Uboat crew ranks and responsibilites

[Bourky]

I've had a look around the net and come across this interesting article that gives some insight in to crew structure on a type 7 boat and their jobs, it also confirms that the officers didn't do the menial work (loading torpedoes, manning guns etc).

http://uboataces.com/ref-crew.shtml

A type 7 crew was about 45 men, 4 offices, 4 Chief Petty offices (NCO's) and the remaining 37 (Petty officers and sailors). About 14 would be petty officers and 23 sailors.

The article also lists the jobs that would be done by the different ranks and some further information here............

https://uboat.net/men/crew/

[Roger Mexico]

I would like to see Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officer in the game. You can get fulll crew lists at Uboat.net

[athenian]

I highly recommend Mulligan's 'Neither Sharks nor Wolves' (1999). I'm only done with half of it but had to go back and reread it because of the wealth of information presented. Especially Ch 6. which is a demographic and geographic breakdown of U-boat crews by ratings. Excellent historical method and analysis.

Btw, I think there were 16 petty officers, hence the 8 bunks aft of control in UBOAT.

[Bourky]

The crew and ranks on a type 7 Uboat were as follows

44 to 52 officers and men

4 Officers
4 Chief Petty Officers (Equivalent to Sargent in the Army)
Petty Officers (Equivalent to Corporal in the Army)
The rest were ordinary sailors

The jobs on board were divided as follows.

Captain (Kapitanleutnant or Oberleutnant zur See)
Commanding Officer. Of all, the captain has the highest responsibility as he routinely made life or death decisions affecting the fate of the entire crew. It was not surprising therefore that the crew identified closely with their captain, and were especially proud if he had been awarded a medal.

First Watch Officer (1WO) (Oberleutnant zur See or Leutnant zur See).
The second in command. (Executive Officer). He shadowed the CO closely so that he could take command if the CO fell ill or was killed in battle. His other responsibilities included the boat’s weapons systems and conducting torpedo aiming during surface attacks.

Second Watch Officer (2WO) Leutnant zur See (Watch Officer).
He was responsible for the Watchcrew on deck, the Flak gun and the deck gun. He also oversaw the radio room crew.

Engineer (LI) Leitender Ingenieur (Leading Engineer).
A highly experienced officer, he was responsible for the maintenance of the U-boat’s mechanics, which included the engines, motors, batteries, and other mechanical systems. The LI also set the demolition charges in the event the boat had to be scuttled. This also meant that many LI's went down with the boat, some of them deliberately.

Chief Petty Officers (Equivalent to Sargent in the Army)
The enlisted crew was led by four chief petty officers.

Chief Petty Officers
Title Rank Responsibities
Navigator Obersteuermann Navigation and provisioning of supplies.

Bosun Oberbootsmann Crew discipline.

Diesel Officer Diesel Obermaschinist Subordinate to the LI, he was responsible for the diesels.

Motor Officer Electro Obermaschinist Subordinate to the LI, he was responsible for the Electric motors and batteries.

Petty Officers (Equivalent to Corporal in the Army) The number of petty officers varied, but generally there were two for every three seamen. Petty officers comprised of various types of specialists :-

Steuermann (helmsman) – steering
Mechaniker (torpedomen) – care and maintenance of torpedoes
Maschinisten (motormen) – running of the engines
Funkmaat (radiomen) – communications and sound equipment
Bootsmanner (bosuns) – crew supervision, discipline


Seamen
Every member of a U-boat crew was important to the operation of the boat. The seamen acted as the watch crew on deck, they manned the guns, loaded the torpedoes, prepared food from the galley and took care of daily operations aboard the boat.

Note: Petty officers also took turns to stand watch on the bridge. I should also point out that some of the Petty Officers would be what the RN today would call "Leading Hand" which is equivalent to Lance Corporal in the Army.

[Wyzard]

so which one of you wants to clean the toilet ?

[athenian]

Originally posted by Wyzard:

so which one of you wants to clean the toilet ?

What kind of question is that? It's not about who wants to, it's who has to, based on boat hierarchy. One of the Matrosen ratings, obviously.

[Roger Mexico]

It doesn't seem like it would be difficult to add since they have the code for Classes and for Bunk Assignment already. It's seems like it would be pretty much cut and paste.

[Bartus]

I comple agree to this and i think they should implement it as long game isnt released!

[Ninja]

I agree. A realistic hierarchy system should be implemented. It would also be easier to organize the crew and their tasks.
Tanx for the info Bourky.