"Yes , much have been changed and I don`t understand some of the changes, the flood gates are the fingerprints of the submarine. It would not make much of an extra to put in some floodgates, they have blanked off some floodgates instead as shown on your photo. On the other hand they have put up an extra wind deflector on the radar casing which never was there on any VIIC, that cost extra and they have removed the original exhaust outlet and put in a new instead, that cost extra as well. Why if funds are short?
Tore"
__________________
I think further on money is very scarce but I agree they picked the wrong priorities. But some changes has a explanation: The blanked floodgates should stop those visitors of the boat who would like to climb on the wooden deck by using the floodgates as a "ladder". This concerns for example floodgates nearby the entrance and exit.
Thanks for your attached photos with the comments.
Regards
falo