U-boats and Subs during WWII?

Question

what does it mean "surface to recharge the batteries"? How did surfacing recharge batteries? Did it just give a chance for the batteries to charge quicker becuase as much power is not required to run while surfaced?

Do you know something about U-boats that you can share with me? ie...I have heard of S-boats and T-boats....whats the difference?

Answer 1

diesel submarines had to surface or go to periscope depth so the intake mast for the diesel engine could intake air to promote combustion in the diesel engine. The diesel engine would recharge the ships batteries. At night diesel subs would travel on the surface to conserve their batteries, and were designed to travel faster on the surface. Nuclear submarines do not have to surface to maintian their batteries since the nuclear reactor produces the power, and does not require additional air. New generations of diesel subs can stay submerged when they run the diesel engined due to aerated diesel fuel. Combined with magnetic bearing to quiet the structure borne noise the engine creates.

The U, S, T-boats refer to the "class" or "generation" of the sub. The higher the letter, the newer the submarine. Just like the U.S. 635 or 688 (L.A. Class)

Answer 2

the u boats back then had two mane power sources battery and diesel on the surface they would use the diesel engines but they couldn't under watter for two reason one being that the diesel was too loud and the fumes were poisonous since they had no way letting the them out under water so they used a battery to run their engines under water but these only lasted for a few hours and they had to resurface and let the diesel motors recharge the battery. s-boats is what the us navy called their subs there were four diff rent variations and not to much is known about these since they were only built between 1918-1925. t- boats are also a us navy sub during this time hat was replaced by the v- boat.

Answer 3

All submarines in World War II (and WWI and all other non-nuclear submarines since then) have two methods to drive the propeller. A diesel engine (or generator) and batteries. Combustion engines (diesel or gasonline) require air to operate so they can not be used if the submarine is underwater so they run on battery power. When the batteries become low they have to surface to run the diesel to both power the ship and to recharge the batteries. Some submarines were equipped with snorkels which let them submerge 30 or 40 feet and run the diesels, that way they wouldn't be as big of a target and still not use their batteries.

If you want more information on U-boats try
http://uboat.net/

Answer 4

All subs had to surface to charge there batteries. They had to start there main engines for it and as you know a combustion engine needs air to run so the place to find it is on the surface. Later the German u boats start using a snorkel to draw air in to the boat without coming to the surface.

S boat stands for snellboat it's a high speed patrol boot armed with 2 torpedo tubes and some 2 cm quickfire guns

Answer 5

They used diesel engines to recharge the batteries. Subs needed to be on the surface so the engines could run and to get rid of the exhausts etc.

Answer 6

Because older type of subs or Uboat, before the XXI type can't run underwater with their diesel engine due the ventilation problem, the engine fume too dangerous for the crews, instead they use electric motor, make subs can't run underwater more than several hours. That's why they "surface to recharge the batteries".

I believe T-boats stands for Torpedo boats, use by Kriegsmarine while S-boats for Submarine boats, use by US Navy

Answer 7

The subs in WWII were diesel driven and had to come up every so often to recharge their batteries and take on supplies from the mother ship.

Answer 8

might have had something o do with solor power but i dont think so.they ran off diesel engines so the best thing i can say is to google it.or maybe someone will know what there talking about cause im just guessing