Appendix A
CELL SPECIFICATION NOTES
The vital cell data for the article calculations was dependent on a number of USN cell purchase specification sheetsthat provided the critical dimension, capacity, ampere and voltage data for this article.
Friedman's "SUBMARINE DESIGN and DEVELOPMENT" unfortunately does not identify the type of Guppy conversioncorrectly in the official manner of Alden and. (NAVPERS 10490), referring to the GII as the full 'Guppy' conversion with502 cells and the GIA/GIIA as (Guppy II') with SARGO II cells.
Friedman's comments reported in the PERFORMANCE AT HIGH SUBMERGED SPEEDS section, appear to add further evidence thatthe Guppy 1 specifications were for the cell used in the GII conversion.
SARGO CELLS
The SARGO cells data sheets can be easily related to particular submarines.
The SARGO I data cross checks with the data for the Fleet Submarine available from the USS Pampanito web site and othermuseum sources. Alden confirms the use of SARGO I cells in various Fleet submarines not converted for high speed
The similar SARGO II data sheet is available.
Alden confirms the use of SARGO II cells in the GIA/GIIA, as does a statement in NAVPERS 10490 ("Basic EnlistedSubmarine Text", Electrical Installation, conversion).
GUPPY CELLS
However while the SARGO cells present no identification problems, there were two quite different USN Guppy cell specificationsavailable suitable for diesel-electric submarines. Unfortunately the specification sheets do not identify the particularclass of submarine the cells are intended to be used in.
Comparative description
The Guppy 1, a conventional looking four terminal per pole (eight in total), oblong top, used as the technical basis ofthe calculations in Appendix B
The Guppy 1 Mod A, a taller, square top cell. Guppy 1 Mod D seems to be an apparently identical but later version ofGuppy 1 Mod A. but did weigh more - 500 kg vs 460 kg.
Comparative performance
Compared at the 5 hour rate - identical at this point but Guppy 1 Mod A voltages and amps falling away
Guppy 1 = 6100 AH.
Guppy 1 Mod A = 6100 AH,
At the 1 hour rate
Guppy 1 = 4340 AH. 4340 amps, 252 cells, 425 volts.
Guppy 1 Mod A = 4000 AH. 4000 amps, 252 cells, 414 volts.
At the 1/2 hour rate
Guppy 1 = 3387 AH. 6775 amps, 252 cells = 390 volts. (In Appendix E - SubVet Ron Romerrecalls a similar ampere figure, 6675)
Guppy 1 Mod A = 3050 AH.6100 amps, 252 cells = 378 volts.
Note. The 6100 amp discharge at the 1/2 hour rate and the 6100 AH at the 5 hour rate are not typos, but as stated onthe specification sheet.
Both cells electrically identical except at the two high discharge rates where the combined higher current and voltageratings give the Guppy 1 cell 14.6% more power.
Comparative Dimensions
The Guppy 1 had the dimensions 360 x 450 mm x 1178 mm (top of filling cap), weighing 460 kg. Fitted with four terminalsper pole (eight in total). Air agitation and water cooled cell connections fitted.
The Guppy 1 Mod 1A had the dimensions 360 x 360 mm x 1397 mm (top of filling cap), weighing 460 kg. Fitted with onlytwo terminals per pole (four in total). Air agitation and water cooled cell connections fitted.
Barbel class submarine
The specifications of the Guppy 1 Mod A and D match the data and description obtained for the TLX - 53 cells fitted intwo 252 cell batteries aboard the USS Blueback.
This information was provided by R.G. Walker, about the preserved Barbel class submarine USS Blueback (SS 581),submerged displacement 2644 tons.
The batteries with these cells,are quite capable of supplying the rated capacity of the Blueback motor (4800 shp) for30 minutes. This is a modern style submarine with a'tear-drop' hull of relatively low drag.
However the TLX - 53 cell is apparently some 13% heavier than the Guppy 1 Mod D. Note the nuclear Guppy 1 E is even heavierin the same case!
It is reasonable to assume there was also a Guppy 1 Mod B in the series - a specification for such a cell was not obtained.
Photographs and Catalogue Data
There is evidence detailed below to support the general premise that the Guppy 1 was the cell used in the Guppy II submarine.
A battery photographs of the preserved GIII USS Clamagor (SS 343) (Fig 5) showsoblong four x four terminal cells.
Both types of Guppy and Tang class submarines were, later in life, transferred to the Turkish Navy
There is further evidence from Turkish sources with a photograph (Fig 6), that theGuppy 1 type cell was also used in the Tang class of the same era.
Here is an extract from the Turkish Naval Web Catalogue -
Purpose
Power supply in the main propulsion systems of the submarines
Technical Characteristics
- Ampere-hour efficiency Approximately 97%
- 36PS11B (In Guppy 1 a/Tang type submarines) : Each set contains 504 batteries
- 39PS13B (In Guppy type submarines): Each set contains 252 batteries
- 45PS130 (In Ay type submarines) Each set contains 480 batteries
It is reasonable to assume the 36PS11B cells are for the former USN GII and Tang submarines and the 39PS11B are for theformer USN GIA submarines.
The 45S130 can safely be assumed to be for the modern German submarines in the Turkish Navy
Submarine Battery Tank Dimensions
Richard Pekelney advise that Naval Ship's Technical Manuals. Chapter 96.23 March 1969 Edition contains the followinginformation that tends to confirm the choice of the Guppy 1 cell specification:
Inches and mm - 17.7 (442 mm) x 14.16 (360 mm) x 46.44 (1178 mm) These dimensions are within the stated spec' tolerancesof the Guppy 1.
1,008 lbs (457 kgs),
6,850 AH at 10 hour rate, - not helpful, as the Guppy 1 and Guppy 1 Mod A are identical at this rate.
3 tanks (184, 68, 252 cells). Significant as this matches the Guppy conversion.
Turning to evidence provided by drawings - the total area required by the Guppy 1 cells is 1.5 times the space requiredby SARGO cells in the Fleet Submarine. A rough measurement of sketches provided by Alden show an increase of about 1.5 inlongitudinal battery space in the GII conversion.
Battery total calculated area -
SARGO I = 0.546 x 0.387 x 126 X 2 = 53.25 M2.
Guppy 1 Mod A = 0.36 x 0.36 x 126 x 4 = 65.3 M3
Guppy 1 = 0.45 x.36 x 126 x 4 = 81.6 M2.
81.6/53.25 = 1.53 increase in battery tank area.
or
65.3/53.23 M2 = 1.23 increase in tank area.
This increases could only be achieved significantly by increasing the battery tank length, not beam. The battery length increase of about 1.5 that Alden shows in his drawings seems to confirm the cell used in the GII conversion was the Guppy1.
Cells Used in USN Nuclear Submarines
The Guppy 1 cell data can be confusing as there two versions - one as described above for the GII submarine and another with identical electrical/physical characteristics but is not a Lead Antimony cell. There is no WATER COOLING CONNECTION.The specification series number is identical to other later nuclear submarine cells and it is assumed this version of theGuppy 1 cells was used in the first USN nuclear submarines.
The guaranteed life is 48 months as opposed to the Lead Antimony cell for the GII submarine where the life is 30 months.The data is for a 126 cell battery as used in a nuclear submarine and as with other nuclear submarine cells, a trickle charge rate is assigned on the data sheet.
Guppy 1 Mod C and Mod E cells, with dimensions identical to the G1A, were (are) also used as the 126 cell Stand by battery in nuclear attack submarines and unlike the cells used in USN diesel-electric submarines that had antimony as an additive,they are described as having calcium as an additive. This and other web site describes the purpose of these additives in lead acid cells.
Mod E, in the same case as all the others in this Mod series, weighs 600 kg with a 6 hour rate of 5400 AH compared to the Mod C weighing 469 Kg at the 6 hour rate 6150 AH (for comparison - at the 6 hour rate the Mod A had 6270 AH).
The very large cell, Type Trident, presumably for SSBN, has 12, 150 AH at the 6 hour rate
Radar Picket submarine Cells
Alden states that Guppy batteries (small cell) were used in the two Fleet Submarines converted into the Radar Pickets,1948, known as the "MIGRAINE I" conversion, to save space and the dimensions from the submarine's drawing suggests that the Guppy 1 Mod A were used. Probably 126 cells per two batteries.
As a matter of interest, the three MIGRAINE programs I, II and III involving the conversion of 10 Fleet Submarines, grew out of the experiences with Kamikaze aircraft in WWII and the losses of surface radar pickets. The program was abandoned after 1959 and the submarines were again converted for a number of tasks. See Alden.
There is a reference to the single nuclear version of a radar picket, USS Triton, in the anecdotes. Appendix E.
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