Life Inside a WWII Type IXC Submarine (Cross Section)

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The nightmares of Allied cargo shipping, the German U-Boats reigned supreme in the turbulent seas during 1940-1942. Taking one of these U-Boats as an example, the U-505 submarine sunk an impressive 8 ships and yet still was below the devastating 14:1 average of the early war years. But what did life look like beneath the 1,120 t exterior?
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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Robert de Graaf
Narrator:
Chris Kane
vocalforge.com/
Dear, I.C.B. and M.R.D Foot, editors. The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.
“Type IX U-boat.” Uboataces.
“U-Boat types: Type IXC.” Uboat.
“U-boat: U-505 (Type IXC). Militaryfactory.
“Life Aboard a U-boat.” Uboataces.
”75 Facts about U-505: Life on Board” Museum of Science and Industry.

[@Simplehistory]

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[@arcaderdude]

Gu oxygen so r ill when i by Ugo gu rjt8h

[@arcaderdude]

No

[@davidspencer8373]

Like video

[@ejharvey2764]

I never thought this was your authentic voice. I thought it was a through-voice filter.

[@josepholiver6733]

Cool face reveal

[@maxjendri4677]

Never saw your Face lol

[@jonnytaylor5822]

Whoaaa lol not what I expected

[@micahdadbeh5955]

@@jonnytaylor5822 look up Chris Kane. That’s the guy’s channel.

[@augustuswayne9676]

Me either . Not what I expected.

[@adampatino5372]

Me neither. I regret it

[@Macadamia923]

Kinda expected a tall, dark and handsome. Oh well.

[@erickam6733]

I've seen the U505 up close and personal at the museum, it really is a tight fit! There are also so many knobs and levers that operated the submarine that i didn't even know what to do with! Truly a fascinating part of history and a great link to the past and a part of the Second World War that isn't talked about much.

[@IvanPlayyz]

I was in it

[@Plugneedsahug]

@@IvanPlayyz chicago?

[@IvanPlayyz]

@@Plugneedsahug yes and the U505

[@Kelnx]

I've been in a couple of those old boats, including American variants, and yeah it's really tight. I served on a more modern 688 class, which I wouldn't consider "luxury" by any means, but definitely night and day difference compared to the old U boats and WWII US subs. While the "everything smelling like diesel/lube oil", hot racking/bunking, and cans of food shoved everywhere were still things on a modern nuclear sub, we at least had showers. Tiny ones and you got like 5 minutes to use it, but we at least had them. Without that and enough space to stow like a mid-size suitcase worth of clothes items, it would have been pretty hellish after a month.

[@grontelp77]

It’s a fantastic exhibit!

[@rongendron8705]

I went on the U505 in a Chicago museum, about 20 years ago & was fortunate to have a former WWII, U-Boat sailor going through the tour, with me! He said the Commander of the 505 was his boat's Exec-Officer, when he served! His description of "life on U-boats", was way more informative than the museum's guide! Cramped quarters would be an understatement!

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Wow, sounds like you met the '505 Ambassador' a friendly ghost who enjoys joining the tour from time to time, reminiscing. Happy to be "living" along the lake in Chicago now, by all accounts. Polar opposite of those scary clowns or creepy skeletons. ⚓

[@robtankbuster5215]

Amazing story!

[@minotaurei]

Hans Goebler. His book is called Steel Boats Iron Hearts. Very good book.

[@starzkream]

I just recently visited the U-505. It is amazing. For anybody who ever visits Chicago, it is a must-see.

[@malcomx1924]

@@starzkreamwho wants to visit Chicago anymore? BIxck ppI claimed/ruined the city. My old highschool used to go there on field trips when I was younger, but I heard they canceled it due to how dangerous it is.

[@cha5]

Das Boot is the essential submarine movie.

[@scottanno8861]

ERIKA

[@WessyD123]

yea, Run Silent Run Deep was pretty good too

[@waschte123]

But the original, not the remake

[@cha5]

@@waschte123 Yes of course. 😂

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Essential movie, period. But yeah, not the one starring Kelsey Grammar.

[@elitely6748]

Man I love cross sections for vehicles, machines anything! Great video as always Simple History!

[@PaintMyTaint]

Shut up

[@Yotarian]

Brings me back to when I used to have all those cross section books. Had castles, boats, heavy construction, the space shuttle, etc. It was so cool to see inside them.

[@aceous99]

those books are the best

[@danvondrasek]

I love those books, even in my 30s. Always fun finding "the pooper".

[@MKJ23]

Spot on was just thinking bout that

[@neutralino1905]

Stephen Biesty is awesome.

[@shammy8703]

and no ads in the middle....

[@oatmeal0]

Love how much the animation has improved on this channel.

[@MyLateralThawts]

Excellent video. I believe I’m not the only one who would like to see a follow up video covering the Type XXI U-Boot.

[@robtankbuster5215]

Amazing sub , way ahead of it's time.

[@shadow_7355]

The most unexpected face reveal in history

[@bubbalo3388]

I toured the Battleship Missouri and submarine Bowfin in Oahu. The Missouri was an amazing experience to see, but the Bowifn I felt was the most amazing. The Missouri was kind of what I imagined it would be. The Bowfin on the other hand made me rethink how cramped I imagined it would be. I imagined space would be tight, but not that tight. It was very interesting and eye opening to imagine being crammed into such a tiny space with others for so long. And it was eerie thinking being so confined underwater and being hunted. It's a coffin. You just can't abandon ship. Every fear one can imagine of dying from is all there. Great respect for people who served on submarines during the war.

[@ronjones9447]

The American subs are Cadillacs compared to German subs

[@lordnugget5225]

I’ve been in multiple submarines before and the U-505 is very tiny inside but massive on the outside it is a very cool ship and I’ve seen footage in the museum of them capturing the submarine. When I compared the U-505 to an American Gato Class the Gato was about a third larger and much more spacious.

[@novacolonel5287]

Go visit U 96 at Laboe, a Type VIIC. THAT is tiny inside.

[@lindaoneil5085]

I visited the U-505 some years ago, and the best part was the simulated depth charge explosion near the hull. There was a tremendous explosion that violently shook the sub and the lights flickered. It was a sobering experience, realizing the dangers that submarine crews faced. Sinking to the bottom of the ocean and no way to get out......chilling thought.

[@gianlucamai]

Simulatore??

[@germanperp651]

I was in the U505 in Chicago 6 years ago. They toed the sub through the greate lakes and had a huge system to essentially roll the sub and lower it into the new addition of the museum, then built the ceiling over it. They also had to cut the top of the conning tower off so it would fit the new space. It is also extremely cramped inside. Much more than the video can explain. I honestly have no idea how 50 sailors could work in those cramped conditions. I would develop claustrophobia pretty quickly.

[@aceous99]

and nobody could bathe for 3 months... I wouldn't last a week inside.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

....and no Prozac.

[@trainliker100]

Actually, in 1954, after getting it through the Great Lakes, it was originally transported from the shore of Lake Michigan over land (across Lake Shore Drive) and displayed OUTSiDE of the museum. For many years it shared that location with the New York Central 999 steam locomotive and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Pioneer Zephyr streamlined diesel train (both displayed inside the museum today). Also, outside was the very large Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2903 steam engine which is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. It wasn't until 2004 that, due to continuing damage from being out in the weather, they constructed the subterranean display area for the submarine. And they did a fantastic job of it.

[@andrewmontgomery5621]

Perfect for my birthday yesterday and also a fitting tribute to the man who gave us Das Boot (The Boat) Wolfgang Petersen who passed away last year.

[@Pgb633]

Happy Birthday

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

Another famous film including Air Force One, Troy & Poseidon (Remake version from 1972 The Poseidon Adventure)

[@alexanderleach3365]

I saw U-505 in Chicago. She's a marvelous U-boat. THe first enemy ship captured by the US Navy since the War of 1812.

[@average_joe8905]

U-505 has been on my visit list for quite sometime, but haven't been able to make it to Chicago for long enough to see her.

[@Daniel_McDonald]

Man, World of Warships really takes us back to the good old days of fighting wars from behind our computers.

[@cxrive]

Never seen your face, but seen almost all your content, keep it up as I learn more history!

[@Someonethatyouysedtoknowlol]

The Legend finally showed us his face

[@louisavondart9178]

No Uboots had refrigerators. The type XX1 did have a freezer. If you want to see one of those engineering marvels, visit Bremerhaven. It's museum ship called the Wilhelm Bauer.

[@kennethhall2740]

Literally my favorite of any visit to the museum of science and industry in chicago is seeing the U505

[@travishabursky4362]

I’ve been in that boat multiple times in my life, such a beautiful vessel.

[@cannonball666]

"Do you know how to operate an enigma?" "Ja, bend over" "Mein Gott, I said enigma not enema!"

[@lauraveretenikoff8271]

I went there in Chicago and saw the U-505. I took the tour through it. I really enjoyed the tour and the exhibit. So much to learn. Thanks for posting this. Great video 👍

[@danvondrasek]

I've been in U505 about 100 times growing up. Single handedly spawned my love of military vehicles and navy ships.

[@FinlayDaG33k]

3:47 Knowing that most U-Boats after 1941 used the G7e(TIII) fish, which weighted around 1500kg a pop, those sailors just "casually" lifing that torpedo must have been absolutely jacked and/or high on pervitin.

[@therealspeedwagon1451]

And probably on other steroids and drugs if they’re jacked enough to lift a 1500kg torpedo.

[@smtoonworld]

*Being inside WW2 submarine was often times a straight death sentence*

[@fighterbig5883]

50/50 chance. but The Kriegsmarine had the highest casualty rate of any military branch.

[@ronjones9447]

Being a huge ww2 history fan I’ve often thought about if I was a captain of a uboat or an American sub . I probably would not have survived a uboat, an American sub captain I’d be telling war stories while having a beer at the vfw

[@jano867]

I literally just toured u-505 yesterday, amazing timing

[@quantumx9729]

Ah yes the AA FlaK cannon, truly a masterpiece "Anti air flight defence cannon cannon" has got to be one of my favourite terms when it comes to weaponry

[@evansnyder430]

This was the first I'd seen SH's face. I always knew there was a catch for these being such good videos. He had to give up his ginger sole to create such glorious content!

[@modelermark172]

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the thumbnail was that in the mid-1970's, the Revell Plastic Model Kit Company released a 1/125 scale model of the U-47 (though this was a Type VII) with a detailed, cutaway interior including figures. This is an impressive kit that's still available today. Seeing this brought back plenty of memories of building that model. Thanks for sharing this!

[@abbcc5996]

back then ww2 was a recent memory to many. crazy to think about

[@modelermark172]

@@abbcc5996 WW2 is still the most popular modeling subject; at least for those of us "of a certain age." At my local hobby shop, the old timers are in the isles with the planes, ships, armor, and car kits. The few customers under 20 are usually in the Gundam isle.

[@matthewmoran5297]

The Musuem of Science and Industry is one of the reasons why I love living close to Chicago. Exhibits like the Pioneer Zephyr, the _Great Train Story_ , and the space center are all fine, but it's the U-505 that keeps me coming back.

[@nicholasmoore2590]

I've visited u-534 at Birkenhead a couple of times. She has been cut into sections but not restored inside, although she's in pretty good shape. The ends of the sections are glassed to keep her weatherproof. u-570, a Type VIIC, was captured by the Royal Navy and was then put into service by her captors as HMS Graph in August 1941. She served until grounding during a storm in March 1944, finally being scrapped in 1960.

[@LiamBennett1655]

I’ve been to see this U-Boat it’s super interesting hearing about these boats but seeing and touching one is a whole different experience

[@luisarciniega5387]

U-505 was my 1965 high school history term paper. I saw 505 in 1995 in Chicago. I was not aware of the dimensions nor its capacities until today. My history teacher emphasised over time we would always add to our papers.Thanks

[@cheapolegunguy]

I've been in the U-505 several times as a kid, always a high point at the museum.

[@crazyeen1564]

Can you do another video like this of the Japanese I-400 Submarine?

[@katsarelas1947]

Oh, that’s what it’s called? We did hot bunking for county workers drafted to work during Hurricane Ian. We’re actually not sure who’s bunk was being re-used, the schedule was kinda hectic sooo sometimes you came from a 12 hour shift and a random dude is in your bunk, sometimes your stuff was completely untouched and nobody was assigned your bed.

[@alexhulsebos5401]

5:03 I believe this is a Raiders of the Lost Ark reference. If it is one, then I love the inclusion!

[@cannonball666]

"This food sucks. Can we order pizza?" "Nein, der Italians don't have an enigma"

[@dorothygale5896]

The museum of science & industry is well worth a special trip as are nearly all museums.

[@stevew6138]

Damn it, U-505 is on display in Shitcago and I'm just a few hours away. Gotta get there one day.

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

U-571

[@rjohnson80100]

I have a museum membership to MSI. I see the sub like every other month. It is great. Im so glad it was moved in door. When I was a kid and go to the museum it was outside for decades. It was slowly falling apart outside. Now it is really restored and looking great.

[@drjohnwarren12]

Dan Gallery was a friend of mine and occasionally visited him at his home, Avast Heaving, in Northern Virginia. One of his favorite stories was how nervous it made him to tow the U-505 all the way across the Atlantic behind his aircraft carrier. He was well aware that the torpedo tubes were loaded and that the ship had a number of curious aboard who might be tempted to play with the various knobs and levers. He held that he didn't get any sleep during the entire trip from off the coast of Africa to Bermuda

[@PeterFendel]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@guodzillakaiju5683]

My uncle was mentored by Capt. Gallery during officer's training in the Navy.

[@zachvalderrama7323]

I'm watching das boot rn, So why not...

[@adammetzger4182]

Thank you for covering the u 505! Probably my favorite museum exhibit

[@racialconsciousness6996]

I've been aboard the U-505 nearly a dozen times, down in Chicago.

[@jeremyronald]

Got to visit the U-505 in person some years back and even made up a school project on it and how they were able to fit it inside the museum and transport it to that location. I live a few hours away from that museum and would love to go again :)

[@jehb8945]

As a citizen of Illinois I've been to this submarine twice in my lifetime and I also read that admiral gallery who captured it was almost court-martial because he was supposed to sink the U-boats as the code breakers in bletchley Park and U505 was captured just a few days before D-Day which would have been disastrous if the Germans had found this out

[@NotReallyRussel]

Cross Sections are now my new favorite from this channel. We can may be to other Cross-Section videos

[@Harbinger37]

Damn, man. After years of seeing your persona animated with your Voice it's a shock seeing the real thing.

[@ozymandias1758]

Here at 8:22 the way the sailor eats the chocolate with zest😂I found the animations and the crunching sounds to be entertaining and soothing, I watched it over and over like a mini tiktok clip. Now I need some good chocolate..

[@alanroberson9749]

Very good job fellows!! Congratulations throughout spring break. Being inside WW2 submarines was often times a straight death sentence or survival from the past.

[@matthewwilson5548]

really facinating! I love the detail and research that this channel goes through to present a quality product!

[@christianswartwood2854]

So crazy to watch this video after seeing u-505 in person in Chicago, beautifully preserved and extremely interesting ship.

[@michaellong2661]

Interesting that I get a notification about ol U-505. As a kid, I did a sleepover on it. At the time, it was just sitting outside in the Chicago winters and summers without much in terms of ventilation. Now, the indoor display has changed dramatically and for the better. Highly recommend it (at the Museum of Science and Industry) if you're in the Chicago area. Oh and the rest of the museum is cool too.

[@NotaCoolguy1246]

These are my favorite types of videos!

[@ratagris21]

Remember regarding the toilet "we have to eat in order to use it!" Or something like that according to Das Boot.

[@AndrewPonti]

You need to do something on the U-1105 "Black Panther" sub that had experimental rubber sheathing that was tested as a stealth sub by the Germans, and later captured by the US and is now at the bottom of the Potomac here in MD. I work for a museum that will be doing a new exhibit on it!

[@huskaroar6869]

Das Boot truly captured the horrors of U Boat missions

[@kennetth1389]

Subs,even modern ones, are some of the coolest vessels ever constructed That said, you would never convince me to serve on one.

[@eldridgedavis]

Same lol. Screw that haha 😆

[@LordShadrach]

We finally get to see the face behind the channel. I am proud of this channel!! One of my personal favorites.

[@NexusBreeze99]

Would be interesting if you’d make a comparison video for a WW1 sub!

[@Intrusive_Thought176]

Same

[@ThyNewRat]

i am happy to see improvement in animation, this video is amazing!

[@ludecom-cz1wz]

Growing up in Chicago I was able to watch the U505 and the USS Silversides race in Lake Michigan. That was back when the Silversides was still docked at Navy Pier.

[@Office_De_Receiver_Complaints]

Makes me think of U571...An underrated movie.

[@TCW838]

Remember seeing U505 @ the Muesum of Science & Industry and learning the story of how it was placed there during a school trip. As amazing as the sub itself is, the story of getting it back to the US, then to Chicago and finally into the Museum is actually more impressive.

[@lm5085]

Been on that sub many times at the MSI in Chicago. I had the privilege to meeting Admiral Gallery. I met him thru his younger brother who was a priest at my church. Both great men. Both served on the USNavy. It was interesting story abt the capture. I always wondered what the unofficial unedited version was.

[@paulhoffman778]

I went to see the 505 amazing went inside , its small size is something I can't put in words. The outside was huge inside we went they closed the hatch , it was then and there you were in for the journey.

[@silversurfer3202]

I was able to walk through and tour the 505. It's presently at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago IL. It's an experience I'll never forget!!!

[@emagunt3126]

It's insane how accurate is Das Boot.Amazing film on a tough reality

[@JazzJaRa]

well for the movie the rebuild the complete inside of a Type VII/C submarine up exactly how they looked like up to the last screw. Also the actors weren't allowed to shave or go out in the sunlight. The also was an accident while filming which was kept in the movie because it looked realistic.

[@emagunt3126]

@@JazzJaRa which incident?

[@JazzJaRa]

@@emagunt3126 In the stormy weather one of the actors got injured. They were using water canons to simulate the stormy weather and one of the actors was hit by it and broke a few ribs. Someone shouted "Man overboard" and the regisseur thought he was acting and just said "Good idea!". The actor spend the rest of the movie in bed.

[@Quincy556]

I live in Chicago so I am lucky to have the u505 close by to visit when ever I want, I recently just got back from Hawaii and got to see the USS Bowfin at Pearl Harbor I can say both are extremely cramped and you have to be a special breed to wanna do that.

[@Nobodytoworryabt]

I went to see that sub a couple weeks ago, it was huge tho we only saw the outside still amazing sight and would go again

[@ernestchoi4464]

Loved the museum of science and industry in Chicago, IL

[@albertomiyake2541]

Great video, teletransported me to the sailors life... amazing what humans can perform during a war ... chocolate was the only token on board !

[@1down4upworkshop61]

I've been able to turn a Balao-class submarine here in Philadelphia. The Submarine Becuna (SS-319)... Was an awesome insight into what those submariners had to endure during the war ...

[@ec6052]

Never heard "sub-variant" used so literally before!

[@crippleguy415]

I've been inside the U 505 . It's way cool to checkout . One of the few still nice things in Chicago .

[@oromartin10]

Great job in your video, now I know more about submarines. Congratulations !!!!

[@alexanderbrown4250]

I visited the U505 as a child in the early 70s on class field trips at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. They also have a Spitfire on display.

[@ton_of_law5024]

At the museum of since and industry or the msi in Chicago, there is one of these that saw action in ww2 and you can take a tour of the inside

[@TheNavalAviator]

Should have included the fact that the Type IXC/40 is also in WOWs. Also it's wonderful that both a type VII & a type IX specimen were preserved.

[@starzkream]

I read about a sailor who had served on a u-boat who said that the diesel fumes were so heavily absorbed by their bodies that when on shore, for days, their sweat (and other bodily waste) smelled like diesel fuel. It would take days for the body to expel all of the fumes. Even the clothes that they wore AFTER their tour of duty would end up smelling like fuel.

[@StevenCovey-ct3sx]

Brings back memories. I loved my time in the U-Boat fleet. But we lost a lot of good men. My biggest fear was the terror of hearing high speed screws…

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video. The u505 is an awesome artifact. Fantastic to see your face.

[@Shaun_Jones]

Honestly, the thing about diesel-electric submarines that scares me the most isn’t drowning, it’s the batteries. The acid in lead-acid batteries is sulfuric acid, and when sulfuric acid comes into contact with seawater it releases chlorine gas. This stuff is not a fun way to die; when inhaled, chlorine gas reacts with the water in your body, forming hydrochloric acid inside your lungs. You essentially drown on the dissolved remains of your own respiratory system.

[@rider4440]

Would love to see a similar video on the Gato class

[@michaelmccoy7986]

As a young boy , my dad and I would go over to 57st and watch the U505 being towed from the lake across the Outerdrive to the Museum of Science and Industry. Traffic was Detoured, a trestle was built, took about a week...

[@Livinghighandwise]

So good.. Please keep them coming!

[@georgelove767]

I visited this boat in 1978. I am still impressed that nearly 60 men could live and work in this cramped space and not kill each other. Tough people.

[@tomhenry897]

Socialist All for the state No individualism

[@lordbarristertimsh8050]

Maybe do one about life on one of the long range Type X U-boats, or one on life in a British Submarine of WW2? Maybe something earlier, something about WWI submarines?

[@mikeyroodbol3121]

Been to the U505 2 months ago! Very impressive

[@patrickgjorven7832]

Glad to see your face now during your video! Keep up the great work and thank you!!!

[@samueldocski4426]

I am from Chicago, loved seeing this vessel in person while attending Elementary and High School.

[@dennismason3740]

@Simple History - your animations are sheer hilarity.

[@davidvavra9113]

Native Chicagoan here, yep that's our sub

[@mrbigw100]

Been listening to your voice for years finally have screen the face behind it cheers from australia

[@Austoner421]

I had the pleasure of touring the U-505 in Chicago. I couldn't imagine living on that ship for months at a time...

[@hectorleon465]

Wow this channel has come along way, that now i finally see how you look :) love this channel so much...