U-Boats

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Hi everyone!

I've been reading Das Boot and there have been some rather ambiguous mentions to "The Bridge".
At one stage someone makes mention to it being vulnerable to aircraft fire, but there have been numerous references to it being an enclosed area...
Does anyone know of a Uboat cross section (with labels) or an explanation to where the bridge is?

A.

[ChuckMajik]

I'm thinking it's the conning tower being referred to.

[Scorpiоn]

17 Order of the Red Banners to Comrade for unparralled intricacy of the utmost degree!  Bravo.  I bow for thee.

[Woodlouse2002]

I think the bridge could either be referred to as the top of the conning tower, as was pointed out by our Comrade here. Or I think it could also be a cabin inside the conning tower, where the Captain could command with out having to be on deck.

[Craig.]

Where ever the ship is being commanded from is considered the bridge. I believe.

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Thanks guys!
I love the diagram, Comrade!

A.

[SilverFox441]

Standard layout for WWII era boats is for the bridge to be the exposed deck at the top of the conning tower. Inside the conning tower is the attack centre, below this in the main hull is the control room.

This layout allows for seperation of the plotting crew (the guys figuring out where to shoot to hit the target ship) from whoever is driving. On a surface attack the drivers are on the bridge, for a submerged attack the drivers are in the control room. In both cases the attack centre is one deck away and the Captain can communicate easily through an open hatchway.

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Thanks everyone!!!
Especially SilverFox!!!

A.

[Ivan]

they had steering (and a dual AA gun on the later old-style boats) in the top.

UXXI doesn't have all the clutter on the deck, and is buit as a pure submarine.


AFAIK they call it the 'fin' on modern subs

[Woodlouse2002]

I thought it was referred to as the sail on modern subs.

[SilverFox441]

The Type XXI is the first true submarine...anything built before was a submersible boat. This thing is the submarine equivalent of the Me-262...and just as advanced over the Allies efforts.

Great info on the U-Boats can be found a U-Net: http://uboat.net/

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

You are right, that is a fantastic site!!!!

I learnt of what befell Endrass there though...