Comments by "" (@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684) on "The Type IX U-Boat - The problem of German subs and how to fix them" video.

  1. A lot of 23 year olds nowadays have difficulty wiping their own bottoms without getting it in their hair. Imagine the calibre of the young men sent out in command of a U-boat in 1945.
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  2. The surface displacement is when the sub's ballast tanks are empty making the boat lighter and therefore enabling her to float. The submerged displacement is when the sub's ballast tanks have been flooded with surrounding seawater, thereby making her heavier and less bouyant, this loss of positive bouyancy is what does the major part of putting the sub beneath the surface, the hydroplanes by themselves could never keep the sub underwater, even at her "blistering" top speed of just under 8 knots submerged. So to answer your question, the "submerged displacement" will always be heavier than the "surfaced displacement". All the best.
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  3. I remember back in the late 1990s going on a full guided tour of U-534 (pre-vandalisation) when it was still in one piece next to the "Spillers" flour mills. The whole trip was a fascinating experience (Not many people can say nowadays that they have stood on the bridge of a type IX U-boat... well "health and safety" hadn't yet reached the ridiculous lengths it has nowadays) and I still drink out of the U-534 mug that I bought from the gift "portacabin". One thing that sticks in my mind in particular was that when we inside the boat making our way through each of the internal compartments, was that although the vast majority of the internals of the sub were either rusted or rust stained, in each compartment there was a clearly defined area near the compartment roof above which the original paint finish could be clearly seen, I realised it was where trapped air had prevented the seawater from corroding the paint & steel. The sudden realisation of its significance was chilling as I thought of the hundreds of thousands of men who had been trapped onboard sinking vessels during the war, who must have fought for their last, dying breaths with their faces pressed into such air pockets, before they finally succumbed to hypothermia, or more likely asphyxia.... such was the grim reality of war away from the recruiting posters and blaring fanfares. But on a more pleasant note, its absolutely fantastic to hear that there are still people who care enough to preserve what remains of her for future generations, I remember signing a local petition to stop U-534 being cut up, but as you can see it had the effect that most petitions have, I.E none. I'm just sorry I no longer live in Liverpool as I would be offering my services in whatever capacity was needed to take part in such a worthy undertaking. I sincerely wish them all the best. P.S For anyone watching the video, the torpedo shown at 25:11 is extremely rare, being one of possibly only three remaining original G7es T11 "Zaunkonig II" acoustic homing torpedoes left in the world.... and wouldn't you know it Wirral borough council are clueless enough to leave it rusting away outdoors, the cretins.
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