¹⁄35

U 47 Modifications & Colours

U 47 Modifications & Colours

The following feature discusses the modifications and colours of U 47. The large-scale, high-definition drawings depicting U 47 at various stages during the U-boat’s career have been drawn specifically for this feature, and can be found in it's original size in the gallery. http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/16087

Notes on the Drawings To ensure that the colours in the drawings are as exact as possible, a diskette which included the correct RGB (red, blue, green) values for numerous RAL codes was obtained from Multicolor UK Ltd., RAL’s sales partner in the UK. The RAL (Reichsausschuss für Lieferbedingungen - Committee of the German Reich for Terms and Conditions of Sale) colours are the German equivalent of the British Standard colours in the UK and the Federal Standard in the US. The exact RGB values on this image were used to portray Dunkelgrau 51 (RAL7000) and Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau (RAL7016) in the drawings. Schlickgrau 58, having had no RAL code associated with it, was matched as best as possible to the two-part set of Kriegsmarine paint chip cards produced by Snyder & Short Enterprises. It should be noted that the RAL codes are not exactly the same as the original Kriegsmarine paints - they were merely cross-references to the original paints. Another point to consider when viewing the drawings is that the colours will vary according to monitor settings.

On many of the dates when U 47 is depicted, the direction-finding aerial and one or both of the periscopes were in the retracted position. However, in the drawings the aerial and the two periscopes are shown in the extended position to illustrate their size, position and colour when they were extended. The capstan and bollards, which are also shown in their extended positions, were retracted while at sea.

The commander’s flagstaff with commissioning pennant and the Kreigsmarine flag were removed at sea. Early in U 47’s career the 20mm Flak gun was situated on the aft deck. At this time the barrel was not considered to be waterproof and was located in a waterproof hatch on the aft deck. Hence only the gun mount is visible in the early drawings. When the 20mm was re-sited to the tower the barrel was considered to be waterproof, and so remained permanently attached to the gun mount. During 1938 and 1939, the tower railings and their seats were not symmetrical on either side. In photographs taken from the port side, the parts of the starboard railings and starboard seat that did not have a symmetrical equivalent on the port side are visible. In order to avoid confusion, and illustrate the difference between the port and starboard railings and seats, only the sections of the railings and seat which were located on the port side are shown on the port drawing, and only the sections of the railings and seat which were located on the starboard side are shown on the starboard drawing. The same principle has been used for the aft jumping wires. The extra wires hanging under the port side aft jumping wire were not present on the starboard side aft jumping wire. Although these extra wires on the port wire were visible when viewing from the U-boat’s starboard side, they have been left out of the starboard drawings in case anybody should mistakenly believe they were fitted to the starboard wire. The codes in the drawings can also be found in the modifications section. The letter indicates the period when the modification occurred, whereas the number bears no particular significance. The letters denote the following time periods:

A - At an unknown time before October 1939

B - Pre-war features removed on the afternoon of the 19th August 1939, prior to departure on the first war patrol

C - Late October/Early November 1939

D - December 1939 to February 1940

E - 8th/9th March 1940

F - April/May 1940

G - At an unknown time before July 1940

H - July/August 1940

In the drawings, yellow text has been used to indicate the pre-war features that were removed on the afternoon of the 19th August 1939, blue indicates features that were added, green indicates features that were removed, and the purple text are comments on insignia and colours. The drawings depict the following:

1 - 17th December 1938, Kiel
During the commissioning ceremony, with pre-war features.

2 - 8th October 1939, Kiel
Departing on Scapa Flow mission, with temporary Chamberlain drawing on tower.

3 - 17th October 1939, Wilhelmshaven
Arrival back from Scapa Flow mission, with newly-applied bull insignia.

4 - 16th November 1939, Kiel
After spray deflector extended. Both bulls now facing forward.

5 - 29th February 1940, Kiel
After refit in which 20mm was moved from the aft deck to the rear of the conning tower.

6 - 6th July 1940, Kiel
Arrival back from successful 6th patrol, with 10 tonnage flags flying, “66587 to.” on tower and Pillkoppen pennant.

7 - 20th February 1941, Lorient
Departure on last patrol. Air trunking present.

8 - Guide to differences between U 47 at start (17th December 1938) and near the end (20th February 1941) of career.
Annotation added to illustrate modifications and when they were carried out.

9 - Comparisons between conning tower on the following dates:
17th December 1938, 8th October 1939, 17th October 1939, 16th November 1939, 29th February 1940, 6th July 1940 and 20th February 1941.

10 - Guide to differences between port and starboard sides
17th October 1939 drawings used

11 - Parts identification guide
20th February 1941 starboard drawing used.

12 - Type VIIB frame lines.
Source: Rössler, Eberhard. The U-Boat: The Evolution And Technical History Of German Submarines. Cassell & Co., 2001. Page 108.

Contents of modifications and colours section

Part I Chronological discussion of modifications and colours

Part II Lower hull colour

Part III Wooden deck colours

Part IV Miscellaneous colours

(A) Conning tower

(B) Armament

(C) Hull

(D) Deck parts

Part V Modelling paints

Part VI Summaries

(A) Modifications summary

(B) Main colours summary

(C) Refit and repair dates summary