The Wolf Pack The Wolf Pack: A Collection Of U-Boat Modelling Articles Page 1 The Wolf Pack Contents Introduction Articles: Kriegsmarine U-Boat Colours & Markings Type VIIC Free-Flooding Vent Patterns Type VII U-Boat Modifications The Snorting Bull Insignia U 96 & The Laughing Sawfish German U-Boat Victory Pennants U-Boat Model Kits & Accessories Super-detailing Revell’s 1/72nd Type VIIC U-Boat* Revell Type VIIC Checklist Appendices: References Photo Sources Recommended Reading Index *Super-detailing Revell’s 1/72nd Type VIIC U-Boat by Wink Grisé All other articles by Dougie Martindale All text and drawings copyright © Dougie Martindale / Wink Grisé / Accurate Model Parts, 2010 The Wolf Pack: A Collection Of U-Boat Modelling Articles Page 2 The Wolf Pack Contents Introduction ............................................................................................. 7 Induction ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 A seminal release .......................................................................................................................................... 8 The allure of the VIIC .................................................................................................................................. 9 A growing collection ..................................................................................................................................... 9 The Wolf Pack ............................................................................................................................................ 10 The SubCommittee Report articles .......................................................................................................... 12 Additional articles ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Kriegsmarine U-Boat Colours & Markings ......................................... 13 Part I - Introduction ........................................................................................... 13 Part II – Difficulties In Determining U-Boat Colours ...................................... 13 Documentation ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Photographs ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Paint Quality ............................................................................................................................................... 15 Summary Of Identification Problems ...................................................................................................... 15 Part III - Standard Kriegsmarine Paints ............................................................ 16 Hellgrau 50 .................................................................................................................................................. 19 Part IV - U-Boat Colours .................................................................................. 20 Lower hull colours ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Pre-war colours .......................................................................................................................................... 22 Wartime upper greys ................................................................................................................................. 25 Part V - Camouflage ......................................................................................... 30 Camouflage colours .................................................................................................................................... 32 Part VI - Insignia, Tonnage & Tactical Markings ............................................ 33 Tactical markings ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Part VII - Miscellaneous Colours ..................................................................... 37 Conning tower ............................................................................................................................................ 37 Guns ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Hull .............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Waterline draft markings .......................................................................................................................... 41 Deck parts ................................................................................................................................................... 42 Part VIII - Wooden Deck .................................................................................. 42 Part IX - Weathering ......................................................................................... 44 Weathering above the waterline ............................................................................................................... 44 Weathering below the waterline ............................................................................................................... 46 Part XI – Acknowledgements & Useful Links ................................................. 50 The Wolf Pack: A Collection Of U-Boat Modelling Articles Page 3 The Wolf Pack Type VIIC Free-Flooding Vent Patterns .............................................. 51 Part I – Introduction .......................................................................................... 51 Part II – Free-Flooding Vents ........................................................................... 51 Variations in vent patterns ........................................................................................................................ 51 Main free-flooding vent patterns .............................................................................................................. 52 Diesel exhaust outlets ................................................................................................................................. 55 Medium-sized vents above central drainage area ................................................................................... 56 Vents near torpedo doors........................................................................................................................... 58 Two/three vents next to stem ..................................................................................................................... 59 Twelve circular vents above torpedo doors .............................................................................................. 59 Curved line of vents above central drainage area ................................................................................... 60 Three vents at rear of saddle tanks ........................................................................................................... 62 Vents behind forward hydroplanes .......................................................................................................... 62 Vents near rear hydroplanes ..................................................................................................................... 62 Vents aft of the rudders ............................................................................................................................. 63 Part III - Central Drainage Area ....................................................................... 64 Part IV - Type VII U-Boat Batches .................................................................. 66 Type VII U-Boat Modifications ........................................................... 69 Part I - Introduction ........................................................................................... 69 Part II - Type VIIA & VIIB Modifications....................................................... 70 Pre-war features ......................................................................................................................................... 70 Early war VIIA and VIIB modifications .................................................................................................. 72 VIIA and VIIB deck railings ..................................................................................................................... 76 Differentiating between variants ............................................................................................................... 77 Part III – Early Type VIIC Modifications ........................................................ 78 Air intake grills ........................................................................................................................................... 78 Mast antenna housing ................................................................................................................................ 79 Earliest VIIC features ...............................................................................................................................