Comments | little_details: Losing leg in torpedo chute, WW2 submarine

delilahdraken in little_details

Losing leg in torpedo chute, WW2 submarine

Oct 28, 2012 14:51

There is this character, a vampire, who is thrown off a submarine (German U-Boot during WW2). This happens via a torpedo chute. Once he is in the water, he has lost one or both of his legs ( Read more... )

~boats and other things that float, germany: military, germany (misc), ~world war ii, germany: history

Comments 8

ffutures October 28 2012, 22:38:51 UTC

There are accounts of bodies being fired out of torpedo tubes if e.g. someone died aboard ship and they couldn't risk surfacing, or to give the impression that the submarine had been destroyed. Not sure how easily you'd get someone inside if they weren't cooperating.

The most likely scenario for a door malfunction is the outer door closing while the vampire was still exiting (or possibly trying to get back inside). Getting caught on the inner door isn't likely, because the tube can't be pressurized if it isn't fully closed and locked shut.

The sequence is

Check tube is dry (a spigot tap on the tube door)
open inner door
load torpedo
close inner door.
Check all locks are showing as fully engaged
Open outer door
Check indicators to make sure it really is open
Start torpedo motor and check it is turning (not sure how)
Use a blast of compressed air to fire the torpedo out
Shut outer door and check it really is closed
Pressurize tube to get rid of water and start the cycle again

Hope this helps

ffutures October 28 2012, 22:43:50 UTC

I should add that I've simplified this a bit - firing a torpedo has all sorts of other effects on a submarine, such as changing its trim (the balance of weight forward and aft and side to side) which has to be countered by pumping water backwards and forwards - wouldn't be so bad firing a vamp, but you're still letting water in and out a bit, which affects trim.

ffutures October 29 2012, 08:24:34 UTC

Forgot a couple of steps - after

Check all locks are showing as fully engaged

the next step is

Flood tube

At some point the torpedo gets armed, I think that this is after they're sure the motor is turning.

derekl1963 October 30 2012, 13:50:46 UTC

I've never heard of anyone starting a torpedo in a tube... That could leave you in a pickle if you can't impulse the fish afterwards.

Tubes are also (AFAIK) normally drained inboard to avoid having to vent them down from sea pressure after draining. (It also helps maintain trim, otherwise you have to take in water to replace the water flushed from the tube.)

Torpedoes are normally armed by either the fish departing the tube, a timer started by the motor, or a timer powered by the water moving past the fish as it goes on it's merry way. Having an armed torpedo inboard is a Very Bad Idea.

anonymous October 29 2012, 14:10:03 UTC

Be aware that if he is going out the torpedo chute while the boat is underwater, he has crushing water pressure to worry about as well as drowning and losing a leg. I'm not sure how that would work for a vampire, but depending on how deep they are it could easily kill a normal human being.

stormwreath October 29 2012, 16:02:29 UTC

From the US Navy's Submarine Information and Instruction Manual, 1942 - I imagine German procedure would be similar, if not identical.

In the control room, throw in torpedo firing circuit switch, located on switchboard, or radio room bulkhead ( ... )

philippos42 November 1 2012, 04:59:59 UTC

Couldn't the leg simply be torn off by collision with the tube wall as he's shooting out?

Also, the force of the compressed air could accelerate his legs fast enough to make his body parts fold and jerk in very bad ways. Once he got clear, he'd probably be doing well to only lose his legs.

debirlfan November 5 2012, 06:05:21 UTC

Or.... He's not injured being ejected from the sub. It's when the great white shark chomps him....