interested in knowing this, thanks.

Hi Neal, yeah I realize I wasn’t entirely clear about that in the video. It could be angled up higher, up to 90°, whereas the Standsehrohr only could go up 20°.

In terms of extended length, the C/9 NLSR had a length from ocular to exit lens of about 7.5 m, and the attack periscope about 7.8 m (at full extension) so it is appropriate that you need to go a bit shallower to use the NLSR given that the height difference in the boat of the respective oculars is greater than the 0.3 m length difference.