U-boats explained Air tank Almost everything on the U-boat required air to operate, ranging from torpedo launchers to dive tanks. As such, large air tanks were located all over the vessel.
Five 533mm (21in) torpedo tubes – four in the bow and one in the stern – were installed and left armed for quick attack. A total of 14 torpedoes could be carried at any one time.
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Anatomy of a VII-C Discover what made this class of U-boat such a formidable opponent out at sea
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HISTORY
Navigation and detection were handled by a suite of systems including a periscope, radar antenna and magnetic compass. These allowed the U-boat to pick up both surface and undersea targets.
Main gun The VII-C was equipped with an 8.8cm (3.5in) SK C/35 naval cannon for use on the surface. It could fire armour-piercing, high-explosive and illumination rounds.
The statistics… VII-C U-boat Crew: 44 Length: 67.3m (221ft) Diameter: 6m (20ft) Weight: 761 tons (surfaced) Surface range: 15,739km (9,780mi) Submerged range: 141.9km (88.2mi) Max surface speed: 30.5km/h (19mph) Max submerged speed: 13.5km/h (8.4mph) Armament: 14 torpedoes; 60 mines; 8.8cm (3.5in) main gun
074 | How It Works
Hydroplane
Dive tank
Movement underwater was controlled with a series of hydroplanes – short, wing-like appendages that could be angled as desired. Facing them up caused the vessel to dive.
A series of ballast dive tanks were located at the lower front of the vessel. When on the surface these tanks were empty and filled with air; to submerge, they were flooded with water.
Signal station
Control room
Even when submerged up to 9m (30ft) the U-boat could still send and receive long-wave radio signals. Codes were encrypted prior to transmission.
When submerged, the centre of operations was the control room. Steering, navigation and fire commands were all issued from here.
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