CONFIDENTIAL REPORT 2G-21
S36
     
 
FORMER GERMAN SUBMARINE TYPE XXI
 
 
 
 
SANITATION
  
     
 
SUMMARY
  
     
          The sanitary arrangements are inadequate by U.S. standards.  Further, because of the interconnection of the wash and drinking water systems, they are unsafe.  The entire interest in this section is negative.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
July, 1946
 
 
 
 
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD, PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
 
     
     
     
 
 
     
     

 

     
     
 
  REPORT 2G-21
S36
     
  General  
          Sanitary arrangements in this type of vessel are greatly simplified.  
     
  Toilet Arrangement  
          A lavatory is provided forward of the wardroom on the starboard side of the vessel.  In this space are located three fixed washbasins, two siphon type water closets and a shower head.  
          A folding washbasin is provided for the commanding officer, and another is provided in the wardroom.  
          An additional water closet is installed in the after compartment of the vessel.  
     
  Potable Water System  
          Five potable water tanks and one wash water tank are provided; the wash water tank in the maneuvering room and the fresh water tanks distributed three in the after battery and two in the forward battery compartment.  Suction piping from each of these leads to the galley, where a manifold and a hand pump provide a means for selecting the source, and supplying water to the galley sink and soup kettle.  
          The galley pump also supplies fresh water to a gravity tank in the washroom.  The line serving the washroom gravity tanks is a branch of a line, the main lead of which extends forward from the galley to the WRT tanks in the torpedo room.  
          The line to the WRT tanks is so connected that it is possible, by putting air pressure in the tanks, to blow water aft to the galley, and there distribute it to any fresh water tank or to the distillate tank of the fresh water still.  
          All water taken from fresh water tanks, except that supplied for washing, normally passes through a cartridge type activated charcoal filter before use.  Water taken from the WRT tanks, however, is not necessarily filtered.  
          Fresh water tank capacity is 6020 liters.  The wash water tank directly connected to the system has a capacity  
     
 
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  REPORT 2G-21
S36
     
  of 570 liters and the gravity tank in the washroom has a capacity of 112 liters.  The WRT tanks provide additional water capacity of 27300 liters.  
     
  Wash Water System  
          The fresh water portion of this system has no independent piping on the type 21 vessels.  Piping supplies wash water to the galley sink and to three washbasins in the wash room.  All of this piping is tributary to the combined drinking and fresh water system.  
          Hot or cold salt water, but not both simultaneously, is supplied from the circulating water system to the galley, to the three washbasins in the washroom, and to the shower head in the washroom.  
     
  Sanitary Drains and Piping  
          Two dirty water tanks are provided:  one below the galley and one below the washroom.  Each series only the space immediately above it.  
          Water emptied from folding washbasins throughout the vessel must be carried in a pail either to the galley or the washroom and there be emptied by way of the sink or washbasin into the dirty water tank.  
          The water from the forward water closets empties into a separate pressure tank, from which it can be blown overboard at intervals by means of compressed air.  The tank has a capacity of 335 liters.  Two tanks with a total capacity of 150 liters, serve the water closet in the after compartment, and are likewise discharged overboard by means of compressed air.  
          All dirty water tanks are vented inboard.  The vents for the forward and after pressure tanks connect directly into the exhaust air duct, by way of an odor absorbing cartridge.  Further, the blow connection of the pressure tanks is interlocked with the vent line to prevent the possibility of blowing the tank contents into the ventilating ducts.  
     
  Comment  
          The sanitary arrangements have been simplified as compared with those on earlier types, and the water and sanitary piping systems have been respectively combined and reduced in extent.  There is no longer any pretense at separating the drinking and wash water systems, although the tanks continue to be separately identified.  
     
 
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  REPORT 2G-21
S36
     
          The water closet operation generally parallels that in current U.S. submarines, except for the peculiarities of venting and blow interlocks.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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