"Color Photo Tour of U-Boat Type VII Interior--Neat!" Topic

Found this today and thought it worth sharing with everyone interested in the actual layout and equipment of these boats.

link

"Claustrophobic" doesn't do it justice!

TVAG

I visited that sub back in my teens and claustrophobic is spot on. The passageway the length of the boat was barely wider than hip width. The captain's 'cabin' was just a slightly wider part of the passageway withe the luxury of a privacy curtain.
One thing I recall was the escape system for when you were stuck on the bottom in shallow water. You had to climb on one of the engines, twist through two dimensions to open the lower air lock hatch, climb in, then close the hatch. Flood the tube, open the top hatch, swim out and close the hatch (otherwise no one else was getting out after you) and make your way to the surface. Simple. And repeat for the rest of the crew. Captain goes last, of course. No wonder they preferred to bail out of the conning tower.

Wow! It makes the US sub at Galveston interior seem palatial by comparison.

I've been in the U505 a few times which is in Chicago at the Museum of Science & Industry, in most places it's almost impossible for 2 people to pass each other. Yes, very claustrophobic. Remember though in most cases the men that served on these were of average size at most.

Visited the Razorback in Arkansas. The most memorable part was noticing that all of the levers had different shaped knobs. So they could be identified in the pitch dark if the power went out.

Thanks for providing the link. That was so cool checking it out.

the smell must have been something

To say nothing of the butt-chewing Gallery got from Ernest Jesus King afterwards.

Great photos. Thanks.

Well you all make me feel a bit like Our Friend, Tango!

Vous ętes les bienvenus!

TVAG

(… And my butt in the main hatch would trap everyone like rats!)

They have done a really good job of maintaining this static display. Having had to maintain the condition of outdoor displays such as aircraft and missiles I know how much work and expense it takes to keep them in good condition.