Tauchretter: Escaping a Sinking Submarine

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The Tauchretter ('Dive Rescuer') was a German WWII escape set, used by submariners to bail out from a sinking submarine. Based on the rebreather principle, wherein exhaled air is scrubbed of carbon dioxide and recycled, the Tauchretter could provide its user with around 30 minutes of breathing gas. Rebreathers were widely used during the Second World War, not only as escape sets but also as diving equipment for combat frogmen - though their use of pure oxygen limited the depths to which they could be used. Today, rebreathers are extremely sophisticated, computerized devices used by cave divers, combat swimmers, and other specialists who require extended endurance and bottom time.
SOURCES:
joe-tauchretter.tripod.com/in...
www.warhistoryonline.com/inst...
www.history.navy.mil/content/...
www.therebreathersite.nl/Zuurs...
www.usni.org/magazines/naval-...
www.therebreathersite.nl/Zuurs...
www.therebreathersite.nl/Zuurs...
Video on the Sinking of HMS Thetis: • Murphy’s Law in Action...

[@pat6429]

I've been a SCUBA instructor for 30 years and I never knew that these were simple rebreathers. Thanks!

[@tp3521]

I second that motion! Unfortunate most folks want 15-seconds of useless videos. Thank you so much for educating & entertaining the other nerds in the world! Myself included!

[@daveys]

Sadly many people now only have a short attention span due to being fed by super-short bites of “information”. I love these longer, superbly researched videos.

[@vappyreon1176]

​@@daveysit's not that their attention span is shorter (scientifically, we have about two hours of attention for things we care about) , it's that it's simply more convenient to stick half a minute of watchtime into a ray than twenty.

[@wailingalen]

Hear hear 💯😎✌️

[@-r-495]

Many, not most. I‘m not here for emotions.

[@RychisCriminal]

Y’ain’t special. The pursuit of trivialities and esotericism is universal

[@BillC-ch7iz]

As a submarine sailor of the 1960s, I had occasion to use both the "blow and go" technique and the Steinke hood in the submarine school dive tank. However, once at sea the boat was always on the surface while transiting the continental shelf, and once past the shelf the water was too deep for a submarine to survive. So we never had any illusions of ever being rescued or ascending to the surface.

[@mikedrop4421]

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna be watching everything on this channel. It's an engineering nerd's dream.

[@cwtrain]

10:37 >...or "Flame Diver" which is kind of bad ass. Ha! That got me. Spoke the very thought I had with a professor's delivery. Lovely.

[@almerindaromeira8352]

It is a colloquial term though. The fire department is called die Feuerwehr. The Flammentaucher is not as widely used as Rauchtaucher (smoke diver) which is also used casually to describe a SCBA user.

[@Grimpy970]

I figure it might have detracted a bit from your program, but honestly I really appreciate that you chose not to manhandle these artifacts. Too much stuff gets destroyed for a one-time demonstration!

[@sleeplessstu]

Excellent content ! I really hope you become more “discovered” on KZbin. 👍🏼

[@fricki1997]

1:59 Small note on CPR: Nowadays (or at least at the Red Cross facility here in Germany where I learned it three years ago) you no longer to mouth-to-mouth air transfer, you only pump the chest. As I understand it, this motion also gets some oxygen into the lungs with each pump, at least enough to support the brain for a few minutes longer until help arrives. EDIT: If you have a bag valve mask / Ambu bag, you do 30 compressions - 2 squeezes of air. Thank you to the commenter below for the correction :)

[@almerindaromeira8352]

Depends: if you have an Ambu bag (Beatmungsbeutel) you do 30 compressions and you squeeze two times the bag for an adult and repeat. If the mask is not ready yet or you don't have one, you just keep applying chest compressions, 30 at a time.

[@fricki1997]

@@almerindaromeira8352 many thanks for your comment! I've appended mine.

[@vappyreon1176]

I remember there being something like, if you're having someone breathe air into the other person, it's best done mouth to mouth, because it creates a better seal. A review of cases showed that mouth to mouth had about a 10% overall higher rate of success than a mask with an opening, which has a 5% overall greater chance of success than a bag-valve (im not sure if this is with regular cpr trained people or medical professionals). It was postulated that the reason for this was simply it's harder to know how good the seal is on a bag valve.

[@tarnvedra9952]

Most of the time it is not necessary, and hands only CPR is simpler and more likely to be performed at all by random bystander. (Because of modesty and disease transfer risk.) Mouth to mouth is warranted in cases where body/lungs are depleted of oxygen. Drowning, CO poisoning, opioid overdose.

[@jonathanfelgate42]

remember seeing one of these in a paul robeson film from 1942 being used down a coal mine. it felt weirdly high tech. more like something from a james cameron film. when explained it’s wonderfully steampunk

[@dlabor1965]

Thirty-three minutes long, but every word interesting. I learned a lot. Normally I can't pay attention until the end. A captivating lecture.

[@RyuAzuku]

Ive watched here and there for a year or so but geeze, can't belive this channel isn't more popular with how great the content is.

[@ShaunieDale]

Absolutely fascinating and well presented, thank you Gilles!

[@killpidone]

Underrated channel, hope all is well with you

[@bradlevantis913]

It’s amazing how these are so advanced in concept yet simple in design

[@scottstewart9154]

I thought of Das Boot when I first saw the rebreather, its the best war movie ever, Im definitely going to rewatch soon

[@daveys]

I’ve watched a few of your videos and they’re immensely superior to the modern “talking head expert soundbite” and “keep repeating the same information” type of video, where 5 minutes of video is expanded into 20 minutes, with 10 minutes of adverts.

[@davidduffy-xb3vg]

Excellent work! How is it that it's taken so long to encounter your channel? Btw.... the tech for SCUBA was a very slow iteration from these very clever devices. Thank you

[@YvonneWilson312]

I love this channel - it feeds my nerdy soul. Thanks so much!

[@MoveAhead101]

Great content. The museum of dräger in the city of Lübeck is worth visiting, too.

[@ianpendlebury3704]

It's no wonder that this channel is taking off. Top quality information and presentation.

[@gernotbeaumont5816]

IN 1910 the German navy developed the TR and equipped the new U-Boats with it. It came handy when in 1911 the U-Boat U3 sank with all hands in the Kiel harbour. The crew managed to escape. In U-Boat mythology the TR played a major role. It is said that in a sunken German submarine there were not enough TR available. So the crew drew lots so men lost. And commited suicide so that an experience commader could escape the sub to fight another day. Italian scubadivers used the TR during an attack on an Austrian Battleship in 1918 and sunk it.

[@usaturnuranus]

WW1 was just incredibly brutal, and you just educated me on yet another example of that. Drawing straws to commit to the end of one's life. I get devotion and sacrifice, but seems like they could maybe have carried sufficient TR units for the whole crew?

[@theonlymadmac4771]

They had Tauchretter for all crew members

[@kevinwhitehead6076]

Carriers landing equipment progression! Love your content and succinct delivery.

[@bwc1976]

Fascinating stuff! Seems to me like the full body suit would take longer to put on than the Steinke hood though, like there might be times you didn't have time to put it on? But I assume the Navy has had more experience and more of a chance to think about it than I have, so they probably know best. And I agree, Das Boot is an amazing movie and one of my favorites ever!

[@lukehorning3404]

Wow I had no idea Thanks very interesting

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

EXCELLENT !

[@richardwillson101]

Excellent interesting, informative and detailed video. Thank you very much!

[@grumpybollox7949]

fascinating videos man

[@pfnaak]

Very interesting, thank you. But to be totally correct: Fire fighters in German are and were called "Feuerwehrmänner". "Flammentaucher" obviously meant only the ones using breathing devices (but I have never heard that term before and had to google it even as a native speaker).

[@almerindaromeira8352]

It's not supposed to be an official term. I've heard it a couple of times, that said I'm also a firefighter so I come across many more potential situations where the term could be used. Much more used is Rauchtaucher for describing AGTs

[@pfnaak]

@@almerindaromeira8352 Actually you get more hits for Rauchtaucher on google than for Feuertaucher. And in Denmarkbthey seem to call them Røgdykker. But still, that's not a synonyme for firefighter.

[@arknu]

In Dansih we still have this broader use of "dive". A fireman who uses a rebreather to enter a burning building is called a "røgdykker" in Dansish, literally "smoke diver".

[@jeffdeuchler1660]

Awesome video about such a fascinating category of devices. The comments are gold as well, filled with anecdotes from other connoisseurs of your radical content.

[@Srinathji_Das]

These are perfect videos! A+

[@svgalene465]

Serious question from some who literally lives on an inlet of the Pacific: Why is there a naval museum in Manitoba? That’s a very long way from the ocean…

[@user-gg2xq9qi3x]

Such a great museum!

[@vh8835]

Was that phrase in "Das Boot": In the Atlantic, you don't need a Tauchretter. After the death of one Uboat in the Baltic Sea, an officer withTauchretter was found in Finland with blood coming out of his mouth (apparently the air was trapped in his lungs when he came up).

[@mikelastname]

I love your approach of explaining how a thing works, but just like a random walk through Wikipedia you touch on many of the back stories that drove the evolution of each object and how the object fits into the history of modern inventions.

[@TheLadderman]

Dang, yeah that's why the process of watching one of these videos feels so familiar to me. It's just like going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole where you get distracted and read 5 other pages before going back to finish the original one. Some people might be annoyed that it doesn't get to the point, but I think it's great. It means you learn so much more.

[@bobwilson758]

What could possibly go wrong ? Well , better than nothing , at 200 m underwater -

[@MrZhefish]

nitty gritty things you like about details, just fitting that you would sport proper cuff links and a real bow tie. i personally like the stresemann, revere cut is a bit deeper, and a gillet with either slim necktie or the bowtie with standup or short collars. would fit in very well with the gadgets of those times.

[@DoomOfConviction]

Your so badass informative that even I as a German learned something about my language!

[@almerindaromeira8352]

By Flammentaucher I think you meant Rauchtaucher (smoke diver) which is colloquially used for SCBA users in the service. Officially the firefighters using SCBA gear are known as Atemschutzgeräteträger or AGT for short. The fire department/service/brigade is "die Feuerwehr".

[@chrislambert-shiels5291]

Use at the Severn Tunnel would have been after one of the accidental floodings during its construction, eg hitting the "Great Spring"

[@DavidVerch]

On the 637 class sub we had what were called Stenke Hoods. Now they have this whole suit that acts as a survival suit.

[@gowdsake7103]

In the UK a significant number died in our escape tank! I am glad I could not serve in subs

[@JohnyG29]

You clearly didn't watch the whole video as he covers this equipment in detail. I therefore suggest you delete this comment.

[@peterholst8875]

In Danish it's røgdykker (smoke diver), for a firefighter with a breathing apparatus.

[@zeke7237]

buoyant ascent training in Groton was scary the first time, but I would have gone again if offered😅

[@dfailsthemost]

9:32 I could see this being a Guild of Calamitous Intent photo.

[@MrSabram07]

Absolutely horrifying

[@RubenKelevra]

30:17 I'm not sure if I understand this correctly. I mean, you put pressure into this, at 1 bar pressure inside the sub. Then you exit the sub to say 5 bar. The thing will be compressed down to a very small size, and then? The pressure will never drop below 1 bar on the accent, so the pressure will never “drop”.

[@brushbros]

The explosions detonated under across "No Man's Land" were so powerful that when those who set it went over to inspect their work they were coated with a pink/red mist. Guess what it was?

[@imadequate3376]

You need to do a video on the Momsen lung now

[@TheLadderman]

I don't really know much about SCUBA, but if rebreathers seemingly have so many advantages over SCUBA, and they have been around for much longer, then why do people use SCUBA at all?

[@melody3741]

What’s funny is that I learned a couple of these lessons from trying to build an underwater tunnel in Minecraft

[@richardmillhousenixon]

Minor correction: While technically humans can survive in atmospheres as little as 6% oxygen at sea level, you will begin to experience negative effects during exertion in concentrations lower than about 19%, and general negative effects below 16%, again, all at atmospheric pressure.

[@crystalsheep1434]

Didn't know rebreathers predated open circuit scuba

[@miatafan]

*1809 technology: steampunk rebreather *2008 technology: a plastic bag you tie over your head

[@carsten4719]

i think the manufacturer codes are mixed up in the video: in my opinion byd=Dräger, bwz = Auer ... but I cannot prove it at this moment ...

[@chugachuga9242]

If nothing else, I will make sure that I at least remember that German fighter fighters used to be called “flame divers”.

[@pfnaak]

...and that's in fact (partially) wrong. Fire fighters in German are and were "Feuerwehrmänner". "Flammentaucher" obviously meant only the ones using breathing devices (but I have never heard that term before).

[@philnewcomers9170]

books ive colected over the years whitch are scarce dificult to find 'Shallow WaterDiving and Spear Fishing' Schenck,1952" and"Frogmen by Waldron & Gleeson 1952/65

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

I Googled "Spanky Hood" and got a very different type of equipment. 🤣

[@GenaTrius]

Wow, those workers who had to don diving gear to personally dive into the deepest darkest pit of inky blackness at the back of that railway tunnel? They should have been eligible for retirement immediately after that job. Even, and especially, the ones who had to turn back because their hooses got toongled. Like, can you imagine getting your hoose stoonk in the middle of literall hell? That's like a one-and-done career there. That's. Whoof. Terrifying.

[@feynthefallen]

If you haven't seen the movie, or haven't seen it in a while, go read the book "Das Boot" by Günther Buchheim, on which the movie is based. The movie is good no doubt, but the book will give you a whole new perspective on the story, and also all the artistic license taken in the movie.

[@cbhlde]

Time in your videos einzutauchen! ;)

[@gowdsake7103]

Basically unless you sank in very shallow water you were dead

[@peterbamforth6453]

Shame Ltn't Crabb didn't get a mention. the film the silent enemy is superb, not a scuba bottle in sight.

[@wilfredpayne433]

But exhales air contains moisture...does this not build up and cause a reaction? Or is it expected to not be used long enough for this to happen? Or is it a slow enough build up that it reacts slow enough to not be a problem?

[@RubenKelevra]

10:44 actually not fully accurate. "Tauchen" or "Eintauchen" refers to submerge in any liquid, not just water. But the term can also be applied to fog, shadows or light. Figuratively you can still use it for fire, if you refer to the light if it, without sounding odd: "Die Szene war in Feuerschein getaucht." (=The scene was cast (submerged) in the shine of fire.)

[@gernotbeaumont5816]

have a picture of the TR 1911

[@RubenKelevra]

5:19 Sadly, as late as 2000 in the Kursk disaster 23 sailers perished, because the Russian navy had chosen similar filters which caused a fire on contact with water or oil and killed those last survivors.

[@Brian-bp5pe]

Excuse me, sir. Did you just say you are in Manitoba, at the Naval Museum?

[@ryanatkinson2978]

Wait, did you write that highlight history episode? Do you write them all?

[@b43xoit]

"ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARM!!!" -- also spracht Martin Semmelroge

[@frankentronics]

Do astronauts use similar rebreathers?

[@theonlymadmac4771]

Basically yes.

[@nameismetatoo4591]

So would an astronaut on a space walk be a Weltraumtaucher?

[@tinycockjock1967]

The linguistics bits are very appreciated

[@bobwilson758]

NASA Apollo 1 was using 100% oxygen if I remember correctly - very bad idea it turns out .

[@bozhijak]

At sea level pressure. A bomb.

[@cornellkirk8946]

I still have nightmares of using a rebreather underwater. Shite! Lol

[@Laundry_Hamper]

30:21 mfw i am not experiencing barotrauma

[@italjahcorntrashroller]

Its a re-breather.

[@raymondromanos1479]

Wow, your channel is amazing and very informative! One thing when pronouncing German words. Every little is pronounced including the 'e' at the end of a word. Otherwise, your German and Italian pronunciations are good. Hope you channel grows! You should also consider collaborations, like drachinefel, battleship New Jersey. If they consent, you'll be given a great push.

[@almerindaromeira8352]

I've noticed across several videos that his German has a lot of french pronunciation. You'll hear it if you look for it. It makes sense that a francophone would do that though.

[@b43xoit]

Don't lye to me about those early rebreather designs.

[@maxpayne2574]

You couldn't get me on a sub for anything.

[@klausbrinck2137]

just, oxygene is a greek word, not french.

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Aaaaaaaaalarm!!!! is german for alert and btw since a sinking submarine will probably be crushed by the water pressure before you could leave, this devise has a rather limited usefullness.

[@TrapperAaron]

Hearing a Canadian w a Quebecois accent speaking german hurts my ears. Actually its just the Quebecois accent. U gotta work on that.