Please Wait...


Loading
MinimizeSearchHeader ImageDeutschHTTPS

Photo Album

German Submarines

Pictures of submarines of the German Kriegsmarine of 1935 to 1945 on display. U 505 is in Chicago, U 995 is located in Laboe near Kiel and U 2540 in Bremerhaven. More information about these and another boat in the article German Submarines.

2010 April 7 15 / 2014 March 11

Bremerhaven (161) Chicago (155) Germany (318) Illinois (155) Laboe (157) Museum of Science and Industry (155) Rabea (1) Type IX (155) Type VII (157) Type XXI (161) U 2540 (161) U 505 (155) U 995 (157)

All

337
View of U-505 from the stern.
338
View of U-505 from the tail with screws, diving planes and rudder.
339
Conning tower of the U-505 with the two 20mm anti-air guns and the 37mm anti-air gun.
340
Conning tower with emblem.
341
One of the screws.
342
Screws and rudder at the stern of U-505.
343
Rear torpedo tubes.
344
Tail of U-505.
345
A 20mm anti-air gun.
346
The 20mm anti-air gun.
347
Twin 2cm Anti-Aircraft Gun
(2cm Flugabwehrkanone c/30 Flak 38)

One of the biggest threats to a U-boat came from Allied aircraft dropping bombs. As the war progressed, Allied aircraft gained more and more air superiority until there were no longer any safe areas of the ocean for a U-boat to maneuver or hide. In response to the increasing Allied air threat, U-boats were equipped with more antiaircraft weapons to protect themselves.

U-505's Anti-Aircraft Guns

On November 11, 1942, the U-505 was bombed and heavily damaged by a British seaplane. The boat was repaired over the next six months and her new, enlarged conning tower was outfitted with one 3.7-centimeter and two, twin 2-centimeter antiaircraft guns so the U-505 could better protect herself. In the end, her crew never had the opportunity to fire the anti-aircraft guns in combat.
348
Piston of U-505.
349
Model of the galley.
350
Food Supply

Approximately 12 tons of food were loaded onto the U-505 before she departed for a 100 day patrol. The crew ate the fresh food on board first, and then relied on canned foods once the fresh foods had been consumed or had spoiled. A typical U-boat food supply included:

494 pounds fresh and cooked meats
238 pounds sausages
4,808 pounds preserved / tinned meats
334 pounds preserved fish
3,858 pounds potatoes
397 pounds dried potatoes
3,428 pounds other vegetables
1,226 pounds bread dough
2,058 pounds preserved breads
463 pounds rice and noodles
595 pounds fresh eggs
917 pounds fresh lemons
2,365 pounds other fruits
551 pounds butter and margarine
611 pounds soup ingredients
408 pounds marmelade and honey
309 pounds fresh and preserved cheese
1,728 pounds powdered milk
441 pounds fruit juices
154 pounds coffee
205 pounds other drinks (inluding beer)
441 pounds sugar
132 pounds salt
108 pounds chocolate
351
352
Buoyancy Station

Unlike other types of boats, a submarine can adjust its buoyancy (or tendency to float) by increasing or decreasing its weight at sea. To reach a desired depth, the crew of the U-505 manipulated a series of controls that changed the weight of the sub and, in turn, forced her to either dive or surface as needed.

Submerging & Surfacing in U-505

The U-505 floated on the surface when she had positive buoyancy, meaning that she weighed less than the water she was displacing. To submerge, the crew opened a vent valve that allowed air to rush out of the top of the ballast tanks located between the sub's inner and outer hulls. As the air left, water rushed in through a floot valve at the bottom of the tanks. The water made the sub heavier, creating negative buoyancy, which caused her to submerge. To surface, the crew closed the vent valve, allowing compressed air to blow into the tanks and expel the water.

Dive Planes & Trim Tanks

The U-505's planemen adjusted the boat's movable dive planes to control the angle of the boat when she was diving and surfacing. When the sub reached her desired depth, the planes were leveled to help keep the sub level. Fine adjustments to the boat's balance were made by transferring water in or out of the trim tranks, or regulating tanks.
Slideshow