Blue light in Uboats

[Gryff]

I just watched das Boot and noticed the blue lights they sometimes switched on. However I was not able to find any information about the purpose of blue light. Noone does even seem to know if this is historically accurate or just for some dramatic lighting?

Maybe some uboat enthusiasts around to know more about that topic? It really interests me..

[bluescreen]

dont know, but maybe for simulation of daylight?

[Gryff]

Hm I dont think so, normal light is much closer to daylight than bluelight. In the movie it also was only used when having enemy contact as far as I know.

[ToreDL87]

It's for running silent.

[Gryff]

Thanks, is there any source material where I can read about it?

So they used red light in the command room to get used to darkness and blue light in the rest of the boat signalize everyone they're running silent?

[zerokill]

Blue or red light does not destroy your night vision.

[Gryff]

But what's the purpose of having red lights in some rooms and blue in others? I mean, guys in the torpedo rooms don't need to preserve their night vision, because they simply won't need it.

[ToreDL87]

It's for the next bridge watch (which had members from all compartments to let them get some air).

[zerokill]

Originally posted by ToreDL87:

It's for the next bridge watch (which had members from all compartments to let them get some air).

Yes, trust me. I served in the Navy and it was for bridge watch.

[Gryff]

Originally posted by zerokill:

Originally posted by ToreDL87:

It's for the next bridge watch (which had members from all compartments to let them get some air).

Yes, trust me. I served in the Navy and it was for bridge watch.

So blue light is actually still used on ships/uboats?

[caddy]

Served 25 years in merchant navy & navigating officers on the bridge at night always used red light at the navigating table to preserve night vision. Have never seen them use blue light.

[ToreDL87]

Yeah, blue light for silent running on uboats (I don't know and never said anything about blue light on modern vessels, or whether it was for night vision, I frankly have no idea, glad to have those with experience chime in there).
Red light for preserving night vision on uboats (again, don't know about newer vessels).

[Gryff]

I appreciate your answer, but may I ask where you got your infos from? I cannot find any information about this topic...

[ToreDL87]

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-is-red-light-used-on-submarines/

[Gryff]

I know tge purpose of red light. This doesn't mention blue light at all.

[bumpywindshear]

...when i saw the scene with the blue light, it was in the preparation of an torpedo attack. One could think there are different stations for an battlestation of some crewmembers, so blue light could mean, all the regarding crew members go to their torpedo launch stations, be ready and silent not interfering, making shure command chain is working and so on...