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The Fleet Type Submarine Online
Submarine Air Systems

Submarine Air Systems manual cover
Folks,

Submarine Air Systems, Navpers 16164, is of a series of submarine training manuals that was completed just after WW II. The series describes the peak of WW II US submarine technology.

In this online version of the manual we have attempted to keep the flavor of the original layout while taking advantage of the Web's universal accessibility. Different browsers and fonts will cause the text to move, but the text will remain roughly where it is in the original manual. In addition to errors we have attempted to preserve from the original (for example, it was H.L Hunley, not CS Huntley), this text was captured by optical character recognition. This process creates errors that are compounded while encoding for the Web. Please report any typos, or particularly annoying layout issues to info@maritime.org for correction.

Our thanks to Shelly Shelstad ( http://www.history-on-cdrom.com) for permitting us to use images he has scanned, particularly the oversized images that were meticulously pieced together. History on CD ROM sells a very nice CD version of this manual in PDF format for easy access off the web and for a printing. Thanks also to IKON Office Solutions (http://www.ikon.com) for scanning services.

Richard Pekelney
Webmaster

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NavPers 16164
Produced for ComSubLant by Standards and Curriculum Division Training, Bureau of Naval Personnel. Submarine Air Systems
June 1946
RESTRICTED
 

This is one of a series of Submarine
Training Manuals. The series includes:
 
1. The Fleet Type Submarine NavPers 16160
2. Submarine Main Propulsion Diesels NavPers 16161
3. Submarine Electrical Installations NavPers 16162
4. Submarine Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Systems NavPers 16163
5. Submarine Distilling Systems Navpers 16163A
6. Submarine Air Systems NavPers 16164
7. Submarine Periscope Manual NavPers 16165
8. Submarine Trim and Drain Systems NavPers 16166
9. Submarine Sonar Operator's Manual NavPers 16167
10. Submarine Underwater Log Systems NavPers 16168
11. Submarine Hydraulic Systems NavPers 16169
12. Torpedo Tubes, 21-Inch submerged, Mks 32 to 39 O.P. 1085
 
ii
PREFACE
 
This manual is designed to teach the importance of the air systems on a submarine, the many and indispensable forms of work performed by each system, and the methods of operating each system for specific tasks.

Just as air is the very essence of life to a human being, so the air systems control the operation and life of a submarine. Every man on board a submarine should understand the air systems and be able to operate the air manifolds efficiently. This text, which is intended for use during the ashore training period and by the forces afloat, is presented for the purpose of assisting in the attainment of both objectives.

The descriptions and illustrations used in this manual may be considered as typical for all fleet type submarines. The arrangement of the tanks and the components of the air systems described are typical and do not apply in every detail to all classes of submarines.

The Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, and other activities of Submarines, Atlantic Fleet, have collaborated in the preparation of this manual.

 
iii
CONTENTS
 
CHAPTER 1. Introduction
  A. General 1
  B. Types and Relationships of Air Systems 1
CHAPTER 2. HIGH-PRESSURE AIR AND TORPEDO IMPULSE AIR SYSTEM
  A. General Description 3
  B. High-Pressure Air Manifold 7
  C. High-Pressure Air Compressors 7
  D. Torpedo Impulse Flasks 9
  E. Bypass and Reducing Valves for 600-Pound Torpedo Tube Impulse Air System 9
  F. Torpedo Impulse Charging Manifolds 11
CHAPTER 3. THE 600-POUND MAIN BALLAST TANK BLOWING SYSTEM
  A. General Description 12
  B. The 600-Pound Main Ballast Tank Blow Manifold 13
CHAPTER 4. THE 225-POUND AIR SYSTEM
  A. General Description 15
  B. The 225-Pound Service Air Manifold 19
  C. Grove Reducer 19
  D. Auxiliary Ballast Tank Blow and Vent Stop Valve 21
  E. WRT Blow and WRT Overflow Interlocking System 23
  F. Torpedo Tube Blow and Vent Manifold 23
  G. Pneumatic Tool Connections 25
  H. Sentinel Valves 27
  I. Relief Valves 27
CHAPTER 5. THE 10-POUND MAIN BALLAST TANK BLOWING SYSTEM
  A. General Description 29
  B. The 10-Pound Main Ballast Tank Blow Manifold 29
  C. Low-Pressure Blower 31
  D. The 10-Pound Blow (Flapper) Valve 31
  E. List Control Dampers 34
  F. The 10-Pound Blowing System Swing Check Valve 34
CHAPTER 6. SALVAGE AIR SYSTEM
  A. General Description 37
  B. Internal Salvage 38
  C. External Salvage 39
CHAPTER 7. OPERATING THE HIGH-PRESSURE AIR SYSTEM
  A. Rigging the High-Pressure Manifold for Diving 41
  B. Blowing the Bow Buoyancy Tank 42
  C. Blowing the Safety Tank 43
  D. Blowing the Negative Tank 43
  E. Rigging for Surface from Rigged for Dive 45
  F. Charging the No. 1 Torpedo Impulse Flask 46
 
iv
  G. Charging the No. 1 Air Bank with the No. 1 Air Compressor 47
  H. Charging the No. 2 Air Bank from the Dock 48
  I. Charging the Hydraulic Accumulator Air Flask with High-Pressure Air 49
  J. Bypassing High-Pressure Air into the 225-Pound Service Air System 50
CHAPTER 8. OPERATING THE 600-POUND MAIN BALLAST TANK BLOWING SYSTEM
  A. Rigging the 600-Pound MBT Blow Manifold for Diving 51
  B. Blowing All the Main Ballast Tanks 52
  C. Blowing the Forward Group of Main Ballast Tanks 53
  D. Blowing the After Group of Main Ballast Tanks 54
  E. Blowing Main Ballast Tanks No. 2A-2C and No. 6A-6C 55
  F. Blowing Main Ballast Tanks No. 2B-2D and No. 6B-6D 56
  G. Blowing Main Ballast Tank No. 2 57
  H. Blowing Main Ballast Tank No. 7 58
  I. Rigging the High-Pressure Air Manifold and 600-Pound MBT Blow Manifold for Blowing from Either the Distributing Manifold or the 600-Pound MBT Blow Manifold 59
CHAPTER 9. OPERATING THE 225-POUND SERVICE AIR SYSTEM
  A. Cutting in 225-Pound Service Air Fore and Aft 60
  B. Putting Pressure in the Forward Trim Tank 61
  C. Venting the After Trim Tank Outboard 62
  D. Blowing from the No. 1 to the No. 2 Auxiliary Ballast Tank 63
  E. Venting Auxiliary Ballast Tank No. 1 64
  F. Blowing from the Forward WRT Tank to the Forward Trim Tank 65
  G. Blowing from the Forward Trim Tank to the After Trim Tank 66
  H. Blowing from the Auxiliary Ballast Tank No. 2 to the Forward Trim Tank 67
  I. Blowing from the Forward WRT Tank to the No. 2 Torpedo Tube 68
  J. Blowing from the No. 8 Torpedo Tube to the After WRT Tank 69
  K. Blowing from the No. 6 Torpedo Tube to the Forward Trim Tank by Way of the Forward WRT Tank 70
  L. Putting the No. 4 Fresh Water Tank on Service 71
  M. Putting the No. 2 Battery Water Tank on Service 72
CHAPTER 10. OPERATING THE 10-POUND MAIN BALLAST TANK BLOWING SYSTEM
  A. Blowing All the Main Ballast Tanks 73
  B. Blowing Main Ballast Tank No. 1 74
  C. Blowing Main Ballast Tanks No. 2A-2C 75
  D. Blowing Main Ballast Tanks No. 6B-6D 76
  E. Correcting List by Blowing the No. 2 and No. 6 Main Ballast Tanks Using List Control Dampers 77
CHAPTER 11. OPERATING THE SALVAGE AIR SYSTEM
  A. Circulating Air in the Forward Torpedo Room from an Outside Source 78
  B. Supplying Air from the Control Room Supply Air to the Control Room and the Two Adjoining Compartments 79
  C. Supplying Air from an Outside Source to MBT No. 1 80
 
v
ILLUSTRATIONS
 
1-1. Comprehensive schematic of air systems 2
2-1. High-pressure air system 2
2-2. High-pressure air manifold 4
2-3. After torpedo impulse charging manifold 6
2-4. High-pressure air compressor 8
2-5. Reducing valve and bypass to torpedo impulse charging manifold 8
2-6. Grove reducing valve 10
3-1. The 600-pound main ballast tank blowing system 12
3-2. The 600-pound MBT blow manifold 14
4-1. The 225-pound air system 14
4-2. Pneumatic tool connection 16
4-3. The 225-pound service air manifold 18
4-4. Grove reducing valve 20
4-5. Auxiliary ballast tank blow and vent stop valve 22
4-6. WRT blow and WRT overflow interlocking system 22
4-7. Torpedo tube blow and vent manifold (port side) 24
4-8. Sentinel valve 25
4-9. Relief valve 26
5-1. The 10-pound main ballast tank blowing system 28
5-2. The 10-pound main ballast tank blow manifold 30
5-3. Low-pressure blower 32
5-4. The 10-pound blow (flapper) valve 33
5-5. List control damper 35
5-6. The 10-pound blowing system swing check valve 36
6-1. Salvage air system 36
6-2. Main ballast tank salvage connection 37
6-3. Compartment salvage connection 37
7-1. Rigging the high-pressure manifold for diving 41
7-2. Blowing the bow buoyancy tank 42
7-3. Blowing the safety tank 43
7-4. Blowing the negative tank 44
7-5. Rigging for surface from rigged for dive 45
7-6. Charging the No. 1 torpedo impulse flask 46
7-7. Charging the No. 1 air bank with the No. 1 air compressor 47
 
vi
7-8. Charging the No. 2 air bank from the dock 48
7-9. Charging the hydraulic accumulator air flask with high-pressure air 49
7-10. Bypassing high-pressure air into the 225-pound service air system 50
8-1. Rigging the 600-pound MBT blow manifold for diving 51
8-2. Blowing all the main ballast tanks 52
8-3. Blowing the forward group of main ballast tanks 53
8-4. Blowing the after group of main ballast tanks 54
8-5. Blowing main ballast tanks No. 2A-2C and No. 6A-6C 55
8-6. Blowing main ballast tanks No. 2B-2D and No. 6B-6D 56
8-7. Blowing main ballast tank No. 2 57
8-8. Blowing main ballast tank No. 7 58
8-9. Rigging the high pressure air manifold and 600-pound MBT blow manifold for blowing from either the distributing manifold or the 600-pound MBT blow manifold 59
9-1. Cutting the 225-pound service air fore and aft 60
9-2. Putting pressure in the forward trim tank 61
9-3. Venting the after trim tank outboard 62
9-4. Blowing from the No. 1 to the No. 2 auxiliary ballast tank 63
9-5. Venting auxiliary ballast tank No. 1 64
9-6. Blowing from the forward WRT tank to the forward trim tank 65
9-7. Blowing from the forward trim tank to the after trim tank 66
9-8. Blowing from the auxiliary ballast tank No. 2 to the forward trim tank 67
9-9. Blowing from the forward WRT tank to the No. 2 torpedo tube 68
9-10. Blowing from the No. 8 torpedo tube to the after WRT tank 69
9-11. Blowing from the No. 6 torpedo tube to the forward trim tank by way of the forward WRT tank 70
9-12. Putting the No. 4 fresh water tank on service 71
9-13. Putting the No. 2 battery water tank on service 72
10-1. Blowing all the main ballast tanks 73
10-2. Blowing main ballast tank No. 1 74
10-3. Blowing main ballast tanks No. 2A-2C 75
10-4. Blowing main ballast tanks No. 6B-6D 76
10-5. Correcting list by blowing the No. 2 and No. 6 main ballast tanks using list control damper 77
11-1. Circulating air in the forward torpedo room from an outside source 78
11-2. Supplying air from the control room supply air to the control room and the two adjoining compartments 79
11-3. Supplying air from an outside source to MBT No. 1 80
 
vii
Photo of submarine diving.
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