U Boat Page 2

This page is intended as an addition and continuation of my main page on the History of the U Boat War 1939 - 1943. I have so many images that I wished to include in my U Boat Page that they threatened to drown the script and historical data set in that page. Some of the images here are duplicated; some are not included at all on the previous page. I hope that you find enjoyment and knowledge from these images. Should you require any of them for your own purposes, please feel free to right click on the image and save as.... But please give credit for their use and, where stated, the original source of these. Someone went to a lot of work to bring these images to your attention. Myself with hours of scanning, authors and net writers for their hours of discovery and the results of such. I present these images in no particular order.	Horst Elfe, Wolfgang Heyda, Fritz Wentzel, Otto Kretschmer, Hans Engel, Gerd Schreiber, Hans Ey, Curt von Goßler, Joachim Matz, Günther Lorentz as Prisoners of War.
Copied from The Battle of The Atlantic - Andrew Williams. Caption Reads: The "tonnage king" Otto Kretschmer, seen here with cigar and papers in hand. In 1940, as Commander of U23 and then U99, Kretschmer sank 238,327 tons of Allied shipping. Erich Topp is in the foreground on the right.
From Battle of The Atlantic - Andrew Williams. Note the similarity between Reinhard Hardegen and Jurgen Protchnow (Star of Das Boot)	U463 Attacked by a Halifax bomber
	Admiral Sir Max Horton, C in C Western Approaches inspects surrendered U Boat 532; escorted by a German Officer - May 1945. The ship in the rear left is HMS Fowey - not one of Walkers "own" which I had hoped. (Thanks to Gordon Smith for that info)
Captured U-505 German sub arrives in the USA May 15, 1945
Catalina flying over a stricken U Boat	Type 7c U Boat (above) entering St Nazaire locks. Note insignia on conning tower; the "Bull of Scapa Flow" - a larger milch cow is seen alongside. Each on of these "milch cows" could deliver up to 432 tons of diesel fuel to fighting submarines as well as provisions, rearmament, torpedoes and act as a repair ship. There were 10 type XIV boats but they rarely returned to port! Too clumsy, too slow to dive, easy prey for aircraft.
U-333, a Type 7c slipping out of her pen to begin another Atlantic patrol War Diary U505 Enigma Intercepts U-505	U505 Control Room (Click images to visit home site)
A ship is sighted, 6 men take watch	Construction of the Sub Pens at St Nazaire
Type VIIC Constructed between 1938-1944, the VIIC boats were slightly larger internally than their predecessor, the type VIIB and also had a slightly improved surface range. (9700 nautical miles to 9400 nautical miles, at 10 knots, combined diesel/electric drive) Their maximum surface speed was 17-17.7 knots and their maximum submerged speed was 7.6 knots. The type VIIC carried 14 torpedoes (4 in forward tubes, 8 in forward torpedo compartment, 1 in aft torpedo tube and 1 aft torpedo compartment). The orginal VIIC design included a 88mm deck gun mounted forward of conning tower. Effective against surface vessels in the early years of the war, this gun was removed from new and older boats after 1942 due to the increased danger of enemy air attack. The boat was designed to carry 60 men (4 officers and 56 enlisted men) The type VIIC was by far the most common of the World War II German u-boats with 660 boats built. This is the U565.

	The U534, which has its own pages, sitting on the Wallasey side of the Docks on the Wirral before she was moved once, further along the quayside, and then to Birkenhead Woodside Ferry Terminal
	U Boat 123 (left) shells and sinks a freighter SS Culebra
U344 (officers) right
	Crew of the U344
	U110 - Boarding party heading for sub from HMS Bulldog. Important signals cyphers and an enigma machine were recovered from the submarine. It later foundered.
	The enigma machine operator on board the U 110. Surprised someone actually took this image due to the absolute secrecy surrounding the equipment, but I am glad they did!
U Boat pen Keroman 1b Lorient France

	U505, in American hands, now a permanent exhibit in Chicago
U849 under air attack	U426 sinking
The U30 and her Captain (Lemp) right. The man who sank the Athenia
U35
U 570 being boarded and right and below, captured intact.
	arriving in Barrow

	Left U570 as HMS Graph
U534 enigma machine	U Boat Pens St Nazaire
U boat Watch Officers	Prien
7c	U532
Type 7C
Type 21
The route taken by the U47 (Prien) into Scapa Flow
The man standing behind Winston, facing the camera, is none other than Admiral Ernest J King. This "gentleman" was an anglophobe American Admiral who, as Commander of the Eastern Seaboard of the USA, refused to acknowledge signals from Britain warning of approaching U Boats (via enigma decoding) to attack the US seaboard after the USA entered the war. As a direct result of this, thousands of sailors were sent to their deaths. He also refused to adopt the British convoy system, allowing hundreds of vessels to sail independently, lights ablaze, against well lit coastlines. The U Boat Commanders referred to it as the "happy time" - thanks to this man above, they could not miss. They only broke off attacks when they ran out of ammunition. This admiral probably did more to help the German war effort than any individual. Admittedly he did not have the resources as such, the Pacific being the main problem at that time. But his intransigence was rock like. Roosevelt refered to his inactivity as 'criminal'.
U581 Translated from the original portuguese and reprinted with permission

U-581, under the commander Werner Pfeifer orders, was one of the submarines that has deviated from the route to try to catch the Llangibby Castle. He had left the French port of St. Nazaire on 10 January 1942 bound for Newfoundland, where should conduct patrols for 14 days, then returned to France. The problems soon began on the first day when the quick dips tested crew near the French coast. During the ship collided with the bottom and damaged the rudder that in certain situations failed to respond to orders, which conditioned the rest of the cruise. Despite the disastrous start things started to run a little better. Near the 23 hours of 19 January, 200 miles west of Gibraltar, they saw what looked like a British war sloop sailing alone. The sea was calm, the dark and rainy night. They fired two torpedoes, one of which broke the ship in half. Less than a minute after there have been new bursts, perhaps caused by depth charges that were on board. A search through the rubble did not find survivors. It involved possibly "Trawler" patrol "Rosemonde" that sailed from Wales on 13 January bound for Gibraltar and disappeared without survivors during the trip. The order to direct it to the Horta interrupted plans to continue to Newfoundland. On 31 they were already on the island's vicinity, and overnight made a visit to the port. Apparently Llangibby Castle stood behind the stone pier, which prevented it from firing torpedoes to sink. The submarine could see the movement on the ground and the lights of the cars to pass. The next day moved away to sea where they remained out of sight, but ready to intervene if necessary. When night fell the U-581 was new to the harbor entrance. Around two in the morning he met another Uboat the meantime had also arrived on the island. Commanders Werner Pfeifer, U-581, and Siegfried Von Forstner, U-402, lined up their ships and the strategy to follow. They decided to put the channel that separates the extreme Horta Pico. Forstner patrol north and south Pfeifer, covering any of the outputs that Llangibby Castle could use. An advertised combat Unbeknown the Germans had arrived during the night, a deep sea tug, the "Thames" and three destroyers - Westcott, Croome and Esmoor - in order to protect the Langibby Castle to Gibraltar, which could be targeted more time consuming repairs. At dawn the U-581 became aware of the approach of two warships. He fired a torpedo stern, but this went too far from the target. With a strong moon that illuminated the night the German commander gave orders to sink, but for maneuver, and when they were about 80 meters deep, jumped a rivet outlet exhaust port smoke and water came in torrents for the engine compartment diesel. The threat was extended quickly to the electric motor, allowing the submarine to navigate submerged.
In an environment described by the crew as panic, and ship to descend more and more into the background, was ordered to make an emergency emersion, filling air ballast tanks. The Uboat shot of 160 to 20 meters deep, when the board engineer warned the captain to the fact that they hear very clearly the propellers of ships which were above. The danger of colliding with one of them was very real. It was given new order to come down and the operation, uncontrolled environment, took the submersible again to 150 meters. According to some crew it was at that moment that the nerves of Pfeifer gave and gave new order to emerge. During these maneuvers the submarine approached intentionally Peak, but at the time it was unclear whether the fighting happened in territorial waters - and therefore neutral - or not. The team Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation, who discovered the wreck last September, posting the first photographs in National Geographic this month, confirmed that the submarine is 2.1 miles from the coast, indicating that the fight took place in Portuguese waters. Today this information is not relevant, but at the time could have triggered a diplomatic conflict ... Both Westcott and Croome followed the sonar signals when the submarine surfaced suddenly nearby. Ian Bockett-Pugh, commander of the first destroyer, sent to turn the ship and at full speed tried ramming the U-581. The submarine narrowly escaped, but could not avoid the effect of the explosion ten depth charges dropped during its passage. With a tight turning to port the Westcott aproou again the submarine insisting on trying to collision. Shoot the cannon was dangerous because of the proximity of Croome. Destroyer and submarine were now on a collision course. When it crossed the British ship rolled to starboard keel shooting up the submarine along the tower. Most of the Germans, who were already out to the deck, jumped into the water just before impact ... The Westcott showed intentions to repeat the collision, but the submarine raised his bow and sank quickly. The commander had given orders, before abandoning his ship to open the valves to facilitate the entry of water. It was about six in the morning. Four men died, but 42 managed to jump into the water and all, except one, were collected by two British destroyers. Walter Sitek had been one of the first men to go out to the deck of the submarine and when he saw the jump comrades did the same. He took off his clothes, leaving only a sweater and lifejacket dresses. I did not want under any circumstances be a prisoner so he swam ... with all the strength I had. After being collected in small fishing boat, three hours later, he believed that most of his comrades had died. Little satisfied with this "leakage" were the imprisoned German officers. During questioning both the captain and the engineer were concerned with the possibility of Sitek report, in Germany, the bad atmosphere that lived aboard the submarine and the way it was conducted the cruise and combat. On land, in Candelaria, Sitek was treated and dressed. He followed then to the Magdalene and from there to the city, which was attended by Destroyer medical Portuguese Douro. He returned to Germany where he commanded submarines and survived the war. It was awarded with a Second Class Iron Cross and another First. Another fight in São Jorge channel


The Llangibby Castle left the port of Horta, aided by the tug at about 11 am. Shortly after it was surrounded by the two destroyers that hours before had fought the U-581. Further north expected the third warship. All they followed later by São Jorge channel where the end of the afternoon were to register new fighting once again in sight of land. Around 17 hours, the middle of the channel, one of the destroyers left the formation to launch several depth charges. The effect of the explosion was felt in Piedade, Pico Island. At the same time it was spotted a few miles of the train a submarine to the surface crossing the channel.
An hour later a destroyer returned to prominence escort to attack the submarine that was closer to the surface. The Germans seem to have dipped in a hurry, not returning to be spotted, although the British have continued - on time - with shots and, possibly, with the launch of depth charges. The submarine was not reached. The Llangibby Castle come with his escort to Gibraltar days later. It has undergone some repairs and then went to England where he finally received a new helm. Among other missions would participate in the transport of troops on D - Day to Juno beach and later also for the Omaha and Utah beaches. Was sold for scrap in 1954 ...

Carlos Guerrero - http://aterrememportugal.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/a-batalha-que-afundou-o-u-581.html
Walter Sitek

FUEHRER'S GHQ, 11/4/1943

4 copies
copy

Contribution by Op M (Operations Navy) to lecture by Chief of Armed Forces Operations Staff.

Position of the Navy in the beginning of 11/1943

Submarine war:

The U-boat weapon is being employed in force in all the seas. Conditions much more difficult than before owing to comprehensive air reconnaissance (extension of range of reconnaissance as a result of the occupation of the Azores), excellent enemy detector apparatus, and exceptionally strong escort of convoys. The aircraft is today the chief enemy of the U-boat.

In spite of this by sticking stubbornly to the task and making fullest use of the U-boat weapon further successes have been gained. Increasing successes also recently in the fight against enemy aircraft and destroyers. Sinkages figures correspond to the difficulty of the position. Since 1/1/1943 sunk by U-boats only after careful counting far above 3 million BRT plus a large number of destroyers, cruisers, and escort vessels. To this figure may be added in the merchant fleet and tonnage war as a whole the successes gained by the surface tactical forces, the air arm and mines. This gives us since 1/1/1943 a total figure of almost 5 million BRT British-American merchant- tonnage sunk (without Russia).

In the war at sea the main task of the Navy in all the seas under our control: protection of own communications by sea, injury to enemy fleets, supply shipping, military transport, and supply formations, defense against landing operations. All these tasks set extraordinarily high demands on the tactical and security formation of the Navy.

Position in the individual theatres of war

Baltic

Naval supremacy completely in our hands. Importance of Baltic for ore-traffic from Sweden. Lively own supply traffic to Finland, Finnish Gulf via Baltic entrances. Interference by British air mine warfare especially in the Kattegat, the Sound and the Belts and in the Western Baltic. Own loss up to the present very low thanks to active mine clearing. Russians confined to inner part of Gulf of Finland by dense minefields. Attempts to break out so far always thwarted. In the inner Gulf of Finland recently several affrays with Russian trawler formations, all in our favor.

Importance of Baltic as training arm for the naval tactical forces and the submarine weapon.

North Sea:

Deutsche Bucht (German Bight) and Skagerrak blocked by strong mine-wall. Own task: protection of lively coastal traffic, continuous patrol of shipping lanes, intensive mine detection, trawling and outpost activities. By means of continuous energetic air activity combined with mine-laying and raids by enemy speed-boats the enemy is endeavoring to stop our communications by sea. Up to the present we have always succeeded in maintaining communications without undue loss on our side. Good results in particular against enemy speed-boats.

Norway

Very busy own rations and supply traffic along the long stretch of coast under the protection of screening forces and numerous strong coastal batteries. Routes in the skerries protected by their natural position and mine-blocks. Our own escort movements interfered with by enemy air arms and speed-boats which hide in the skerries. Successes obtained by the enemy in attack so far very slight. In the Polar region attacks by Russian aircraft and submarine. Our own losses slight but enemy losses high.

Arctic

The presence of our own combat group of battleships and destroyers in Northern Waters is of considerable strategic influence. Since January of this year large-scale enemy supplies going to Russia via the Arctic have not been observed (Supply diverted to the far longer and more difficult route to the Persian Gulf and via Iran). U-boats employed against individual enemy movements in the Arctic. We have now to see whether the despatch of supplies to Russia by the Arctic route begin again in the period of darkness now setting in.

Channel:

In spite of strong enemy superiority in the air and the lively activity of his light naval tactical forces combined with intensified mine-laying, German supplying and rationing traffic continues to be carried on practically on schedule. At the same time full employment of our own screening tactical units (mine detector, outpost, trawling and escort boats). Lively and successful offensive employment of our own speed-boats against British convoyed traffic and for mine-laying. Conditions difficult owing to British superiority on sea and in the air. Warfare in the Channel area shows increasing signs of enemy threat of landing operation. Strong coastal defense on one side.

Biscay Atlantic Coast

Air raids on our own ports have left U-boat defense unaffected. Main task for Navy:

Keeping the seaways open and maintenance of escort for U-boats coming in and going out. In addition, countermeasures against British mine laying, against strong British air observation and the appearance of light enemy naval tactical forces.

Mediterranean

A very strong enemy naval fighting force (3 British, 1 French, 5 Italian battleships, 13 cruisers 5 destroyers) is unopposed on our side by any fighting forces with the exception of U-boats and S-boats. A few Italian destroyers and torpedo boats are being commissioned. Our own U-boats are being employed against very busy British supply traffic. Numerous successes. For the rest, the task of the Navy is to carry out and protect our own supply traffic for the combatant troops in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenia Seas and in the Adriatic. Increasing activity on the part of the enemy tactical air and light naval forces. Transfer of our own supply to small ships and coastal traffic. The necessary freight tonnage and screening forces are being made ready.

Aegean

Support of the island garrisons by protective formations of the German Navy. Carrying out supply and rationing overseas. Strong enemy activity with submarines, cruisers, destroyers, and tactical air forces.

Black Sea

All suitable fighting forces (U-boats, S- and R-boats, "MFP") employed to defend the Crimea. Own slight forces fully employed. Good success. So far activity of the Russian Black Sea Fleet slight. Up to the present rationing and supply traffic maintained in accordance with plan in spite of enemy air and submarine activity.

Distribution:
Chief of Armed Forces Operations Staff: 1st copy
Op.H. (Army): 2d copy
Op.L. (Air): 3d copy
Op.M. (Navy:) 4th copy

I have been reading a book by Lord Russell of Liverpool entitled The Knights of the Bushido, detailed Japanese war crimes in World War 2.
And found a passage which is a bit disturbing in that it refers to a meeting between Hitler and the Japanese Ambassador to Berlin, Oshima. Here is the section of text:

This site costs me quite a few dollars a year to maintain. If you feel inclined, please click on the SECURE means above and donate a small sum to my account. I help many hundreds of people per year with enquiries and get nothing in return.

17/3 0000 hrs	Mid Atlantic, light seas, poor visibility, sheet lightning on horizon Wind SSW Force 2-3	120 Degrees Economy cruising.
0545		Silhouette of steamer on horizon 5 degrees to starboard. Following in the general direction of 285 degrees and confronted
0633		Positioned on its starboard side and readied for surface torpedo attack
0635		Tube 1 fired, depth 3 metres, distance 1000 yards, speed to target 10 metres per second. Hit target amidships in 1 min 57 seconds. Steamer not sinking, lifeboats launched, investigating. Steamer "Ile de Batz" 5755 tonnes from Rangoon with general cargo
0751		After investigation, artillery used to sink steamer, firing 33 rounds of explosive shells. Ship ablaze listing to port.
0800		Steamer rolled over and sank stern first
1025		90 degrees economy cruising
1059		Steamer in sight at 75 degrees. Approaching from general course of 285 degrees
1200	Wind 1 Seas 0-1
1216		Submerged for underwater attack
1326		Twin torpedo attack, tubes 2 and 4, depth 3 metres, speed 10 metres per second, distance 500 metres. Hit target amidships in 24.8 seconds. Crew launched one lifeboat and started rowing to nearby coast, other lifeboat damaged. Steamer will not sink. When steamer was on fire approached closely for identification. The name Scottish Prince was over painted. 4917 tonnes could be read as 6917 tonnes. The steamers weapons were 1 x 10.2 centimetre cannon stern mounted, and 2 x twin machine guns on bridge. Fire control located behind the bridge. Cargo soya beans and oil seed.
1450		Steamer sinks from rear port quarter
1501		Aircraft approaching from land at 140 degrees. Emergency dive
1600		Submerged 180 degrees
1736		90 degrees economy cruise
1945		At 55 degrees smoke sighted, approach for attack at 285 degrees
2000		Steamer on port bow, position 40 - 50. Approached at dusk for attack from port side.
2103		Tube 3 fired, depth 3 metres, distance 1000 metres, speed 9 metres per second. Hit amidships in 83 seconds. Steamer launched lifeboats and raised mayday. Answering mayday and approaching lifeboats. Steamer Allende, size 5081 tonnes with general cargo from Calcutta, home port Cardiff.
2228		Final attack from tube 4, depth 4 metres, distance 1000 metres, 38 seconds hit aftermast and steamer sinks at 2233.
2243		85gr economy cruise
2400		On the general course of 285 degrees sank 4 steamers, continue course in the hope of another 4
18/3 0000hrs	Mid Atlantic east of Palmas dark night	85gr economy cruise

U210 caught on the surface gun battle ensued	followed by U210 attempting to dive
Destroyer closes to ram submarine	Impact!
Survivors brought on board	Fire on board due to gunfire battle with U-210
HMCS Assiniboine	Erich Topp - Commander of U552 "Red Devil" Went on to become an NATO Admiral
U534	Keroman 1 Lorient France
Keroman 1a	U boat pens at Lorient was the first German base on the west coast of France, Lemp, in the U-30 was the first U Boat to arrive, on July 5th 1940. Soon following was Brest, La Pallice, St Nazaire and Bordeux. 8 submarine flotillas used these bases. The move to French western ports, on the Bay of Biscay, dramatically increased the range of the ocean going U Boat, sparing them the long trip through the North Sea. Disposition of these Flotillas were as follows: Submarine flotilla No. 1 based at Brest. Submarine flotilla No. 2 based at Lorient. Submarine flotilla No. 3 based at La Pallice. Submarine flotilla No. 6 based at St-Nazaire. Submarine flotilla No. 7 based at St-Nazaire. Submarine flotilla No. 9 based at Brest. Submarine flotilla No. 10 based at Lorient. Submarine flotilla No. 12 based at Bordeaux.
	U Boat in the River Mersey off New Brighton. Liver Buildings can be seen rear centre and a Mersey Ferry in front of U Boat 1023. U1023 which surrendered at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. And came to Mersey to Grayson, Rollo & Clover Yard in Bhead to unload cargo The pennant number was painted on by the British after surrender to assist in ID
	This was originally a pic taken from the Maritime Museum in Liverpool, and the info on the pic is wrong. This is the U190. Supposedly Halifax but was in fact St Johns. I have had an email telling me Seems the newscast is inaccurate as the prisoners were taken to Halifax and from Bay Bulls - the point of actual surrender.
U-278 after the surrender, taken from a Liberator. This image was sent to me by Dani J Ackerberg of www.u-historia.com 278 was a type 7C http://www.uboat.net/types/viic.htm Laid down 26 Mar 1942 at Bremer Vulkan Vegesacker Werft (No 43) Launched 2 December 1942 Commissioned 16 Jan 1943 Captain Oblt Joachim Franke on 7 patrols it sank 1 ship sunk, total tonnage 7,177 GRT 1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,810 tons Surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 9 May, 1945. Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, on 19 May and later to Lisahally for Operation Deadlight. Sunk on 31 Dec, 1945 in position 55.44N, 08.21W. Detailed information can be found on all u boats at http://www.uboat.net
	This painting is the work of aviation artist Mark Postlethwaite whose site can be visited by clicking on the image. The painting depicts the sinking of the U998 by a 333 Sqn Mosquito HP864, on 16th June 1944. On Oct 31st 2006 I got an email from Rob Adams in Africa who tells me this: On the 16th U998 was attacked with rockets and cannon fire by a mosquito of 333 (Norwegian) Squadron (Lt EU Johansen) N of the Shetlands. U804 was sent to help but she was attacked by another mosquito of 333 Squadron and had to put into Bergen with casualties. The badly damaged U998 put into Bergen 17.6.44. U998 was decommissioned at Bergen on 27.6.44 and she was surrendered there on 9.5.45.After the war all equipment was removed from the boat by the Norwegians and she was scrapped.
The U352 lying on her starboard side in the Atlantic off North Carolina - a war grave and yet a 'popular' dive site!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1393591/Graveyard-Atlantic-U-boats-the-ocean.html?ITO=1490 http://www.uboat.net/boats/u352.htm
	U Boat Soundman
Model U-99 Liverpool Maritime Museum	Image from the Maritime Museum Liverpool