I've read a few different things about how difficult the living conditions aboard German U-Boats was for sailors during WWII, such as hot-bunking, bland canned food for months on end, and no fresh air for weeks. I'm interested in the fresh water capacity of these subs. Obviously they had to have some fresh water aboard for the crew to drink, but I've read some sources say sailors didn't bathe for anywhere between 3 and 6 months. Does that mean there weren't shower facilities on board and they only bathed in port? Did U-boats have desalination plants to create fresh water? I know it's hardly the same, but could sailors bathe with salt water at least, or was that not an option?
On the 27th August 1941, the Royal Navy captured the Type VIIC U-boat U 570. The submarine had been damaged by an aircraft of 269 Squadron RAF, to such an extent that her crew chose to surrender. She was secured by a number of British and Canadian ships, and taken to Thorlakshafn on Iceland for an initial inspection. She was then brought back to Barrow in the UK for repairs and a more thorough examination, by British and American officers. The resulting reports, in addition to describing her motors, armament and sensors, contains a brief section on her water systems.
U 570 had just over 1050 British gallons of tankage for fresh water. This was split into four separate tanks. The vast majority of the tankage was allocated to drinking water, with 856 gallons carried for this purpose. This was split between three of the fresh water tanks. Only 108 gallons were carried for washing, in a separate tank connected to the main fresh water line. The remainder of the fresh water tankage was for distilled water. This was produced from seawater by an electrical distiller. The distiller fitted to U 570 produced, on average, 4 gallons of fresh water per hour.
The submarine had two toilets, one forward and one aft. The forward one was used by the officers and CPOs, and was just behind the forward torpedo room. The after one, for the crew's use, adjoined the galley. However, when the sub was captured, the crew's toilet was in use as a food store. It was full of tinned food, while the crew used buckets. Both toilets had hand basins connected to the sea water system. The forward toilet had, adjoining it, a washroom. This had hand basins connected to the fresh water system. Beyond this, a shower head could be connected to the sea water system for washing the deck. Thus could only be used when surfaced. The crews were issued with a special soap, formulated to lather in salt water, as otherwise washing was impossible. They were also issued with deodorant, as opportunities to wash fully were rare.
By the already low standards of British submariners, the U-boats were poorly habitable and highly uncomfortable. The lack of washing facilities was just one part of this.