Archive for the ‘submarines’ Category
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Nevertheless, some officer and Chief Petty Officer prisoners suspected a hidden subtle and organised opposition on the part of the French, which they feared as likely to become dangerous. It was noted by the Germans that in spite of the polite and obliging attitude of the French officials and workmen, something important always went wrong with the German arrangements in which any reliance had been placed on French co-operation.
Posted in 1941, June 1941, submarines | No Comments »
Monday, May 16th, 2011
The Captain yelled down for even more revolutions and the diesels began to hammer furiously, plunging the bows deeply into each wave; then the alarm bells rang and the watch came tumbling down to land in a heap on the control room grating. Fischer slammed the tower hatch lid shut as the submarine went down at a steep angle. Through the loudspeakers the calm voice of the boatswain, Maureschat, ordered the bow caps closed and stated the trim depth as 180 feet.
Posted in 1941, May 1941, submarines | No Comments »
Monday, May 9th, 2011
Also the coding machine was found here, plugged in and as though it was in actual use when abandoned. The general appearance of this machine being that of a type writer, the telegraphist pressed the keys and finding results peculiar sent it up the hatch. This W/T office seemed far less complicated than our own-sets were more compact and did not seem to have the usual excess of switches, plug holes, knobs, 'tally's' etc on the outside.
Posted in 1941, May 1941, submarines | No Comments »
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
As the U-Boat did not seem to be sinking fast enough, and it was feared that the British might try to board her, the Engineer Officer again went below to open wide the galley hatch which had previously been only partly opened. He never got out again, and the crew heard him shouting as the U-Boat sank. The Captain said that a W/T message was sent in clear, just before "U 99" sank; but he did not know whether it was transmitted on full strength or not, or whether it had been received at his base. The signal read: "Depth charges - captured - Heil Hitler - Kretschmer."
Posted in 1941, March 1941, submarines | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
When 130 degrees on the U-Boat's starboard quarter, periscope range estimated to be 4,000 yards, the disposition of the trawlers was thought to be reminiscent of the start of an A/S exercise. Thunderbolt therefore allowed the enemy a low nominal speed of 6 knots, and altered a few degrees to reach the firing course. Commencing at 0920, six torpedoes were fired at 12 second intervals, an alteration of three degrees to port being made after the third torpedo.
Posted in 1940, December 1940, submarines | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
We can endure the shattering of our dwellings, and the slaughter of our civil population by indiscriminate air attacks, and we hope to parry these increasingly as our science develops, and to repay them upon military objectives in Germany as our Air Force more nearly approaches the strength of the enemy.
The decision for 1941 lies upon the seas.
Posted in 1940, Churchill, December 1940, submarines | No Comments »
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Two minutes later the 5th and last torpedo struck, again on the Port side. This was the final blow as the ship broke in two owing to the after magazine blowing sky-high. She was well down by the stern now and I remember the ghastly cracklings as the after end bent inwards crushing the decks like matchwood. She heeled quickly over on her Sta’b’d side, the after end disappeared, and as she settled, she turned right over and sank slowly and steadily by the stern.
Posted in 1940, December 1940, submarines | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
At 1350 U31 surfaced right astern of Antelope. The Destroyer's after group opened fire, until the crew were seen to be abandoning ship. The U-Boat's motors were left running ahead with port wheel on, speed about 4 knots. Antelope's whaler tried to board, but the U-Boat's speed was too great, and as it was not quite certain whether all the crew had left U 31, fire was opened again at 1405. Twenty-three rounds were fired but owing to the large swell no hits were obtained.
Posted in 1940, November 1940, submarines | No Comments »
