Schnellboot S-100 Frage

[Arjan]

Hallo,
I have been working on the Italeri 1/35 S-100 kit for nearly half a year now. I've got quite a few questions about this vessel but let me focus on one part for now. I wonder what the function of the rectangular box was (near the tip of the Panther's tail). This box seems to be present only on late S-100 boats, e.g. S-204 and S-205 had them but I can't see them on S-199 (Horst Scheer). Thanks in advance.


Gruss,

Arjan

[Teddy Suhren]

Hai

Ich habe an etwa der gleichen Stelle, auf wenigen anderen Aufnahmen, rund nach aussen ausgebuchtete Bleche gefunden. Ich denke diese Ausbuchtungen dienten dazu, die hintere Verschlußklappe des Torpedorohres vollständig zu öffnen. Im diesem Fall wohl den Verschlußdeckel mit seiner Wölbung.
Dieses Blechkästchen auf deiner Aufnahme hab ich nur noch ein weiteres Mal gefunden, möglicherweise am gleichen Boot. Vermutlich dient es auch hier dazu irgendein (z.B. ein Scharnier oder ähnliches) überstehendes Teil des geöffneten, hinteren Torpedorohrdeckels aufzunehmen.

[Arjan]

Danke Teddy,
You may be right but it makes me wonder why not all boats had these boxes or extensions if they were meant for opening the lids of the torp tubes fully. I have found pics of four other S-Boote with the same rectangular boxes: S-197, S- 212, S- 216 and a type S- 700 boat (from the 9th S-Flottille marked with an S). My first theory was that they might be Aussenbordanschlüsse for electricity, after all these late boats were always moored in special pens (bunkers) where electricity would be readily available and then they wouldn't have to use their inboard generators. On the other hand water and electricity do not mix so why have an outlet like that..... I only know of one pic that has a different type of fitting in this place. On close examination there seems to be a circular impression in the middle of the fitting (as you mentioned):


Gruss,

Arjan