Tores mailbox VIIC and VIIC/41 operation and technical details

[tore]

Maciek!
Interesting twist. To my opinion using the E-motor as at starting motor would probably work. In that case I would start turning with the indicatorcocks open, then shutting same when revs are adequate for switching to fuel and you would probably get ignition. Using a 400 mm cyl.diameter 4stroke engine as an electric driven compressor would probably work surfaced,  the air pressure would be limited but probably sufficient for LP blowing the ballasttanks. If out of HP air I would rather start the engine by the E-motors and blow the MBTs by exhaust. By the way I vaguely seem to remember we once started the engine by the E-motor as a test.
Tore

[VIC20]

Tore, I guess this is hard to tell but how fast did the depth gauges respond to changes of depth? I want to let this change look real on my gauges. Was  the 25m depth gauge needle more "dancing" in really heavy seas or was is sluggish with just a little movement of the needle?

[tore]

Mark.
The depth gauge 0-25 m is an ordinary direct manometer and as such has an immediate respondtime. I cannot remember any large fluctuation due to surface waves, however at heavy swell the submarine moved up and down and the depthgauge showed  the variation of depth immediately. Under such conditions keeping the periscope depth was very challenging. You could feel the swell down to more than 50 meter during a severe storm. By the way on U 995 it looks as if somebody has pinched the greater depth gauge having coloured sections on the dial.
Tore

[VIC20]

Thanks Tore, another thing… I've "connected" the compass to my (new upgraded) boat today and this is how the sea affects the heading of the boat at full speed - do you think that is within normal range?


http://hessburg.com/Screenshots/Heading.mov

[VIC20]

Tore, what exactly do they mean by "Beide Maschinen 10 weniger"? 10 what? 10 RPM? And when they set it to "Achtung" what does that mean for the people in the engine room?

[tore]

Mark.
I tried several times times to connect your link, but somehow I can`t get connected. "Beide maschinen 10 weniger " would mean 10 rpm lower I guess we never used that. Achtung would be the same as "stand by" on any engineroom telegraph meaning the engine crew should be ready for action, being mostly for starting up or maneuvering. On a submarine it could be ready for surfacing, diving, schnorchling, batterycharging  etc. as well.
Tore

[VIC20]

Tore, I've uploaded it to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKR3UCv_l9I&feature=youtu.be


(rudder is set to 0°)

[tore]

Mark.
Amazing. I assume it is the gyro repeater and as such I believe OK.( I am not a navigator). The general impression is as you have said previously, a simplification on the bridge to the essentials for the game. However the behaviour of the U boat in heavy sea seems a bit smooth and fast, like a hot knife through butter. The lucky buggars on the bridge in your sub. seems to be very dry, unfortunately there was a lot of spray and some times even a wave filled the bridge under the weathercondition similar to what you are showing. Usually the people on the bridge wore oilskin dress and a southwest hat during these conditions, even then they got pretty wet.
 I see you have introduced a RN flowerclass corvette and an US Fletcherclass destroyer as escort for the convoy, I am not sure if these two vessels operated in a joint escort on the North Atlantic convoys, definitely the flowerclass corvette was in the escort.
But anyhow I am impressed what you are able to make.
Tore

[Don Prince]

Hello Mr Tore,


Do you have a photo of the valve wheel for the Outter Exhaust Flap Valve that is adjusted to setup up the pressure for blowing the ballast.  I want to be sure which valve was used for blowing in the engine room...


Regards,
Don_

[Don Prince]

Also a question on the Diesel controls...


The wheel to the right is used for turning on the air pressure to start the engine.  The next lever with a squeeze lever to unlock and the markings are Top "Dis-engage" and the bottom "Start"...  The next lever has the squeeze lever and a button.  If the squeeze level locks the lever in place, then what is the function of the button?


I assume the lever furthest to the left is the fuel control and the marking from top "0" to the bottom "55"...


Would the sequence be:
1.  turn the wheel to supply starting air
2.  move lever to start
3.  When sufficient speed - move the fuel lever to a low amount
4.  Move lever to Dis-engage
5.  Turn off starting air
6.  move fuel lever to get higher RPMs


Regards,
Don_

[tore]

Don.
Main (Group) exhaustvalves.
Down below are the 6 port and stb main exhaustvalves we have discussed.
Tore

[tore]

Don.
Starting procedure for GW engines.
I am not sure which plan you are referring to, mentioning "disengage" on the starting lever. But basically you are right in your assumption as to the starting procedure. However in addition to this system you have some interlocks and lever for engaging  the supercharger (Roots blower) and shutting the natural aspiration. Further you can see some rudiments from the direct reversible system so it is easy to be confused. I guess the small wheel on the fuel lever is for fine control.
Tore

[VIC20]

However the behaviour of the U boat in heavy sea seems a bit smooth and fast, like a hot knife through butter.


…

 I see you have introduced a RN flowerclass corvette and an US Fletcherclass destroyer as escort for the convoy, I am not sure if these two vessels operated in a joint escort on the North Atlantic convoys, definitely the flowerclass corvette was in the escort.
But anyhow I am impressed what you are able to make.
Tore

Thanks


The new buoyancy is still not completely implemented. I'm currently busy with that these days.


I have the PC461 Class as small escorts in range of the american coast. The flower class will sail with british destroyers (currently only have an O class)

[Don Prince]

Hello Mr. Tore,


The one strip beside the lever reads Anlassen (Start) and at the top Detrieb (Uninstall drive or Dis-engage)?


Regards,
Don_

[VIC20]

The one strip beside the lever reads Anlassen (Start) and at the top Detrieb (Uninstall drive or Dis-engage)?

Don, there is no word "Detrieb" in the german language. Do you mean "Betrieb"? (operation)
http://www.dict.cc/?s=betreiben
http://www.dict.cc/?s=betrieb