Did U-boats have to surface for air?

The main propulsion of the U-boat is the diesel engine – of which there are two, one on each side (port and starboard). These engines consume outside air and were operable only on the surface.

Did U-boats have to surface?

Only one checked out: the U-boat must have entered the columns of the convoy from astern. And it must have done so on the surface of the water, where it was able to travel at a faster speed than the ships it pursued.

How did U-boats get fresh air?

The Kriegsmarine first viewed the snorkel as a means to take fresh air into the boats but saw no need to run the diesel engines under water. However, by 1943 more U-boats were being lost, so the snorkel was retrofitted to the VIIC and IXC classes and designed into the new XXI and XXIII types.

How did early submarines get oxygen?

In order to solve the problem of the absence of oxygen, Drebbel was able to create oxygen out of saltpetre to refresh the air in his submarine.

How did German U-boats make oxygen?

There no plants to recycle CO2 either, so everything has to be done using some impressive technologies. Oxygen in submarines is produced by putting sea water through a process of electrolysis. Submarines typically have a couple of big oxygen tanks as well, used to quickly raise oxygen concentration if the system fails.

U-Boats (World War II)

How long could German U-boats stay underwater?

The Germans' most formidable naval weapon was the U-boat, a submarine far more sophisticated than those built by other nations at the time. The typical U-boat was 214 feet long, carried 35 men and 12 torpedoes, and could travel underwater for two hours at a time.

How do you get fresh air in a submarine?

How does the crew get breathable air inside a submarine? Oxygen onboard a submarine is released either through compressed tanks, an oxygen generator, or by some form of an 'oxygen canister' that works by electrolysis.

Why do Subs not run out of air?

Oxygen is supplied either from pressurized tanks, an oxygen generator (which can form oxygen from the electrolysis of water) or some sort of "oxygen canister" that releases oxygen by a very hot chemical reaction.

What happens to poop on a submarine?

Usually it sinks by itself, but some scrap metal can be added to aid its journey to the bottom of the ocean. Therefore, yes, submarines do produce trash that is thrown out into the ocean and it is terrible.

Did ww2 ships have air conditioning?

By and large air conditioning was not something that was to be expected to be enjoyed by most members of the ships' company all the time. Certain areas might have systems installed where it was extra important to keep reasonable temps, but that was not universal, and usually only on newer vessels.

Did World War II submarines have air conditioning?

Actually heat was no problem in the South Pacific, but air conditioning was important, although it was a high user of energy. Even the electricians avoided fooling with that. Toward the end of the patrol run the officers' shower nozzle disappeared, but they didn't complain much.

How long could ww2 Subs stay submerged?

Model of the USS Balao (SS-285) Fleet Submarine

Two 126-cell battery groups gave her a submerged top speed of 8.75 knots (16.2 km/hr); holding her speed to 2 knots (4 km/hr), she could remain submerged for 48 hours.

Did ww2 submarines have to surface to fire torpedoes?

Because the generator (used for recharging the batteries) was powered by the internal-combustion engine, which required air, the submarine had to surface and so expose itself to detection if it wanted to recharge its batteries.

How close did German subs get to USA?

So the two Bremen submarines are united 3,000 miles away at one of the United States' great forts of WWII. Their story is told to thousands of visitors to the Fort Miles museum as part of the German attack on the American homeland in World War II.

How close did German U-boats get to the coast?

detection by enemy ships, and to avoid bad weather. U-boats could only travel about sixty miles underwater before having to surface for fresh air. They often attacked ships while on the surface using deck-mounted guns.

Is it hot or cold in a submarine?

Even though the entire submarine has air cooling facility, only two decks are air-conditioned. The temperature in the rest of the submarine is around 30-35 degrees and the crew works in sweltering heat. The quality of the air is monitored constantly for impurities.

How long can a nuclear submarine go without surfacing?

The nuclear submarine that can remain underwater for 25 years. In a Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, Stuart Godden, the director of engineering for BAE Systems' submarines division in Cumbria, is narrating a slide show and comparing the UK's latest submarines programme – the Astute class – to Nasa's Space Shuttle programme.

How long can a submarine stay underwater without coming up for air?

Air isn't a problem as their make their own oxygen and keep the air clean. The limits on how long they can stay underwater are food and supplies. Submarines generally stock a 90-day supply of food, so they can spend three months underwater.

How long can a diesel sub stay underwater?

Legacy, diesel-electric submarines can operate silently underwater for up to 48 hours, but they must surface after that to run a generator to recharge their batteries.

Where do submarines get air to surface?

To get a submarine to surface, the main vents in the top of the tank are closed and high-pressure compressed air is blown into the ballast tanks, forcing the water out through the flood ports at the bottom of the tank. Replacing ballast water with lighter air reduces the vessel's total mass.

Do submarines have to surface to fire missiles?

The Missiles

Each missile can carry up to 12 nuclear warheads and each Vanguard-class submarine can carry up to 16 missiles. The missiles are carried in vertical tubes in the mid section of the submarine and are fired from beneath the surface. Each missile is independently controlled by the submarine.

Do submarines have to come up for air?

This means the submarine captain can decide when to sink down into the ocean or come back up to the surface. In order to control buoyancy, the submarine relies on special tanks that can be filled with water or air. To return to the surface, the tanks are filled with air.

Do submarines have ventilation?

Ventilation is obviously a vital consideration in any submarine. When submerged, the air in the submarine is continuously recirculated using centralised fans with electrostatic precipitators to filter out particulates and aerosols, and chilled-water coils to cool and remove excess moisture.

Are females allowed to work on submarines?

The only officers with their own cabins are the captain, executive officer and weapon engineer officer. Only a small number of the 160-strong crew are female. For the officers on a submarine the wardroom is one of the few places — other than their cramped bunk — to relax.