Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 34:33-35:51

Divided and baffled tanks controlled fluid movement in submarines

T-class ballast arrangements used divided tanks and internal baffles to limit free-surface movement and sloshing.

Ballast TanksSubmarine DesignSubmarinesT Class Submarines
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Question

Were T-class main ballast tanks divided, and did larger submarine tanks use internal baffles?

Short answer

He recalls the main ballast tanks as divided and the larger tanks as intended to have baffles that reduced sloshing.

Notes

The T-class main ballast tanks are recalled as divided rather than one continuous volume. Larger tanks were also supposed to contain internal baffles, which interrupt fluid movement as a submarine rolls, pitches, or changes attitude. Confirming the exact arrangement would require returning to the surviving plans. The design principle is clear, while the precise layout remains a qualified recollection.