Don.
Kya`s ex. U 926 structual damage. 12 Storage containers seems a lot, we had only 3 when I was onboard. I am a bit confused as to HP blowing of the storage container as you know the containers are not equipped with any HP airconnection and are simply a pressureproof container with lid like the ammocontainers. Anyhow Boyle Mariottes low is valid and Storage containers might be a confusion with the HP air flasks or airbottles as we say. 205 bar with an expansion to 10-25 bar makes a considerable volume increase, but a detail which is forgotten is the temperature drop according to Boyle Mariottes P1xV1/T1=P2xV2/T2. Such a temperaturdrop during a long blowingtime might cause freezing of the blowing valve which is one of the reasons the main blowing panel in the controlroom has an emergency blowing valve shortcutting the main blowing valve in case of freezing.
Back to U 226 and the structural damage. it is a long story which I might revert to if any interest, but the conclusion was, in late April/ early May grossadmiral Dønitz ordered all the operational uboats to Norwegian ports as Norway was going to be the center for the German submarine high command for the last desperate fight. More than 100 boats arrived causing a capacity problem at the surrender and the Allied forces decided to remove these boats to Scotland sailing the boats by the german crew. The operation was named Pledge, and a Norwegian naval submarine delegation took part in an investigation as to which Uboats were fit for the crossing to Scotland. I guess all but 11 were fit and amongst those 11 were , the U-995, U-926 and U 1202 which later were reconditioned and operated by the Royal Norwegian navy. The whole story is long and last year I wrote an article on the event in the main newspaper in Oslo, I have translated same to English.
Tore