I spy!

[greenman407]

I Spy something on the port side of the Conning tower that Ive never seen before on a U-Boat. Do You See It? What is it? Youve got 30 sec.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Camera housing? Awfully small for a film camera! Maybe a 16mm gun-camera?

David,

[redboat219]

Must be the ones they use to take movie shots of the bow submerging.

Could it be the housing for the night vision system similar to the ones used on the German Panther tank?

[greenman407]

I was hoping that you guys could tell me. Does make sence that it could be night vision equipment but it must not have worked too well because you dont see them on other U-Boats.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I was hoping that you guys could tell me. Does make sence that it could be night vision equipment but it must not have worked too well because you dont see them on other U-Boats.

Don't think so. The early IR imaging optics required a big-ass IR source and I don't see any evidence of that device on or around the sail.

David,

[greenman407]

Yeah! What you said.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I got it! That a picture of a magnificently built and weathered 1/32nd scale model submarine and its outfitted with a video camera who's images are soon to be shared on the Net?

David,

[greenman407]

Thatyll be great

[Outrider]

The early IR stuff seems far too fragile for external use in a submarine. Also, it's mounted far too low on the turm (sail) to be of practical value either as an illuminator or as a receiver. As to a location for getting those really cool shots of the bow submerging or surfacing... well, perfect. And if you know anything about the Nazis, they loved military footage...

[greenman407]

Whats that raised section on the fordeck? Mine dispenser? This is U-119

[Outrider]

"A total of eight Type XB boats were produced, which replaced the mine chamber of the projected Type XA with six vertical wet storage shafts in the forward section of the hull"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_XB_submarine

[greenman407]

Yes, They were the largest U-Boats made. They only had two torpedo tubes and they were in the rear. the U-119 was lost on 6-24-43 after sinking one ship and damaging another.

[reddevil]

That thing on port side of the tower may be the inlet for the snorkel? You know: A mast rises (its foot is partialy visible in the right part of the picture) to take the upper inlet over the surface, and makes contact with the inlet connecting with engines intake.

[roedj]

FYI,

Emblem on tower is a Viking ship which indicates 6th Flotilla.

According to uboat - dot - net only two ships had this emblem, U260 and U766.

Of the two, only U260 is known to have had a schnorkel installed on the boat, probably done just before August of 1944.

It's known that Type VII's had the schnorkel fitted on the port side of the tower.

U260 was scuttled off coast of Eire and is a famous dive wreck. Pictures from a wreck dive show the schnorkel but, unfortunately, not the mating fitting on the tower.

My guess - it's the U260 after August of 1944

Dan

[greenman407]

Its interesting to note that the many books and sources that we all use are sometimes suspect. For example, "The encyclopedia of U-Boats by Eberhard Moller doesnt list a U-119 in his book but a Google search brought it up immediately as a type XB.:biggrin: I am , of course, talking about the second picture.