VIIC/41 - Schematices drawing

[NZSnowman]

Fig. 1. The outside view of the Balcongerät installed on U-995 sometime in the 1970's by the Royal Norwegian Navy.


Fig. 2. The inside view of the Balcongerät installed on U-995 sometime in the 1970's by the Royal Norwegian Navy.


Fig. 3. The outside view of the German design of Balcongerät installed on Type VIIC's (U-778, U-997, U-1021, U-1105 & U-1308).


Fig. 4. The inside view of the German design of Balcongerät installed on Type VIIC's.

[tore]

Simon.
Some time in  1960 the Royal Norwegian Navy had plans for modernising the VIIC class however only one boat was modernised KNM Kya ex U 926 as the project was abandoned in view of a newbuilding programme. The boat should be equipped with a telescopic schnorchelmast,  a "sail" and a new balkongeraet. I have only a drawing of same as shown below.
Tore

[NZSnowman]

U-995 Balcongerät was removed sometime between 4 November 1971 and 13 March 1972.
 
Tore, what happen to KNM Kya?

[tore]

Simon, she was the last VIIC I had and she was scrapped around mid 1960.
Tore

[NZSnowman]

...she was scrapped around mid 1960.

 

Was there must different in the piping in the engine rooms between the two boats, Tore?

[tore]

Simon.
There was some difference but not very much, as far as I remember the biggest difference was on KNM Kinn ex U 1202. I cannot today remember the details of the differences but I am pretty sure non of them had a luboil purifier.  As you know the U 926 and U 1202 were both VIICs only U995 was VIIC/41.
Tore

[NZSnowman]

Tore, what do you think of my cable alignment? (Blue = radar detection cable, red = heating cable)

[tore]

Simon.
I Guess this is OK. May be we should look for the potential cablebox for the heatingcable in the port forward area. The radar detectioncable would possibly go to the sonarroom.
Tore

[falo]

Hi Snowman,


here we go with the Alberich coated XXIII boat(s). According to the text there were only two XXIII-Boats coated with the tiles: U-4704 and U-4708.


Regards
Falo

[NZSnowman]

Hi Snowman,


here we go with the Alberich coated XXIII boat(s). According to the text there were only two XXIII-Boats coated with the tiles: U-4704 and U-4708.


Regards
Falo

Thanks 

I have read that only a three Type XXIII boats were coated with Alberich (U-4704, U-4707 & U-4708). The German planed to coat all the Type XXIII's and XXI's. I believe no Type XXI's got coated with Alberich.

[falo]

Snowmann,


according to the text (translated from german to english), there existed plans to coat one-third from total 185 XXIII-boats to be completed til the end of 1945.


Regards
Falo

[SG]

Simon, Awesome work w the balcongerat, as usual
Congrats!

[falo]

Hi Snowman,

just a (probably redundant) question according to alberich boats with mounted „Balkon-Geraet“ (please read the text below). If the „Balkon-Geraet“ was installed, did the Alberich boats also had mounted the GHG (24 hydrophones) around the hydroplanes resp. on the side of the bow? IMO that would be done twice.

Thanks in advance and regards
Falo

Gruppenhorchgerat (GHG)
The standard U-boat hydrophone, the GHG (Group Listening Apparatus) was installed in U-boats from 1935 onwards. It consisted of two sets of hydrophones mounted on each side of the bows, covering two arcs of 140 degrees on the sides of the U-boat. Because the hydrophones could not be rotated, the triangulation was most effective with sound sources coming from the sides, with deteriorating accuracy as the source moved to the front or rear of the boat. Consisting of 24 hydrophones, the GHG could pick up lone vessels up to 20 kilometers and convoys up to 100 kilometers away.

Balkon Geraet
The Balkon Great (Balcony Apparatus) was an improved version of GHG. Where the previous had 24 hydrophones, the Balkon had 48 hydrophones and improved electronics, which enabled more accurate readings to be taken. The Balkon was standard on the Type XXI and was also fitted to several Type VIIs.

[NZSnowman]

Hi Snowman,

just a (probably redundant) question according to alberich boats with mounted „Balkon-Geraet“ (please read the text below). If the „Balkon-Geraet“ was installed, did the Alberich boats also had mounted the GHG (24 hydrophones) around the hydroplanes resp. on the side of the bow? IMO that would be done twice.

Thanks in advance and regards
Falo

Gruppenhorchgerat (GHG)
The standard U-boat hydrophone, the GHG (Group Listening Apparatus) was installed in U-boats from 1935 onwards. It consisted of two sets of hydrophones mounted on each side of the bows, covering two arcs of 140 degrees on the sides of the U-boat. Because the hydrophones could not be rotated, the triangulation was most effective with sound sources coming from the sides, with deteriorating accuracy as the source moved to the front or rear of the boat. Consisting of 24 hydrophones, the GHG could pick up lone vessels up to 20 kilometers and convoys up to 100 kilometers away.

Balkon Geraet
The Balkon Great (Balcony Apparatus) was an improved version of GHG. Where the previous had 24 hydrophones, the Balkon had 48 hydrophones and improved electronics, which enabled more accurate readings to be taken. The Balkon was standard on the Type XXI and was also fitted to several Type VIIs.

I never see any information on this, if the GHG was were remove from Balkon-Geraet boats.
 
I believe, as the Balkon-Geraet was an add-on for Type VIIC’s that the GHG was not removed but was just disconnect.

I believe that perhaps the only Type VII’s that was not install with a GHG system could be U-1308. U-1308 was the last Type VII’s to be build and was in dry-dock till late November 1944. I believe it is almost certain she was the only Type VII’s to have all these new u-boat ‘toys’ added to her while still in dry-dock during construction phase. There just would not be the time to add them to her before the end of the war.

[falo]

Hi Snowman,


the disconnection argument makes sense to me.


Thanks and regards
Falo