The outer lightweight hull of the submarine had the shape of a cylinder, gradually tapering towards the bow and stern. The main deck of the superstructure extended from the bow to frame 124 at the stern. In the bow it rose above the water level by 3.7 m, and in the stern by 1.2 m. The internal cavity between the superstructure and the strong hull was filled with water through scuppers during the dive.

The conning tower, located in the midship frame area, was covered from above by a bridge fence. The deck located immediately behind the wheelhouse was called the “cigarette deck” because sailors were allowed to smoke on it. A Browning anti-aircraft machine gun of 7.62 or 12.7 mm caliber was also installed here.

When submerged, the machine gun was retracted inside the boat. In 1941, machine guns were replaced by 20-mm Oerlikon Mark 4 Mod anti-aircraft guns. 3 with a rate of fire of 450 rounds/min, and in 1944 the Gato began to be equipped with 40 mm Bofors cannons with a rate of fire of 160 rounds/min.

The deck in front of and behind the bridge had a reinforced structure for installing guns. The artillery armament of the Gato boats was very diverse. The type and location of the guns depended on the time the boat was commissioned and the wishes of its commander.

At first, two deck-mounted 76.2 mm guns were installed on the submarines, but they turned out to be very weak weapons and could not cause serious damage even to small ships. During the operation of the boats, these guns were replaced with more powerful 102 mm or 127 mm Mk40 guns.

Their projectiles had several times greater mass and initial flight speed. In addition, the barrels of the 127-mm guns were made of stainless steel, which made it possible not to close the barrel with a plug when diving, and this speeded up bringing the weapon into firing position after surfacing.

At the bottom of the wheelhouse enclosure there were lockers for ammunition.

There were many visual differences between submarines produced by different shipyards. Most noticeable were the number, location and configuration of the scuppers. Some submarines were equipped with additional weapons and equipment.

And it is not without reason that naval historians claim that it is impossible to find two absolutely identical boats of the Gato type.

Hydroacoustic equipment

The first series of boats were equipped with WCA type sonars with a JT hydrophone. The hydrophone operated in the range 110 Hz - 15 kHz. The sonar range was 3429 m. It made it possible to determine the bearing and range to the target, and if the target was a submarine, then the diving depth was also determined. In 1945, the more advanced WFA sonar was adopted.

Of interest is the analysis of submarine operations carried out by the Bureau of Research during and after the war. This institution, organized in Washington and located in Pearl Harbor, analyzed 4,873 submarine attacks. It turned out that only 31 of them were produced using sonar devices. Moreover, of these attacks, only seven ended in the sinking of enemy ships.

To determine the temperature of the sea water, a barothermo-graph was used - SVT40131. In addition, a Benedix hydrodynamic log was installed on the submarines.

Series VII submarines were easy-to-manufacture one-and-a-half-hull boats. The side bulges, bow and stern ends and deck superstructure were welded to the durable hull. The diameter of the pressure hull in the area of ​​the central post was only 4.7 meters. The thickness was 16 mm at the ends 18.5 mm in the center, and together with the connections to the deckhouse it was 22 mm. On the C/41 modification, the thickness increased to 18.5 mm at the ends and to 21.5 mm in the central part.

The durable hull of these submarines could withstand not only the outboard water pressure, but also the fire of machine guns and small-caliber cannons of ships and aircraft. In post-war tests of captured boats, it turned out that 20, 23 mm shells and 37 mm incendiary fragmentation shells caused damage only to the light hull. Also, because of this, the Allies observed problems when trying to ram the submarine. There is a known case when an American destroyer Borie Having rammed the submarine, U-405 received severe damage and was sunk by its own aircraft.

The durable body was welded from eight sections, six of them were sheets of metal, bent and welded into cylinders. The bow and stern sections were welded from three sheets of metal. The sections were sequentially welded to each other, then the deckhouse was welded to them. A fairly large hole was left behind it, through which instruments and mechanisms were loaded into the boat.

The latest to be installed were diesel engines. After installing them, the hole was welded with a steel sheet. This made it clear that the boat was not designed for long-term operation; the destruction of the submarine was expected earlier than the time it was put on average for repairs. Type VII was divided into six compartments. The central post was separated from the concavity side by spherical bulkheads designed for a pressure of 10 atm; it could serve as a shelter compartment.

Placement of instruments and mechanisms in the compartments:

1st compartment (bow torpedo)

This compartment housed four torpedo tubes. two in vertical rows and a supply of six torpedoes. Four were stored under the deck deck and two along the side. For loading and loading torpedoes, the boat had special internal transport and loading devices. Also, along each side there were three pairs of folding, two-tier bunks. At the bottom of the compartment, under the spare torpedoes, there were bow trim and torpedo replacement tanks, as well as a manual control drive for the bow horizontal rudders.

2nd compartment (bow accommodation)

The compartment was divided into two parts by a thin bulkhead and a door. The room located closer to the bow was small; it housed a latrine and places for four sergeants. Next came the officer's quarters with two bunks in two tiers on each side. At the bulkhead of the central post, on the left side there was a captain's berth, separated from the aisle by a curtain. Since it was very small, the only furniture it contained was the bed itself, a folding table, a cabinet built into the wall.

On the starboard side of the boat, opposite the captain’s seat, there were sonar and radio operator posts. Under the deck flooring there was a bow battery group (consisting of 62 elements), high-pressure air cylinders and an artillery magazine.

3rd compartment (central post)

The anti-aircraft periscope was located here, the commander's was located higher in the conning tower. Also, control posts for kingston valves and ventilation, and remote control drives for horizontal rudders were placed. Here was the navigator's combat post. The largest mechanisms in this compartment are two pumps and a hydraulic motor that raised the periscopes.

Along the sides there were tanks with drinking water and hydraulic oil. An equal-strength, large-volume ballast tank was located under the central post; it played the role of the middle group. Fuel tanks are located on both sides of it. Above the central post, in the narrow conning tower, there was the commander’s combat position during a torpedo attack - a folding seat (rotated along with the commander’s periscope), a PSA (counting and solving device) for controlling the firing of torpedoes.

4th compartment (aft accommodation)

In the jargon of submariners it was called "Potsdamer Platz" because of the prevailing noise, din and running around, since this compartment connected the galley, diesel and electric motor compartments with each other. Also in the compartment there were beds for four non-commissioned officers, a second latrine and a second electrical station. Under the deck flooring there was a second group of batteries, high-pressure air cylinders and a fuel tank.

5th compartment (diesel)

Almost the entire compartment above the deck flooring was occupied by two huge diesel engines. Also here, there were cylinders with compressed air for starting engines and a cylinder with carbon dioxide for extinguishing fires. At the bottom of the compartment under the diesel engines there were oil tanks.

6th compartment (electric motor and stern torpedo)

The compartment housed two high-pressure air compressors, diesel on the starboard side, electric on the left. There were two electric motors, a stern torpedo tube, power and manual control posts for horizontal rudders. Under the deck flooring, between the electric motors, there was a spare torpedo; closer to the stern, there was a trim and torpedo replacement tank. There was a hatch in the roof of the compartment for loading torpedoes. At the end of the war, a device similar to a torpedo tube, but inferior in size, appeared in the compartment; it was intended for the release of imitation Bold cartridges.

Superstructure

Inside the light hull and superstructure there were systems and mechanisms, the most important of which were hydrophones, a capstan device, an anchor, four waterproof cases for inflatable rafts, camouflage nets, two cases for storing spare torpedoes (one case was closer to the bow, the other closer to the stern , they could store G7a torpedoes). There were waterproof fenders for the first shots for the 88 mm deck gun, an air supply shaft for the diesel engines, exhaust valves and diesel mufflers, and most of the high-pressure air system cylinders.

The deck of the superstructure was made of wooden planks, since wood matured later than iron. The deckhouse fence was used to accommodate anti-aircraft guns, numerous movable and fixed devices, as well as for watchkeeping. Behind, inside the fence, there was an air intake for the air supply shaft to diesel engines and fenders for the first shots for anti-aircraft guns.

Dive and ascent system

The main ballast of the boat consisted of five tanks. The first and fifth tanks were located in a light hull, the fifth tank was in the bow, there was also a quick submersion tank, and the first tank was located in the aft end, the second and fourth tanks were in the side bulges, the third tank was in the durable hull of the 3rd compartment. All tanks, except the first and third, could be filled with fuel.

In addition to the middle group, the main ballast tanks were kingless, and the valve control was located at the central station of the boat. Between the second and fourth tanks, there were two small fuel and ballast tanks, a surge tank and an onboard buoyancy tank. The VVD system was assembled from steel pipes and was not designed for long-term operation.

The total volume of VVD cylinders is 3.46 m³, since 1944 the volume has been 5.2 m³. The compressed air was under a pressure of 295 kg/cm². To replenish compressed air supplies there were two 6-liter compressors - diesel and electric. Two pumps were part of the drainage and trim systems, with a capacity of 30 and 18 tons, respectively.

At a signal, the top watch personnel jumped into the wheelhouse and battened down the hatch, the watchmen of the central post shifted the horizontal rudders to dive and opened the ventilation valves of the main ballast tanks from bow to stern. The well-thought-out shape of the horizontal rudders allowed German boats to dive with a large trim on the bow and not be afraid to make a somersault.

To speed up the dive, “live” ballast was used; the entire crew of the boat, free from watch duty, had to run to the bow compartment. These actions were practiced both during the introductory combat training course and during combat campaigns. Within 25-27 seconds, a trained crew could take the boat to a depth of 10 meters.

Power plant

The power plant of the Type VII submarines consisted of two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines F46, which were installed on most boats, or MAH M6V 40/46 engines with mechanical supercharging. Engine power on modifications A was 1169 hp, on all other modifications 1400 hp. The maximum speed on diesel engines was 16.9 knots; when running on diesel engines with electric motors, the speed was 17.4 knots.

In the summer of 1943, due to Allied aviation, German submarine operations in the Atlantic were stopped. In February 1944, after repairs, U-264, the first German Type VII submarine equipped with a snorkel, entered service. The snorkel itself consisted of the following: two pipelines from the diesel compartment were connected in the bow of the wheelhouse to a special folding mast; at the end of this mast there was a valve for air intake and exhaust gas release from diesel engines. The design of the valve provided for its automatic closing when water entered, but the diesel engines did not stop and took air from the internal compartments of the boat, this could create a large vacuum in a closed environment.

Despite the difficulties in operation, the snorkel was a device thanks to which the boat, in a submerged position, fully charged its battery in three hours at a speed of 3-4 knots. Every 20 minutes, the underwater passage using a snorkel and diesel engine was stopped and a hydroacoustic search was carried out.

Typically, electric motors were used to move underwater. The Type VII boats had two twin-anchor electric motors from the company Siemens , A.G. or Brown Boweri with a power of 375 hp As on Soviet submarines, electric motors and diesel engines were connected to the propeller shaft by mechanical couplings. Battery 124 cells types 27-MAK 800, later 33-MAL 800W. The ventilation of the elements is individual, the flooring of the pits is hermetic.

The normal supply of fuel in the internal tanks was 62.14 tons, the total supply in the fuel and fuel-ballast tanks was 105.3 tons, when the surge tank was filled with fuel, it was 113.47 tons. The supply of fresh water on board the boat was 3.8 tons, oil 6 tons, and oxygen - 50 liters. The endurance of Type VII submarines is approximately 40 days. The cruising range at a speed of 10 knots is 8500 miles; with diesel-electric transmission, the range increases to 9700 miles. The diving range depended on the type of batteries, 130 miles at 2 knots or 80 miles at 4 knots.

In this note, I bring to your attention the firepower that the boats had. I again reviewed the topic briefly, without providing details and nuances, since a detailed coverage of this issue would require writing at least a large review article. To begin with, to make it clear how the Germans highlighted the issue of the need to have a gun on board and its use, I will give an excerpt from the “Manual for Submarine Commanders”, where the following is said about this:

"Section V Submarine artillery weapons (submarine as a carrier of artillery)
271. The presence of artillery on a submarine is fraught with contradictions from the very beginning. The submarine is unstable, has a low-lying gun and surveillance platform, and is not equipped to conduct artillery fire.
All artillery installations on a submarine are poorly suited for an artillery duel, and in this respect the submarine is inferior to any surface ship.
In an artillery battle, a submarine, as opposed to a surface ship, must immediately bring all its forces into action, because even one hit in the strong hull of a submarine already makes it impossible for it to dive and leads to death. Therefore, the possibility of an artillery battle between a torpedo submarine and military surface ships is excluded.
272. For submarines used for torpedo attacks, artillery is, as it were, a conditional and auxiliary weapon, because the use of artillery over water contradicts the entire essence of a submarine, i.e., a sudden and covert underwater attack.
Based on this, it can be said that on a torpedo submarine, artillery is used only in the fight against merchant ships, for example, to delay steamships or to destroy unarmed or weakly armed ships (§ 305)."(With)

Deck artillery
Caliber, Type, Shooting, Rate of fire, Elevation angle , Effect. range, Calculation

105 mm SK C/32U - U-boot L C/32U Single 15 35° 12,000 m 6 persons
105 mm SK C/32U - Marine Pivot L Single 15 30° 12,000 m 6 persons
88 mm SK C/30U - U-boot L C/30U Single 15-18 30° 11,000 m 6 people
88 mm SK C/35 - U-boot L C/35U Single 15-18 30° 11,000 m 6 people

Of all types of German submarines designed and built from 1930 to 1945, boats of the I, VII, IX and X series were armed with deck artillery with a caliber of over 88 mm. At the same time, only the VII series carried an 88-mm caliber gun; the rest of the indicated series of boats had a 105-mm gun. The cannon was located directly on the upper deck in front of the wheelhouse; the ammunition was stored partly there in the superstructure of the boat, partly inside the durable hull. Deck artillery was in the department of the second watch officer, who performed the duties of a senior gunner on the boat.
On the "sevens" the gun was installed in the area of ​​frame 54 on a pyramid specially reinforced in the superstructure, which was reinforced with longitudinal and transverse beams. In the area of ​​the gun, the upper deck was expanded to 3.8 meters in length, thereby forming a place for artillery crews. The standard ammunition for the boat was 205 shells - 28 of which were in special containers in the superstructure next to the gun, 20 shells in the wheelhouse, and the rest in the "weapons room" inside the durable hull in the second compartment from the bow.
The 105 mm gun was also mounted on a pyramid, which was welded to the pressure hull. Depending on the type of boat, the ammunition for the gun ranged from 200 to 230 shells, of which 30-32 were stored in the superstructure next to the gun, remaining in the “weapons room” located in the central control room and galley.
The deck gun was protected from water by a waterproof plug on the barrel side, and by a special plug sleeve on the breech side. A well-thought-out lubrication system for the gun made it possible to keep the gun in working condition at different temperatures.
I mentioned various cases of using deck guns And .
By the end of 1942, the command of the submarine forces came to the conclusion that the deck guns on boats that participated in the fighting in the Atlantic theater of operations should be dismantled. Thus, almost all “sevens” of type B and C lost such artillery. The guns were retained on Type IX submarine cruisers and Type VIID and X mines. But by the end of the war it was already difficult to find a German boat of any type that could carry deck artillery.

88 mm U29 and U95 guns. The waterproof plug is clearly visible.

Elevation angle of the 88 mm gun on the U46. It seems that it still exceeds those 30 and 35 degrees indicated in the technical characteristics. The gun had to be raised with its barrel up when loading torpedoes into the bow compartment. The photo below shows how this happened (U74 preparing to take a torpedo)



105 mm gun on the U26 "one"


105 mm guns U103 and U106


General view of the 105 mm gun with its mounts.

Gunners U53 and U35 prepare for practical shooting




Artillery crew U123 is preparing to open fire. A tanker is visible straight ahead. The target will be sunk by artillery fire. Completion of Operation Paukenschlag, February 1942.

But sometimes the tools were used for other purposes :-)
The pictures below show U107 and U156

Flak
Caliber, Type, Shooting, Rate of fire, Elevation angle , Effect. range, Calculation

37 mm SK C/30U - Ubts. LC 39 Singles 12 85° 2,500 m 3/4 persons
37 mm M42 U - LM 43U Automatic (8 rounds) 40 80° 2,500 m 3/4 persons
37 mm Zwilling M 42U - LM 42 Automatic (8 charges) 80 80° 2,500 m 3/4 persons
30 mm Flak M 44 - LM 44 Automatic (exact characteristics unknown. For type XXI submarines)
20 mm MG C/30 - L 30 Automatic (20 rounds) 120 90° 1,500 m 2/4 persons
20 mm MG C/30 - L 30/37 Automatic (20 rounds) 120 90° 1,500 m 2/4 persons
20 mm Flak C/38 - L 30/37 Automatic (20 rounds) 220 90° 1,500 m 2/4 persons
20 mm Flak Zwilling C/38 II - M 43U Automatic (20 rounds) 440 90° 1,500 m 2/4 persons
20 mm Flak Vierling C38/43 - M 43U Automatic (20 rounds) 880 90° 1,500 m 2/4 persons
13.2 mm Breda 1931 Automatic (30 rounds) 400 85° 1,000 m 2/4 persons

Quad units are highlighted in red, dual units are highlighted in blue.

Of the fire weapons that the German submarines had, the most interesting were anti-aircraft weapons. If deck guns were obsolete by the end of the war, then the evolution of anti-aircraft fire among the Germans is clearly visible from the above table.

By the beginning of the war, German submarines had only a minimum of anti-aircraft guns, since it was believed that the threat from the air was clearly underestimated by the fleet command. As a result, the designers in the projects included no more than one anti-aircraft gun on the boat. But during the war the situation changed and reached the point that some submarines were literally studded with anti-aircraft guns, such as “anti-aircraft boats” (flakboats).
The main weapons of the boats were initially recognized as 20-mm 20-round anti-aircraft guns, which were installed on all types of boats with the exception of the II series. On the latter they were also provided, but were not included in the standard armament of the boats.

Initially, on the first "sevens" in pre-war times, a 20-mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the MG C/30 - L 30 type was supposed to be installed on the upper deck behind the wheelhouse. This is clearly seen in the example of U49. Behind the open hatch you can see the anti-aircraft gun carriage.

But already in wartime, the 20-mm anti-aircraft gun was moved to a site located behind the bridge. It is clearly visible in the photo. Alternately, anti-aircraft platforms U25, U38 (Karl Doenitz himself is on the bridge of the boat), U46

Depending on the type and purpose of the boat, "Dvoyki" received anti-aircraft weapons, both pre-war and during the war. The gun was located in front of the wheelhouse. Either a carriage was installed for it, or it was installed there on a waterproof container (in the form of a barrel) in which the machine gun was stored in a disassembled state).
U23 before the war


Waterproof "barrel", also known as a carriage on U9 (Black Sea)


Same thing on U145


And this is already in finished form. U24 (Black Sea)


Option for installing an anti-aircraft gun on a carriage. U23 (Black Sea)


The "Twos" operating in the Black Sea underwent some modification. In particular, the deckhouse was modified towards standard ocean-going boats by adding a platform for installing additional firepower. Due to this, the armament of boats of this type at the World Theater Championship increased to 2-3 guns per submarine. The photo shows U19 in full armor. Anti-aircraft gun in front of the wheelhouse, twin guns on the platform behind the bridge. By the way, machine guns installed on the sides of the cabin are visible.

The growing threat from the air forced the Germans to take measures to increase anti-aircraft weapons. The boat received an additional platform for placing fire weapons, on which two pairs of 20-mm machine guns and one (or two) 37-mm machine guns could be placed. This site received the nickname "Winter Garden" (Wintergarten). Below are photos of boats that surrendered to the Allies U249, U621 and U234




As the pinnacle of the evolution of anti-aircraft weapons on German boats, the quad anti-aircraft gun Flak Vierling C38/43 - M 43U, which was received by the so-called “anti-aircraft boats”. As an example U441.

In the Mediterranean, the "Sevens" received additional weapons by installing Italian "Breda" machine guns in the form of twin-arms. As an example U81

A special word worth mentioning is such a “miracle” weapon as the 37 mm SK C/30U - Ubts anti-aircraft gun. LC 39, which fired single shots. This gun was installed on later types of submarine cruisers of type IX (B and C) and submarine tankers of type XIV. The "cash cows" carried two guns of this type on either side of the wheelhouse. "Nines" had one installed behind the wheelhouse. Below are examples of such a weapon on the U103.

Since I did not set myself the task of conducting a complete and detailed description of anti-aircraft weapons, I omit such nuances as ammunition and other characteristics of this type of weapon. I once mentioned the training of anti-aircraft gunners on submarines. Examples of confrontation between submarines and aircraft can be found if you look at the topics in my tag.

Firearms and signal weapons
Caliber, Type, Shooting, Rate of fire, Elevation angle , Effect. range, Calculation

7.92 mm MG15 Automatic (50/75 rounds) 800-900 90° 750 m 1-2
7.92 mm MG34 Automatic (50/75 rounds) 600-700 90° 750 m 1-2
7.92 mm MG81Z Automatic (Tape) 2.200 90° 750 m 1-2
In addition, the submarine’s crew had at their disposal 5-10 Mauser 7.65 mm pistols, 5-10 rifles, MP-40 assault rifles, hand grenades and two flare guns.

MG81Z on U33

In general, I would like to note that German submarines had fire weapons that were quite modern at that time, which worked well during combat operations. In particular, the British noted after testing the artillery they captured U570 that, compared with the 3-inch gun of the 1917 model mounted on S-type boats, the 88-mm German gun was superior to the British one. The 20-mm anti-aircraft machine gun was recognized by them as an excellent and effective weapon, which, to their surprise, did not vibrate when fired and had a good magazine.

Photo resource used to illustrate the note http://www.subsim.com

As usual, Vladimir Nagirnyak pored over the analysis.

Submarines are a special class of warships that, in addition to all the qualities of warships, have the ability to swim underwater, maneuvering along the course and depth. According to their design (Fig. 1.20), submarines are:

Single-hulled, having one strong hull, which ends at the bow and stern with well-streamlined ends of a lightweight design;
- half-hulled, having, in addition to a durable body, also a lightweight one, but not along the entire contour of the durable body;
- double-hulled, having two hulls - strong and lightweight, the latter completely encircling the perimeter of the strong one and extending the entire length of the boat. Currently, most submarines are double-hulled.

Rice. 1.20. Design types of submarines:
a - single-hull; b - one and a half hull; c - double-hull; 1 - durable body; 2 - conning tower; 3 - superstructure; 4 - keel; 5 - light body

Rugged housing- the main structural element of a submarine, ensuring its safe stay at maximum depth. It forms a closed volume, impenetrable to water. The space inside the pressure hull (Fig. 1.21) is divided by transverse waterproof bulkheads into compartments, which are named depending on the nature of the weapons and equipment located in them.

Rice. 1.21. longitudinal section of a diesel battery submarine:
1 - durable body; 2 - bow torpedo tubes; 3 - light body; bow torpedo compartment; 5 - torpedo loading hatch; 6 - superstructure; 7 - durable conning tower; 8 - cutting fence; 9 - retractable devices; 10 - entrance hatch; 11 - stern torpedo tubes; 12 - aft end; 13 - rudder blade; 14 - aft trim tank; 15 - end (aft) watertight bulkhead; 16 - aft torpedo compartment; 17 - internal waterproof bulkhead; 18 - compartment of the main propulsion electric motors and power plant; 19 - ballast tank; 20 - engine compartment; 21 - fuel tank; 22, 26 - aft and bow groups of batteries; 23, 27 - team living quarters; 24 - central post; 25 - hold of the central post; 28 - bow trim tank; 29 - end (bow) waterproof bulkhead; 30 - nasal extremity; 31 - buoyancy tank.

Inside the durable hull are quarters for personnel, main and auxiliary mechanisms, weapons, various systems and devices, bow and stern groups of batteries, various supplies, etc. On modern submarines, the weight of the durable hull in the total weight of the ship is 16-25 %; in the weight of only hull structures - 50-65%.

The structurally sound hull consists of frames and plating. The frames, as a rule, have an annular shape and an elliptical shape at the ends and are made of profile steel. They are installed one from the other at a distance of 300-700 mm, depending on the design of the boat, both on the inside and outside of the hull skin, and sometimes in combination on both sides closely.

The shell of the durable hull is made from special rolled sheet steel and welded to the frames. The thickness of the skin sheets reaches up to 35 mm, depending on the diameter of the pressure hull and the maximum immersion depth of the submarine.

Bulkheads and pressure hulls are strong and light. Strong bulkheads divide the internal volume of modern submarines into 6-10 waterproof compartments and ensure the ship's underwater unsinkability. According to their location, they are internal and terminal; in shape - flat and spherical.

Light bulkheads are designed to ensure the ship's surface unsinkability. Structurally, bulkheads are made of frames and sheathing. A bulkhead set usually consists of several vertical and transverse posts (beams). The casing is made of sheet steel.

End watertight bulkheads are usually of equal strength to the strong hull and close it in the bow and stern parts. These bulkheads serve as rigid supports for torpedo tubes on most submarines.

The compartments communicate through watertight doors having a round or rectangular shape. These doors are equipped with quick-release locking devices.

In the vertical direction, the compartments are divided by platforms into upper and lower parts, and sometimes the boat’s rooms have a multi-tier arrangement, which increases the useful area of ​​the platforms per unit volume. The distance between the platforms “in the light” is made more than 2 m, i.e. slightly greater than the average height of a person.

In the upper part of the durable hull there is a strong (combat) deckhouse, which communicates through the deckhouse hatch with the central post, under which the hold is located. On most modern submarines, a strong deckhouse is made in the form of a round cylinder of small height. On the outside, the strong cabin and the devices located behind it, to improve flow around when moving in a submerged position, are covered with lightweight structures called the cabin fencing. The deckhouse casing is made of sheet steel of the same grade as the robust hull. The torpedo-loading and access hatches are also located at the top of the durable hull.

Tank tanks are designed for diving, surfacing, trimming a boat, as well as for storing liquid cargo. Depending on the purpose, there are tanks: main ballast, auxiliary ballast, ship stores and special ones. Structurally, they are either durable, that is, designed for maximum immersion depth, or lightweight, capable of withstanding pressure of 1-3 kg/cm2. They are located inside the strong body, between the strong and light body and at the extremities.

Keel - a welded or riveted beam of box-shaped, trapezoidal, T-shaped, and sometimes semi-cylindrical section, welded to the bottom of the boat hull. It is designed to enhance longitudinal strength, protect the hull from damage when placed on rocky ground and placed on a dock cage.

Light hull (Fig. 1.22) - a rigid frame consisting of frames, stringers, transverse impenetrable bulkheads and plating. It gives the submarine a well-streamlined shape. The light hull consists of an outer hull, bow and stern ends, deck superstructure, and wheelhouse fencing. The shape of the light hull is completely determined by the outer contours of the ship.

Rice. 1.22. Cross section of a one-and-a-half-hull submarine:
1 - navigation bridge; 2 - conning tower; 3 - superstructure; 4 - stringer; 5 - surge tank; 6 - reinforcing stand; 7, 9 - booklets; 8- platform; 10 - box-shaped keel; 11 - foundation of main diesel engines; 12 - casing of a durable hull; 13 - strong hull frames; 14 - main ballast tank; 15 - diagonal racks; 16 - tank cover; 17 - light hull lining; 18 - light hull frame; 19 - upper deck

The outer hull is the waterproof part of the lightweight hull located along the pressure hull. It encloses the pressure hull along the perimeter of the boat's cross-section from the keel to the top watertight stringer and extends the length of the ship from the fore to aft end bulkheads of the pressure hull. The ice belt of the light hull is located in the cruising waterline area and extends from the bow to the midsection; The width of the belt is about 1 g, the thickness of the sheets is 8 mm.

The ends of the light hull serve to streamline the contours of the bow and stern of the submarine and extend from the end bulkheads of the pressure hull to the stem and sternpost, respectively.

The bow end houses: bow torpedo tubes, main ballast and buoyancy tanks, a chain box, an anchor device, hydroacoustic receivers and emitters. Structurally, it consists of cladding and a complex set system. Made from sheet steel of the same quality as the outer casing.

The stem is a forged or welded beam that provides rigidity to the bow edge of the boat hull.

At the aft end (Fig. 1.23) there are located: aft torpedo tubes, main ballast tanks, horizontal and vertical rudders, stabilizers, propeller shafts with mortars.

Rice. 1.23. Diagram of stern protruding devices:
1 - vertical stabilizer; 2 - vertical steering wheel; 3 - propeller; 4 - horizontal steering wheel; 5 - horizontal stabilizer

Sternpost - a beam of complex cross-section, usually welded; provides rigidity to the aft edge of the submarine hull.

Horizontal and vertical stabilizers provide stability to the submarine when moving. Propeller shafts pass through horizontal stabilizers (with a two-shaft power plant), at the ends of which propellers are installed. Aft horizontal rudders are installed behind the propellers in the same plane with the stabilizers.

Structurally, the aft end consists of a frame and plating. The set is made of stringers, frames and simple frames, platforms and bulkheads. The casing is of equal strength to the outer casing.

Superstructure(Fig. 1.24) is located above the upper waterproof stringer of the outer hull and extends along the entire length of the durable hull, passing beyond its limits at the tip. Structurally, the superstructure consists of sheathing and frame. The superstructure contains various systems, devices, bow horizontal rudders, etc.

Rice. 1.24. Submarine superstructure:
1 - booklets; 2 - holes in the deck; 3 - superstructure deck; 4 - side of the superstructure; 5 - scuppers; 6- pillers; 7 - tank cover; 8 - casing of a durable hull; 9 - strong hull frame; 10 - light hull lining; 11 - waterproof stringer of the outer casing; 12 - light hull frame; 13 - superstructure frame

Retractable devices(Fig. 1.25). A modern submarine has a large number of different devices and systems that ensure control of its maneuvers, use of weapons, survivability, normal operation of the power plant and other technical means in various sailing conditions.

Rice. 1.25. Retractable devices and systems of a submarine:
1 - periscope; 2 - radio antennas (retractable); 3 - radar antennas; 4 - air shaft for diesel operation under water (RDP); 5 - RDP exhaust device; 6 - radio antenna (collapsing)

Such devices and systems, in particular, include: radio antennas (retractable and retractable), exhaust device for diesel operation under water (RDP), RDP air shaft, radar antennas, periscopes, etc.

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Handbook of Maritime Practices Author unknown

1.3. Submarine structure

Submarines are a special class of warships that, in addition to all the qualities of warships, have the ability to swim underwater, maneuvering along the course and depth. According to their design (Fig. 1.20), submarines are:

– single-hulled, having one strong body, which ends at the bow and stern with well-streamlined ends of a lightweight design;

- half-hulled, having, in addition to a durable body, also a lightweight one, but not along the entire contour of the durable body;

- double-hulled, having two hulls - strong and lightweight, the latter completely encircling the perimeter of the strong one and extending the entire length of the boat. Currently, most submarines are double-hulled.

Rice. 1.20. Design types of submarines:

a – single-hull; b – one and a half hull; c – double-hulled; 1 – durable body; 2 – conning tower; 3 – superstructure; 4 – keel; 5 – light body

A durable hull is the main structural element of a submarine, ensuring its safe stay at maximum depth. It forms a closed volume, impenetrable to water. The space inside the pressure hull (Fig. 1.21) is divided by transverse waterproof bulkheads into compartments, which are named depending on the nature of the weapons and equipment located in them.

Rice. 1.21. longitudinal section of a diesel battery submarine:

1 – durable body; 2 – bow torpedo tubes; 3 – light body; bow torpedo compartment; 5 – torpedo loading hatch; 6 – superstructure; 7 – durable conning tower; 8 – cutting fence; 9 – retractable devices; 10 – entrance hatch; 11 – stern torpedo tubes; 12 – aft end; 13 – rudder blade; 14 – aft trim tank; 15 – end (aft) watertight bulkhead; 16 – aft torpedo compartment; 17 – internal waterproof bulkhead; 18 – compartment of the main propulsion electric motors and power station; 19 – ballast tank; 20 – engine compartment; 21 – fuel tank; 22, 26 – aft and bow groups of batteries; 23, 27 – team living quarters; 24 – central post; 25 – hold of the central post; 28 – nasal trim tank; 29 – end (bow) watertight bulkhead; 30 – nasal extremity; 31 – buoyancy tank.

Inside the durable hull are quarters for personnel, main and auxiliary mechanisms, weapons, various systems and devices, bow and stern groups of batteries, various supplies, etc. On modern submarines, the weight of the durable hull in the total weight of the ship is 16-25 %; in the weight of hull structures only – 50-65%.

The structurally sound hull consists of frames and plating. The frames, as a rule, have an annular shape and an elliptical shape at the ends and are made of profile steel. They are installed one from the other at a distance of 300-700 mm, depending on the design of the boat, both on the inside and outside of the hull skin, and sometimes in combination on both sides closely.

The shell of the durable hull is made from special rolled sheet steel and welded to the frames. The thickness of the skin sheets reaches up to 35 mm, depending on the diameter of the pressure hull and the maximum immersion depth of the submarine.

Bulkheads and pressure hulls are strong and light. Strong bulkheads divide the internal volume of modern submarines into 6-10 waterproof compartments and ensure the ship's underwater unsinkability. According to their location, they are internal and terminal; in shape - flat and spherical.

Light bulkheads are designed to ensure the ship's surface unsinkability. Structurally, bulkheads are made of frames and sheathing. A bulkhead set usually consists of several vertical and transverse posts (beams). The casing is made of sheet steel.

End watertight bulkheads are usually of equal strength to the strong hull and close it in the bow and stern parts. These bulkheads serve as rigid supports for torpedo tubes on most submarines.

The compartments communicate through watertight doors having a round or rectangular shape. These doors are equipped with quick-release locking devices.

In the vertical direction, the compartments are divided by platforms into upper and lower parts, and sometimes the boat’s rooms have a multi-tier arrangement, which increases the useful area of ​​the platforms per unit volume. The distance between the platforms “in the light” is made more than 2 m, i.e., slightly greater than the average height of a person.

In the upper part of the durable hull there is a strong (combat) deckhouse, which communicates through the deckhouse hatch with the central post, under which the hold is located. On most modern submarines, a strong deckhouse is made in the form of a round cylinder of small height. On the outside, the strong cabin and the devices located behind it, to improve flow around when moving in a submerged position, are covered with lightweight structures called the cabin fencing. The deckhouse casing is made of sheet steel of the same grade as the robust hull. The torpedo-loading and access hatches are also located at the top of the durable hull.

Tank tanks are designed for diving, surfacing, trimming a boat, as well as for storing liquid cargo. Depending on the purpose, there are tanks: main ballast, auxiliary ballast, ship stores and special ones. Structurally, they are either durable, that is, designed for maximum immersion depth, or lightweight, capable of withstanding pressure of 1-3 kg/cm2. They are located inside the strong body, between the strong and light body and at the extremities.

Keel - a welded or riveted beam of box-shaped, trapezoidal, T-shaped, and sometimes semi-cylindrical section, welded to the bottom of the boat hull. It is designed to enhance longitudinal strength, protect the hull from damage when placed on rocky ground and placed on a dock cage.

Lightweight hull (Fig. 1.22) is a rigid frame consisting of frames, stringers, transverse impenetrable bulkheads and plating. It gives the submarine a well-streamlined shape. The light hull consists of an outer hull, bow and stern ends, deck superstructure, and wheelhouse fencing. The shape of the light hull is completely determined by the outer contours of the ship.

Rice. 1.22. Cross section of a one-and-a-half-hull submarine:

1 – navigation bridge; 2 – conning tower; 3 – superstructure; 4 – stringer; 5 – surge tank; 6 – reinforcing stand; 7, 9 – booklets; 8- platform; 10 – box-shaped keel; 11 – foundation of the main diesel engines; 12 – casing of a durable hull; 13 – strong hull frames; 14 – main ballast tank; 15 – diagonal racks; 16 – tank cover; 17 – light hull lining; 18 – light hull frame; 19 – upper deck

The outer hull is the waterproof part of the lightweight hull located along the pressure hull. It encloses the pressure hull along the perimeter of the boat's cross-section from the keel to the top watertight stringer and extends the length of the ship from the fore to aft end bulkheads of the pressure hull. The ice belt of the light hull is located in the cruising waterline area and extends from the bow to the midsection; The width of the belt is about 1 g, the thickness of the sheets is 8 mm.

The ends of the light hull serve to streamline the contours of the bow and stern of the submarine and extend from the end bulkheads of the pressure hull to the stem and sternpost, respectively.

The bow end houses: bow torpedo tubes, main ballast and buoyancy tanks, a chain box, an anchor device, hydroacoustic receivers and emitters. Structurally, it consists of cladding and a complex set system. Made from sheet steel of the same quality as the outer casing.

The stem is a forged or welded beam that provides rigidity to the bow edge of the boat hull.

At the aft end (Fig. 1.23) there are located: aft torpedo tubes, main ballast tanks, horizontal and vertical rudders, stabilizers, propeller shafts with mortars.

Rice. 1.23. Diagram of stern protruding devices:

1 – vertical stabilizer; 2 – vertical steering wheel; 3 – propeller; 4 – horizontal steering wheel; 5 – horizontal stabilizer

Sternpost – a beam of complex cross-section, usually welded; provides rigidity to the aft edge of the submarine hull.

Horizontal and vertical stabilizers provide stability to the submarine when moving. Propeller shafts pass through the horizontal stabilizers (with a two-shaft power plant), at the ends of which propellers are installed. Aft horizontal rudders are installed behind the propellers in the same plane with the stabilizers.

Structurally, the aft end consists of a frame and plating. The set is made of stringers, frames and simple frames, platforms and bulkheads. The casing is of equal strength to the outer casing.

The superstructure (Fig. 1.24) is located above the upper waterproof stringer of the outer hull and extends along the entire length of the pressure hull, passing beyond its limits at the tip. Structurally, the superstructure consists of sheathing and frame. The superstructure contains various systems, devices, bow horizontal rudders, etc.

Rice. 1.24. Submarine superstructure:

1 – booklets; 2 – holes in the deck; 3 – superstructure deck; 4 – side of the superstructure; 5 – scuppers; 6- pillers; 7 – tank cover; 8 – casing of a durable hull; 9 – strong hull frame; 10 – light hull lining; 11 – waterproof stringer of the outer casing; 12 – light hull frame; 13 – superstructure frame

Retractable devices (Fig. 1.25). A modern submarine has a large number of different devices and systems that ensure control of its maneuvers, use of weapons, survivability, normal operation of the power plant and other technical means in various sailing conditions.

Rice. 1.25. Retractable devices and systems of a submarine:

1 – periscope; 2 – radio antennas (retractable); 3 – radar antennas; 4 – air shaft for diesel operation under water (RDP); 5 – RDP exhaust device; 6 – radio antenna (collapsing)

Such devices and systems, in particular, include: radio antennas (retractable and retractable), exhaust device for diesel operation under water (RDP), RDP air shaft, radar antennas, periscopes, etc.

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