CONFIDENTIAL REPORT 2G-9C
S12
     
 
FORMER GERMAN SUBMARINE TYPE IX C-40
  
 
 
 
HULL FITTINGS
 
     
 
SUMMARY
  
     
          Hull fittings are not of interest.  The increased use of disappearing bitts to reduce resistance will be discussed under the corresponding section of the type 21 report.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
March, 1946
 
 
 
 
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD, PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
 
     
 
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9C-S12
     
 
C  O  N  F  I  D  E  N  T  I  A  L
  
 
 
 
HULL FITTINGS
 
     
          The hull fittings provided consist of the following:  
 
Bullnose
5 pairs of mooring bitts
2 pairs of towing bitts
1 closed chock aft of the towing bitts
1 hawse pipe
Wire life line port and starboard on portable stanchions, for nearly the entire length of the vessel
Low pipe rail from the after end of the fairwater to the forward end of the deck gun working circle
Pipe railing for the gun platforms at the after end of the bridge
 
          Special hull fittings consist of:  
 
Plane guards for bow planes
Propeller guards
Rudder guard
Clearing lines which also serve as radio antennae
 
          In addition, special fittings originally fitted, but removed after completion of the vessel, were cable cutters on the stem and at the forward end of the clearing lines.  
          There is nothing remarkable about the hull fittings, except that the forward bitts can be dropped down to the deck level when not desired, by turning each head until it is free of the locking ring which holds it in a raised position, and lowering into a socket which is fitted in the superstructure.  On some ships all bitts were drop type.  
          The bow plane guards are relatively heavy horns which are of streamlined section, and extend out and aft away from the hull in a horizontal plane forward of the bow planes, with the extreme end of the horn outboard of the outer edge of the plane, on the axis of the plane shaft.  There is no connection between the outer edge of the plane and the end of the horn.  
     
 
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9C-S12
     
          The propeller guards, which also serve as stern plane guards, are similar in general character to the bow plane guards, but are carried outboard forward of the rudders, and then straight aft to the turning axis of the stern planes, where they are connected to the planes, thereby permitting the planes to contribute to their support.  
          The rudder guards are merely light pieces of plate carried aft from the docking horn under the stern frame, and loosely secured to the bottom of the rudders.  
          A single clearing line leads aft from the stem to the top of the bridge bulwark.  Twin lines are carried aft, port and starboard, from the outer end of the bridge railing to the towing bitts.  
          Fairing of small components extending above the superstructure deck is limited to the stern light.  
          Locks and keys are notable for number, but not for security.  The vessel was constructed with innumerable small lockers, lazarettes and cupboards, most of which had their own locks with old-fashioned bit keys.  Plastic key-holes and door pulls were provided.  
     
  CONCLUSIONS:  
          Hull fittings are undeserving of further research.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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