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Why did WWII subs stay on surface in storms?

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Lance Dean:
So why did WWII subs stay on the surface during bad storms?

Tom Bowser:
The center of gravity and center of bouyancy would shift on the way to the surface. at one point the boat could roll over if hit with a big enough wave broadside. This is what I remember from long ago.
Tom

JohnG:
What if a enemy ship was spotted?

JTheotonio:
Well it would depend - turn away and see if emeny follows - then you know you have been spotted.  If spotted you dive and hope you have enough air to last a bit. it was easier to submerge during a storm than to surface.

On Von Steuben we took some awful big rolls at 200' in the North Atlantic in a storm.  We had to go deep (which took us out of missile firing depth) and run like hell to get into calmer seas.  Stuff was flying all over the galley and mess.

Travis McLain:
I think it was on Batfish's first patrol that they ran into a giant storm and almost rolled over, and had stuff flying all over every compartment.

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