Hi Simon
Do you know why the aft and bow inside torpedo tube look different?
That's interesting question.
I have done some research and my conclusions are as follows:
The aft tube on U-995 is original one, the forward, stb lower one is modified by Norwegian Navy
to launch some 533mm postwar torpedoes.
The modification was something like this on Type 205 U-Boot - U-9
![](http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8308/p1010035gf1.jpg)
(source:
http://7ufl.forumieren.com/geschichte-nach-dem-2weltkrieg-f43/u-9-t436.htm)
I think, that the aft one is original comparing it to these visible on war time photos:
![](http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4397/greywolvesoftheseagerma.jpg)
(source: "Grey Wolves of the sea, german U-boat type VII", Heinz J. Nowarra)
![](http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9935/thestoryoftheu505.jpg)
(source: "The story of the U-505", Museum of science and industry, Chicago)
![](http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/4595/u505atchicagodiedeutsch.jpg)
(source: "Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1935-1945", vol. 3, Siegfried Breyer, Gerhard Koop)
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7851/u534z.jpg![](http://www.uboataces.com/images/uboat_torpedo_room.jpg)
(source: uboataces.com)
![](http://uboatarchive.net/U-570Photo13.jpg)
(source: uboatarchive.net, visible tube, two guides for piston and piston itself)
The modification of the tube on U-995 looks like there was removed some inner
tube lining and added four guidndes - compare these photos (source: U-995.com)
![](http://u-995.com/images/galerie/bugraum/bugraum13.jpg)
![](http://u-995.com/images/galerie/ht01.jpg)
The torpedo in tube seems like G7a type, but it can be also some post-war type.
There is visible that torpedo is attached to these guidnes - so it can not be
original/combat fittnes and I would suggest not myself by this tube.
By the way - the piston that is placed near the aft torpedo tube on U-995 also looks like
not original one.
Also during your research have you come across any information about the oil lines? I am trying to find out what the tubing is made of. On the outer torpedo tube at Laboe Naval Memorial it show copper tubings, but I unsure if it is original.
According to U-231 and U-575 survivors interrogation report (
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-231INT.htm,
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-575INT.htm) the tubes were initially made of bronze (and manganese -
see
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-257INT.htm).
But due to shortage of cooper in Germany later tubes were made of steel coated
with anti-corrosion preparation to prevent rusting. See:
U-257 survivors interrogation report -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-257INT.htmU-536 survivors interrogation report -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-536INT.htmU-172 survivors interrogation report -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-172INT.htmU-177 survivors interrogation report -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-177INT.htmU-1059 survivors interrogation report -
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-1059INT.htmLooking at the dates of these reports, it seems that steel tubes were common practise sinse 1944,
but there are mentions, that they begin using steel year before.
--
Regards
Maciek