 Editor in Chief Bill   | 14 May 2026 7:52 a.m. PST |
Imperial German Navy submarine U-12 with a Friedrichshafen FF.29 reconnaissance seaplane on her deck. Inch High Guy: link So… the sub had to stay on the surface until the aircraft was launched? Or could the biplane be disassembled and stowed inside the sub? |
 John the OFM  | 14 May 2026 7:56 a.m. PST |
Hey, that's not so great.
When I was in 6th grade, I was designing planes that could take off underwater! |
| Frederick | 14 May 2026 8:02 a.m. PST |
Good question Given the design of the Type 9 U boat and how WWI biplanes were built, I can only imagine that the sub had to stay on the surface as I can't imagine how they could get the parts of a biplane into it I think the idea was that the sub could get the plane closer to the UK for launch and then it would fly back home |
| Editor in Chief Bill | 14 May 2026 8:16 a.m. PST |
I imagine this only worked in good weather. The biplane couldn't have taken many waves… |
| DisasterWargamer | 14 May 2026 9:31 a.m. PST |
The caption of the photo "… The submarine conducted trails with floatplanes during 1915, the concept was for the submarine to carry the floatplane to an operating area and then submerge, the aircraft would float free and fly from the surface of the water to conduct its reconnaissance. …" |
| 79thPA | 14 May 2026 9:39 a.m. PST |
The Japanese did a lot of experimenting with submarine borne biplanes and monoplanes. |
 Parzival | 14 May 2026 10:07 a.m. PST |
"Dang, that's another plane lost."
"Do you think maybe we should close the cockpit first?" |
| DisasterWargamer | 14 May 2026 11:38 a.m. PST |
Dont forget the Sub hatches as well 2017 – Someone forgot |
| Parzival | 15 May 2026 8:56 a.m. PST |
It was kamikaze training. If you survived it, you weren't fit to be a kamikaze. |
| PeterEm | 18 May 2026 5:34 a.m. PST |
Not ww1, but the Royal Navy had the experimental sub M2 converted to carry a small seaplane in 1927, stored in a small hangar on deck when not in use. Initially the plane was assembled and winched into the sea to take off from there, but in 1928 a hydraulic catapult was fitted to allow takeoffs direct from the deck. Everything worked well until 1932, when the M2 sank suddenly with all hands. It is thought the crew opened the hangar doors slightly early. link |
