Balcon Gerät – Update
I have redrawn the Balcon Gerät to what I believe is more correct and accurate to the Balcon Gerät that was on U-995. The new dimension at base foremost on the internal framing of the Type VIIC. I believe the complete structure of the Balcon Gerät is deigned around the two support shafts that attach it to the bow of a Type VIIC. Believing this and knowing the internal framing I have resize and relocated the Balcon Gerät. In addition, the fore support shaft acted to carry all the wiring through the Bow Diving Tank to ‘E’ Deck which holds all the GHG junction boxes (seen in an earlier drawing.
I believe these are the steps that they perform to install the Balcon Gerät.
- Cut two holes in the under side of the bow for the support shafts.
- Disconnect all old GHG wire to the junction boxes, leaving all wiring in the Bow Diving Tank.
- Remove the upper decking, cut a hole into ‘E’ deck so the fore support shaft with wiring inside can be lowed through the Bow Diving Tank.
- Raise the Balcon Gerät into position with rear support shaft already in Balcon Gerät .
- Lowed the fore support shaft through the Bow Diving Tank and into Balcon Gerät.
- Weld support shaft into place.
- Connect all Balcon Gerät wiring to junction boxes and connect wiring to the sensors.
- Replace upper decking.
Fig. 1. New shape of the Balcon Gerät (upper) and older Balcon Gerät (lower). Also from this drawing you can see the support shafts, wiring and no support ribbing (no rivets) I believe they welded the outer shell of the Balcon Gerät directly on to the internal framing of the Balcon Gerät to reduce all under water noises.
Fig. 2. Balcon Gerät with support shafts and Bow Diving Tank.
Fig. 3. Bow section with Balcon Gerät, with fore Outer Torpedo Tube.