Any U-boat Enthusiast ??

**rustyhook** · #1 01-03-2007, 08:04 PM

i was wondering if there was any WWII u-boat enthusiast on the board? I kinda got hooked 6 mo. ago and have bought and read several books so far. The books are great and there is a wealth of info on the web. (To me) The u-boat history has become a very interesting subject of the captain's and crew's stories. Just wondering if any other's on the board had interest in the subject.

Rowdy

**SoccerMomma** · #2 01-03-2007, 08:09 PM

Although I am not proud of this, oneof my great-great uncles was a U-Boat Captain during WWII. His name was Otto Kretschmer. It's an interesting story, however, like I said, I'm not proud of who he worked for...makes me really wonder why my grandfather came to the US in 1933!!!

**Stuart** · #3 01-03-2007, 08:11 PM

I'll watch stuff on the History Channel and so forth. I haven't read a book in a long time why start now

Seriously though, it is interesting stuff.

**joshrp01** · #4 01-03-2007, 08:24 PM

One of the books wasn't Shadow Divers was it? This was a great book about some deep sea divers off the North East Coast that found a Uboat I think back in the late 80s or early 90s. The guys that dove that wreck were pretty gutsey. It is a really good book if you like that sort of thing. I don't want to ruin the book for anyone so I won't go into any more detail. I can't imagine diving to the depths that these guys went just to check out an old wreck and get the correct identity.

**DannyMac** · #5 01-03-2007, 08:38 PM

rustyhook,
I don't know if I am an enthusiast, but I have read several books and done some minor research on the "Battle of the Atlantic". I got interested in this part of WWII as my father was part of the US NAVY armed guard assigned to a tanker on the Murmansk run.

When I was a young boy Dad would relate "sea stories" on convoy duty in the North Sea, as I grew older he parted with the more grusome battle actions against the U-Boats and the results of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans.

"Otto Kretschmer", if my memory serves me this man was a legend in the U_Boat community. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't he take his submarine into Scapa Flo at the start of WWII and sink the Britsh carrier the Ark Royal. I maybe wrong on this as I am not sure if I have the events and names correct.

Many people do not know the U-Boat service sustained the highest casualty rate during the war, 3 of 4 submariners failed to return. I believe they lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 786 submarines during the course of the war. Even with the high losses, the U-Boat (Unterseabote) service was regarded as "primo" service. Don't know if my German word for U-Boat is correct but its close.

**DannyMac** · #6 01-03-2007, 08:43 PM

A side note, many people wanted to execute Admiral Doenitz after the war, the US NAVY interceded on his behalf with the admission they had practiced "unrestricted submarine warfare" in the Pacific. I think he got 10 yrs.

Another note, the German Navy and U-boat service were the only branch of the German military that retained the traditional military salute.

**rustyhook** · #7 01-03-2007, 08:56 PM

Type

VIIB

Laid down31 Mar, 1939Germaniawerft, KielCommissioned18 Apr, 1940Kptlt. Otto Kretschmer (Knights Cross/Swords)Commanders18 Apr, 1940 - 17 Mar, 1941 KrvKpt. Otto Kretschmer (Knights Cross)Career8 patrols18 Apr, 1940 - 30 Jun, 1940 (training)
1 Jul, 1940 - 17 Mar, 1941 (front boat)
Successes35 ships sunk for a total of 198.218 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 46.440 GRT
5 ships damaged for a total of 37.965 GRT
1 ship taken as prize for a total of 2.136 GRTFateScuttled at 0343hrs on 17 Mar 1941 south-east of Iceland, in approximate position 61N, 12W, after being depth charged by the British destroyer hms walker. 3 dead and 40 survivors.

On 12 July, 1940, the Estonian steamer Merisaar was ordered to sail to Bordeaux, France (the port was then already under German control). Her captain complied but on the way there she was sunk (on July 15th) by bombs from a German aircraft south of Queenstown.

At 2250hrs on 3 November, 1940, one of the most dramatic battles of the U-boat war began. a u-boat attacked the armed merchant cruisers HMS Laurentic and HMS Patroclus. They were both sunk within seven hours in which the U-boat fired ten torpedoes and four rounds with the deck gun, while the vessels returned fire without damaging the U-boat.

**PalmsUp** · #8 01-03-2007, 09:02 PM

When I was a little boy, my Italian Grandfather took me to see a submarine, I asked "Is that a U boat" he replied calmly " no I justa look"

**RonE** · #9 01-03-2007, 09:02 PM

There is a replica 1/3 rd scale of a wwII sub at Cove harbor marina storage just south of Rockport. Pretty neat boat. It was built in New Jersey to honor the US Submarine Service as far as I can find out and it was on EBay for sale for a while. Pretty neat to look at.

**rustyhook** · #10 01-03-2007, 09:04 PM

Shadow Divers is a great book!! I have corresponded with John Chatterson (the diver that actually made the identification) and it is an amazing story. Richy Kholer (sp?) is also a key part of the find. Mistakes happened on their discovery but it is a very fascinating story.

Also U-505 is a u-boat at Chicago. One captured by USA.

Rowdy