TORPEDO, GUN OR MINE?

 

The result was achieved mainly due to the 88 guns and, of course, talent commander and excellent training of the gunner, one of the best in the Navy, which Arnaud de La Perriere by hook or by crook lured to his underwater craft. Of course, even in the presence of overmasters this “magician” shells are not enough for nearly a hundred victims. Part small schooners sank Subversion packages, but the main work was performed that is a regular weapon.

 

In General, the solution set is quite powerful “artillery” of the submarine taken by German Admiral-staff before the war, was very successful. After a temporary failure in March, 1915, from the first attempts of novel unrestricted submarine warfare (mostly for fear of entering the war on the side of the allies), their commanders had to look it on his guns. After the conduct of a trade war, at least in some accordance with the international rules still had to surface and stop the ship before sinking. To expend precious in the campaign a few torpedoes were presented in this case, it is absolutely a waste of time. But to land on Board the prize, and to lay explosive charges without presenting a significant argument was a risky business. However, this argument could easily become a solid gun. It would help to talk some sense into “the obstinate”, trying to get away. It is the combination of fire and duress “merchant” to stop and let yourself sink subversive cartridge and operated de La Perriere. It should be noted that with such a huge amount was put to the bottom of the goals he managed not to dirty himself by truly superhuman things “famous”, some German submarine commanders. He always gave the team time to launch boats and leave the ship. Interestingly, the famous submariner and served from 1915 in the same rank of captain-Lieutenant throughout the war, however, was marked by high awards, including two grades of the Iron cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His (and only his) example, of course, testified that the German concept of the submarine as “diving gun” in the early and mid-war it had the right to exist and gave excellent results. But the enemy was gradually taken steps against such methods. They were court-trap disguised as a harmless “merchants”, but equipped with masked guns and trained personnel from among the sailors. The boat rose to the surface, ready to plant “invaders” with disruptive patrons or to flush prey from their guns, when the cloaking shields suddenly dropped and the victim was transformed into a hunter. Although the success of the pitfalls of this kind was quite modest, from surfacing and using their own artillery commanders of the submarines began to abstain, or at least before this “second thoughts”. But more importantly, towards the end of the war the allies, primarily the British, began to establish gun polls on all vessels, more or less suitable for this purpose. Initially, the number of armed “traders” in the hundreds, then thousands. Although the training of gunners, of course, much inferior to the skill of the gunner prize de La Perriere, but the risk of getting a fatal projectile from the first vessel and, at best, to stop the military campaign deters many divers.

 

Solutions in addition to the transition to the traditional weapons – torpedoes – could be several. One of them was to increase the power of artillery “Corsair” so that it was not the teeth not only usually outdated the gun for transport, but the same “trap”. For respectable guns (especially two or more) was required and a very solid sub. But the submarine could be used not only in the British Isles (where, moreover, the British began to take the first anti-submarine measures, albeit sluggish), but also in more distant oceanic waters – there to organize resistance seemed scarcely possible. Moreover, that practice is long and extremely long hikes submarines the Germans had. Although initially, oddly enough, surprisingly, peaceful.

 

We are talking about “trading” the submarines “Deutschland”, which was specially built to break the British trade embargo. It was a large (around 1870 tons submerged), and, as it should be “merchants” more clumsy ships with a very wide (almost 9 m) casing that formed quite an extensive cargo bays. Surface speed approximately matches that of conventional vehicles, and underwater was quite small. It was assumed that most of the way, the sub-transport will take place on the surface, plunging only in the most dangerous situations.

 

Exactly the case and went. Parent “Deutschland”, hastily built and prepared to sail in the summer of 1916, went on a long journey to the United States from Bremen. The journey began with great tricks: boat stood off the island “Helgoland”, the whole nine days. The Germans feared that its exit from the port may notice the British. For further security the submarine rounded the British Isles from the North and then very calmly crossed the ocean, moving all the time on the surface. In the end, she arrived in Baltimore, breaking the 3800 miles in two weeks. (It is worth noting that this was only a small part of a huge maximum range without refueling is equal to 25 thousand miles!) Home “Deutschland” also returned quite well, bringing a whole heap of very scarce materials, including 350 tons of rubber, 340 tons of Nickel and 93 tons of tin. Successful was the second hike. However, “successful underwater trade” was broken. Of U.S. relations with Germany and threatened to enter the war on the allied side.

 

Whereas the civilian “merchants” immediately began to remake the warriors. “Deutschland” in February 1917 was rebuilt in the faceless numbered “U-155”, set on a wide deck six torpedo tubes and a pair of 150-mm guns, removed from the battleship “Zähringen”, but in addition a few 88-millimetrovogo – indeed, a whole battery. It was followed by ready-made “Bremen” and only started construction “Oldenburg”. In addition, the same project built four more units, from the beginning intended for combat work.

 

They all received the normal 500-mm torpedo tubes built into the hull, but a formidable pair of 150-millimetrovogo preserved. These guns, as well as a huge supply of torpedoes, and 18 pieces on 2 devices, plus virtually unlimited cruising range, and were the very advantages that the newly minted submarine was preparing to present to the enemy. Interestingly, part of an impressive team of 76 sailors included 20 people who were supposed to be used in the composition of teams a prize (captured) ships.

 

So, for the appearance on the scene of a mighty (and, of course, very expensive) submarines, everything was ready. Or almost everything: the only obstacle remained powerful engines, required to achieve high surface velocities (and need) for such raiders. However, in August 1916, when the “Deutschland” just returned from my first shopping trip, the corresponding “project 46” and issued the order for the first series of three units, “U-139” – “U-141”. However, because of this, it was necessary to defer the construction of eight from the “mobilization” of boats, so the reasonableness of this decision remained questionable even for the Germans themselves.

 

Although the cruising range submarines of special construction compared to the “mobilized merchants” “halved”, it still made up more than 12,000 miles. The submarine even had a slight reservation: the cabin and the supply of ammunition to the guns was covered by 25 – 30 mm sheets. Displacement has grown to almost 2500 tons submerged; depth of these “monsters” could dive to 75 m. it is not Surprising that such really large ships received, in addition to numbers, the names of their own – in honor of the legendary submarine – Weddigen and Swiger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwater frontier “U-75” type “S”, Germany, 1916

 

Built by “Vulkan” in Hamburg. Design type – double-hulled. Displacement overwater/underwater – 755/830 T. Dimensions: length of 56.8 m, width 5.9 m, draft 4.9 m hull Material – steel. Immersion depth up to 50 m. Engine: 2 diesel engine capacity of 900 HP and 2 electric motors with a power of 800 HP Speed overwater/underwater – 10,5/7,5 bonds. Armament: two external 500-mm torpedo tubes (one in nose and one in the stern, 4 torpedoes), one 88-mm gun, 34 mines. The crew of 32 people. In 1915 – 1917 built 10 units: the “U-71” – “U-80”. Survived the war only 3 units, of which only “79”, renamed “Victor revel”, he served until 1933 in the French Navy; “U-71 and U-80” scrapped

 

On that the appetite of fans of the “submarine artillery” has not stopped. The development of the project 46 underwater armored steel (!) cruiser project 47, which the Germans had time only to design, but never managed to build. Their tonnage exceeds 4000 tons, armament was four 150-mm and two 88-mm guns. However, this “Goliath” was not a limit of dreams. One of the supporters of boats of large displacement, a University Professor Flamm has developed the project of the submarine to 7,000 tons, and also partially armored and armed with two 21 cm guns in the towers and four 88-mm guns, and ten machine – two on deck, four fore and four aft with the total reserve of torpedoes in 40K. The range of this “monster” was intended for 25,000 miles and a maximum surface speed of 22 KTS. Indeed, the pop-up out of the water “monster” could threaten not only the brave captain of a merchant ship, in the best case armed with pathetic pushonkoj, but to compete with the escort, up to the small cruiser. However, it is equally clear that such “monsters” could cost a lot of money and effort during project implementation. But their effectiveness is unlikely that would pay for the costs. This is evident in the results of the steps actually involved in the war submarines. On account of “the founder of a dynasty”, former “Deutschland” to the end of the war there were 42 of the sunken vessel. A lot, but very far from the records. And the rest of the submarines proved himself and is very modest, besides having suffered loss: “U-154” and “U-156” managed to go down soon after commissioning and the first one torpedoed by British submarine “E-35”.

 

A much more reasonable 12 units of the “big mobilization” of the project. With a submerged displacement of somewhat more than 1500 t they had six torpedo tubes and a pair of 105-mm guns, developing on the surface of about 17 knots. This type is largely equivalent to the cruising submarines for the Second world war, seemed very promising. But, fortunately for the allies, to put into operation the Germans failed.

 

So, it is highly controversial was the fate of the artillery submarines. However, guns as the main weapon of the submarine, besides traditional torpedoes, there was another contender. We are talking about the mines. Nothing new in this idea seems to be not there: many of the early boats of the nineteenth century still involved the use of various types of charges that put sometimes very tricky ways. But attempts to use the standard mines for raising the booms to belong to a later time. And clear priority in the implementation of the project of the underwater mintage belongs to Russia and is associated with the name of the constructor Naletova and his offspring, “Crab”, about which we still tell.

 

But the “Crab” was built a very long time, and actually the first ready for action underwater minelayer appeared in Germany. It was a definite impromptu, frankly, not all are successful. It should be noted, that his design solutions for a long time determined some features of the German submarines of this type. As the basis was chosen small boats of the type UB (project 34). Moreover, the project is based on their layers (project-35A) appeared almost simultaneously with the development of the “prototype”. Already in the autumn of 1914 was followed by an order for two units. Engineers and their leader, chief designer of the project, Werner, had too little time to study different ways of laying mines, so chose the simplest. In the bow of the hull up to the deckhouse placed aft six inclined shafts. Each of them was placed a pair of specially designed cylindrical mines UC/120. Directly from the mines they were staged, and the staging was carried out on the go. Mines just freed from the restraint of their retainers and under its own weight slipped from mine. When hitting the bottom was given an anchor and the mine floated at a set depth. This is the so-called method of production. At least the “mechanics”, no additional movements of hazardous goods, the independence of the “stuffing” of the mines from each other. Simple and effective, while at the same time very dangerous. It is clear that if a mine will be on cocked and begin not the time to float or just stuck in the mine at the time of exit, the boat could face the death. Plus, significant problems have arisen in connection with the provision of water leakage in the joints of the mine shafts and the hull. But such obstacles had to overcome, and very quickly. Boats like the admirals at the stage of drawings. Just a month after the first order the German shipyard has informed that they will receive an additional and very significant contracts. However,all of the shipyard, which had experience in building submarines, at that time were overloaded with work. The Ministry of the Navy had to seek the services of the shipyard Vulkan of Stettin, earlier submarines is not engaged. She got straight on 10 of the 15 units is I, as designated boat-frontier. The order for the remaining five received the “Weser”. Events unfolded with a “cosmic” speed. It was assumed that the construction and debugging of such a fundamentally new ship will take six months, but the first unit was commissioned within 5 months. Even a novice “Volcano” was able to withstand a very hard time.

 

Further, the fate of the first submarine of mensagem reminded that their torpedo “sisters” UB: disassembly into parts, transportation by rail to the ports of Belgium or the Austrian Floor Assembly and at sea. It is worth noting that at the time of entry into operation of submarine craft, no one could predict what role they will play in the war, and will play if they do. Even their own crews are highly skeptical of the capabilities of their submarines.

 

The first campaigns showed that all doubts in vain. “IP-1” in two outlets in July 1915 to the shores of Britain put 24 mines, which killed the destroyer, patrol boat and two merchant ships. A good “harvest”. Especially because hazard statement min submerged was limited only to March to the place of the fence from him. It was all a lot simpler than tracking down targets and sinking her carefully aimed torpedo or surfacing for firing from a gun Board.

 

It is clear that in the case of underwater minefields there is no question of “proper” conduct of war was not. The commanders of the submarines often could not accurately determine the place where they dumped their deadly cargo, even if I wanted to do it. And mine died the first court with a variety of goods, both military and purely peaceful. For example, in the mines of the same “is-1” in 1916, was blown up and sank the neutral Dutch steamer “Konigin Wilhelmina”, while in England one million pounds sterling in payment for goods.

 

Suffered and the Directors. “Is-2” back from your second campaign, and the British, attracted by the strong explosion found the remains of a submarine, obviously, become a victim of his own cargo. But success was much more. One of the first layers, “IP-4” made during the war, 73 military campaign, putting a total of 876 minutes they killed nearly 40 ships. And “IP-6” easily surpassed these figures by putting in 88 yields a more deadly 1050 cylinders. Her combat score reaches five dozen victims. Only an 89th hike was for the little chokes fatal; rather, it also exploded their mines.