Tweet
An article concerning this boat was in the current SC. Very nice build indeed. I wonder if the builder is a member here? His name is Nate He.
Attached Files
-
Of the approximately 40,000 men who served on U-boats in WWII, it is estimated that around 28,000 to 30,000 lost their lives. -
Yes, Neitosub.Make it simple, make strong, make it work! -
Glad you liked the build!
NateComment
-
Would it be possible to post photos of the build here for the benefit of non SCR subscribers.Make it simple, make strong, make it work!Comment
-
I enjoyed the Type XXVI article. There was years ago a German model in 1/30 somewhere too, was so impressive. I like to know more about the 3d printed ballast tank design for this boat and how it works with a WTC dive module. It is a nice idea. It can be reasonably scaled up or down to the exact size (volume) need.
The Subcommittee Report is only $15.00 annually. Less than some cans of spray paint! You also get access to the archives of all previous articles in the entire magazines history. I support both the Sub Drivers and the Subcommittee. I will be writing articles again and have two slated for 2026 in the works. One on the HMS Meteorite Merriman been harping I write an article or book on before he's planted in the ground.
The Type XXVI was the ultimate design evolution starting from the V-80 to the Type XVIIA and Type XVIIB intermediate proof of concept operational test boats. The German design Type XVIII was so ambitious there wasn't time to design build test and make operational and was redesigned into the Classic Type XXI Electro boat version, an advanced whole new design philosophy and strategy that every modern sub in the world can find its roots in the Type XXI. It ended up too late for the Type XXI too. Ironically, Helmuth Walter's contributions to submarine designs were adopted eventually by all other submarine building Navies BUT the Kriegsmarine. Not mentioned here also would have been the huge industrial infrastructure on a national scale to produce the mass quantiles of High test (80%) Hydrogen Peroxide needed by already over stretched Nazi Germany.
I always have thought that if original in concept in its own right, as a pure small coastal range Hunter Killer submarine, the small French Aréthuse class submarines if you look at its size, shape, proportions is really a Electro boat version oif the Type XXVI in my eyes. I have not ever read anything or any author ever making the comparison, but the connection to me seems obvious. The French intelligently used the American Diesel electric arrangement for internal; space flexibility in the small hull, used batteries and diesels instead of the Walter system (like the Type XVIII to the Type XXI), Omitted the 6 aft firing flank Torpedo tubes, and optimized its mission from general-purpose submarine to antisubmarine hunter.
Congratulations! Beautiful model of the Type XXVI!
Last edited by Albacore 569; 12-01-2025, 09:44 PM.Comment
-
Most of the build photos can be found on the SC Facebook group, although you might have to dig into my post history from this summer. I still have plans to make a YouTube video on the build of the Type XXVI, it will take some time since I need to learn a new video editing software. The previous free software I used is no longer available. I would love to show the boat during a Dive-Tribe meeting, if Bob is interested in having me do a walkthrough.
Albacore 569 - Thank you for the kind words! Indeed, the French navy had some innovative and interesting designs during the Cold War period. The Soviets also made their own derivative of the XXVI in the form of the S-99 (Project 617), you can clearly seen the resemblance when both profiles are put side to side.Comment
-
S99/617 "Whale" IS a Type XXVI using genuine german engine components. Its a copy from restored construction plans and forced contribution of formerly involved german engineers captured by the red army and was built to soviet specs using soviet sonar/ the copies of german systems. Give S99 a grey paint scheme and youll see a type xxvi.
Went the same way as HMS "Exploder". With entering nuclesr propulsion and the lack of german spare parts, S99 was soon out of service after a catastrophic failure of the hpg plant and scrapped in the 1960's.
Cool sub, i still have an article of a german build in an issue of "Schiffsmodelle" around back from the mid-90's. Could be the afore mentioned 1/30
JörgComment
-
Yes my favorite submarine type so far.
Regards GantuComment
-
Yes, the Russians made almost an exact copy! Save the flank torpedo tubes. it was so nice of the Russians to waste rubles so we could see how a German Type XXVI might have appeared.
What would those Russians do next, Copy a B-29 Suoerfortress?lol. Oh! (TU-4). The Russians can be forgiven for the Kimov VK-i Centrifugal flow engine (Mig 15) , USSR would simply buy an offered Rolls Royce Nene - the reliable, fully developed, (having been alerted to the fact that the UK Labor government wanted to improve post-war UK-Russia foreign relations) for the purpose of copying them in a minimum of time. Stalin is said to have replied, "What fool will sell us his secrets? What a colossal **** up!
It would be interesting learning more from Russian sources how the Russians after the British and Americans went to such lengths under the Potsdam Treaty to deny them a Type XVIIB (like the eventual HMS Meteorite). The Walter works when the British army (British 30 AU) took Kiel on May 5, 1945, discovered a complete TYPE XXVI Walter plant in their shops. The Project 617 sub laid down in 1951, two years after HMS Meteorite was scraped, must have been in response tpo the British efforts with Explorer and a technical stop gap knowing of the Nautilus was being laid down.
We know HMS Explorer and Excalibur's stories resulting from Meteorite. Successful failures. The Americans only Walter submarine was the X-1 mini sub. X-1 would explode blowing the bow half completely off in May 1957 and was rebuilt as a diesel electric propulsion and soon decommissioned a few years later. But she did use the same Albacore hull.
Its a fascinating tangent that thankfully didn't proceed, once nuclear propulsion was proven. Seems the Russians suffered more from Hydrogen Peroxide technology, their H2O2 torpedoes sank the Kursk SSGN. Only the Swedish Navy seemed to handle H2O2 properly, they had a torpedo so powered and seemed to have not had any dangerous incidents...Expect those were phased out too.
That is a counterweight, to create a load for testing the Walter system on the stocks.Comment
-
We had our H2O2 torpedo. The MK-16. On the GILMORE I spent many a watch near racks of those weapons, monitoring their fuel decomposition rates (among other duties). Fast, long-ranged, and a total pain in the butt. The MK-14's bigger brother.
Yes, the Russians made almost an exact copy! Save the flank torpedo tubes. it was so nice of the Russians to waste rubles so we could see how a German Type XXVI might have appeared.
What would those Russians do next, Copy a B-29 Suoerfortress?lol. Oh! (TU-4). The Russians can be forgiven for the Kimov VK-i Centrifugal flow engine (Mig 15) , USSR would simply buy an offered Rolls Royce Nene - the reliable, fully developed, (having been alerted to the fact that the UK Labor government wanted to improve post-war UK-Russia foreign relations) for the purpose of copying them in a minimum of time. Stalin is said to have replied, "What fool will sell us his secrets? What a colossal **** up!
It would be interesting learning more from Russian sources how the Russians after the British and Americans went to such lengths under the Potsdam Treaty to deny them a Type XVIIB (like the eventual HMS Meteorite). The Walter works when the British army (British 30 AU) took Kiel on May 5, 1945, discovered a complete TYPE XXVI Walter plant in their shops. The Project 617 sub laid down in 1951, two years after HMS Meteorite was scraped, must have been in response tpo the British efforts with Explorer and a technical stop gap knowing of the Nautilus was being laid down.
We know HMS Explorer and Excalibur's stories resulting from Meteorite. Successful failures. The Americans only Walter submarine was the X-1 mini sub. X-1 would explode blowing the bow half completely off in May 1957 and was rebuilt as a diesel electric propulsion and soon decommissioned a few years later. But she did use the same Albacore hull.
Its a fascinating tangent that thankfully didn't proceed, once nuclear propulsion was proven. Seems the Russians suffered more from Hydrogen Peroxide technology, their H2O2 torpedoes sank the Kursk SSGN. Only the Swedish Navy seemed to handle H2O2 properly, they had a torpedo so powered and seemed to have not had any dangerous incidents...Expect those were phased out too.
That is a counterweight, to create a load for testing the Walter system on the stocks.Who is John Galt?Comment
-
Then it is pretty clear to write the design of the German Walter Type XXVI was quite influential post war - to a degree almost as much, though not as conspicuously so as the Type XXI was also.
David, I bet they were a pain for sure. How were the decomposing rates for the Mk 16? We talking Months? Weeks? Days? Did you have to keep the catalyst separate till prepping to launch?Comment
-
No, the silver was installed and the entire weapon ready for issue other than the exploder. Navol started decomposing from time of manufacture to final disposal. When in the weapon a 'bubble' monitor determined rate of decomposition by the number of bubbles over time. If it went red-line there was a chemical that had to be introduced to 'kill' the Navol break-down -- which meant a complete tear-down and flush of the fuel tank and associated plumbing. I never had to put up with this weapon on either the TRUTTA or WEBSTER, but got my share of those things while stationed aboard the HOWARD W GILMORE, a sub-tender, during my early years in the Canoe Club.Who is John Galt?Comment
-
Thank David. That was interesting.Comment
-
Ah, the memories brought back.... Auxiliaryman of the Watch and Below Decks Watch onboard USS Narwhal in the early 70's. Logging results of the bubble counter. We never had one that got angry at us!Comment
Comment