Post by richard on Dec 16, 2005 16:48:43 GMT
Hi All,
I just finished reading a book on the Type VII U-Boat one chapter in the book I found interesting so I decided to post sections of the chapter from the book for all to look at I hope you all find it a interesting read. -
EXPERIMENTAL WEAPONS
The first attempts at using rockets as weapons from a U-Boat came about by pure coincidence. The commanding officer of U551, KK Fritz Steinhoff, just happened to be the brother of Dr Ernst Steinhoff a researcher working on the problems of small rocket guidance at the Heeresversuch-sanstalt (Army Experimental Establishment) at Peenemunde. As a result of the conversation between the brothers, the idea arose of trying out an installation of artillery rockets in U551.
During its working-up period, U551 was detached briefly to Peenemunde where from 31 May to 5 June 1942, she went through a series of experimental launches of 30cm Wurfkorper Sprengraketen from a rack for six rockets installed on the after deck-casing. The last of the experimental launches took place while the U-Boat was submerged at periscope depth. The experiments proved that rockets could be launched from U-Boats, even when submerged, but showed little promise of producing a useful weapon. No further similar experimentation followed these initial trials.
Before the first of the Flak U-Boats Bdu turned to using this fledgling rocket technology. U441 deployed to the front, it was equipped with a battery of 8.6cm rockets would be fired in the path of an attacking aircraft, each rocket trailing a lenghtof wire intended to ensnare the aircraft. In practice the timing required to fire the rockets so they would destroy the attacking aircraft was almost impossible to achieve.
The idea of using 8.6cm high-explosive rockets was also tried out. Another approach was tried in U986 and one other boat. These boats were fitted with a barrage of 30 rocket-launchers erected completely around the tower. The idea of using rockets was never tested in combat conditions and no further testing went ahead the idea was dropped.
If anyone else has got more detailed info let me know or even other experimental weapons.
Richard
I just finished reading a book on the Type VII U-Boat one chapter in the book I found interesting so I decided to post sections of the chapter from the book for all to look at I hope you all find it a interesting read. -
EXPERIMENTAL WEAPONS
The first attempts at using rockets as weapons from a U-Boat came about by pure coincidence. The commanding officer of U551, KK Fritz Steinhoff, just happened to be the brother of Dr Ernst Steinhoff a researcher working on the problems of small rocket guidance at the Heeresversuch-sanstalt (Army Experimental Establishment) at Peenemunde. As a result of the conversation between the brothers, the idea arose of trying out an installation of artillery rockets in U551.
During its working-up period, U551 was detached briefly to Peenemunde where from 31 May to 5 June 1942, she went through a series of experimental launches of 30cm Wurfkorper Sprengraketen from a rack for six rockets installed on the after deck-casing. The last of the experimental launches took place while the U-Boat was submerged at periscope depth. The experiments proved that rockets could be launched from U-Boats, even when submerged, but showed little promise of producing a useful weapon. No further similar experimentation followed these initial trials.
Before the first of the Flak U-Boats Bdu turned to using this fledgling rocket technology. U441 deployed to the front, it was equipped with a battery of 8.6cm rockets would be fired in the path of an attacking aircraft, each rocket trailing a lenghtof wire intended to ensnare the aircraft. In practice the timing required to fire the rockets so they would destroy the attacking aircraft was almost impossible to achieve.
The idea of using 8.6cm high-explosive rockets was also tried out. Another approach was tried in U986 and one other boat. These boats were fitted with a barrage of 30 rocket-launchers erected completely around the tower. The idea of using rockets was never tested in combat conditions and no further testing went ahead the idea was dropped.
If anyone else has got more detailed info let me know or even other experimental weapons.
Richard
