Recent uboat pictures

[Von Hilde]

More like brave men in all the pictures, and almost all are gone now. And as far as all the boats go, long gone except for the handful of relics braced up and dry for people to look at. It would be great if someone refurbished one and made it seaworthy. Not much chance for a U boat, but there are several US fleet boats that could get seaworthy with some funding, before they rust away to a static display. Ill bet there are alot of old bubbleheads still kickin that would pay big money to catch a cruise on one.

[greenman407]

Got to go back to my files and dig up some more. Ill have some more up during lunch.

[greenman407]

As Good As My Word!

[greenman407]

Gentlemen, and I use the term losely. Your all setup for today.

[Kazzer]

With regard to the photo of U190 ---



I was intrigued as to why she was flying the White Ensign, so did a quick search and found this -

The Day We Boarded a German Submarine What a neat story!



Here's more on U190


And on the inside

[greenman407]

Thanks Mike for the extra goodies.

[greenman407]

[greenman407]

[Von Hilde]

Those type Xs were huge, 10 meters longer than a IXD2. The largest U boats produced during the war. Built as mine layers initially, they had several wet storage shafts for mine dispensers, all over the decks and in the balast tanks, amidships. You can just bairly make out the grills in the saddle tank amidships below the tower in the last pic of U 233. Also you can see the dispenser on the foward deck, on the pic of U 119 They look like big commercial rooftop airconditioner vents, round and about 2 ft across. A bit slow, and only 2 tubes, aft, it wasnt to practicle for a Front boat It had storage for 62 large mines and after 1942, the mine laying stratigy was waining, so their usefulness in convoy attacks was null. Eventally they were converted to long range transports and tankers. Some of the wet storage tanks were welded over, to facilitate cargo, and some were removed completely. The huge saddle, balast tanks were filled with fuel, and the now dry storage mine dispenser shafts were filled with supplies and ammo to resupply the longer range patrols as the war progressed. Some went to the far east , they were the "Monsoon boats" that went to colaberate with the Japanese. Some were converted to supply boats. Several were captured by the Allies, with all kinds of contraband aboard, like U234. You can see a few of the grated covers on the tops of the tanks aft of the tower. the others forward along the tops of the saddles have been welded over for dry storage. Notice the american flag, and US Navy officers on the bridge admiring. I recall the little wood outhouse looking sheds as being the inclimate weather, quarter deck watch, post.on our fleet boats, back in the day, when they were in port. Hes the sailor in dungeries with the sidearm leaning on the gangway

[greenman407]

VonHilde, does all that come from memory or do you have a lot of research books at your disposal? It sounds like you are definetly a German U Boat Afficianado.

[Von Hilde]

Memory and research. U boats have been a fairly recent endevor for me, the past 4 or 5 years doing research for the paintings and models. I watched alot of U boat documentries several times over the years, and researched quite a few foreign web sites on the matter, looking for pictures with spasific details, and finding out why they did what they did. Being old and retired these days, I have to have some kind of challanging hobby. Someday I might take a ride up to get some of Yalls water in Z hills, and have a sit down chat with you, and pick yer brain about makin one of my boats go Underwasser. That is if I ever get off this rock

[Von Hilde]

U 219 cammo

Was thinking they put that scaffolding to disguise the boat as a harbor barge or pier from the air. The tyoe X boats were rather a secret weapon at the time, there were only 8 built, and wernt a common sight. They were large and probbablly stuck out like a sore thumb

[greenman407]

Which one of the Keys do you live on? Ive been to "Hawks Cay" on Duck Key. Stayed there for a week. Ive been camping on "Bahai Honda" as well.

[greenman407]

I Finished watching Das Boot last night. What a Hellish life. To the limits of human endurance and beyond and back.

[Von Hilde]

My 28th flotilla is based at Mile Marker 28, Little Torch Key, next to Big Pine Key. If you goggle earth and zoom down youll see the canals on the north end of the key that look like sub pens.