Recent uboat pictures

[Von Hilde]

Notice the extra anchor on U 442 launch. Its on the port side just hanging over the edge. Thats for cutting loose as soon as the boat clears the launch ramp, to stop the boat from drifting into the harbor, because the engines arnt operational yet. Some times they would use a huge ships anchor, that looks out of place. You may have seen in some pictures of other launches or pics of boats out of water.

[greenman407]

[Von Hilde]

I had to find out why the tower was destroyed on U 290. (the pic of the officer posing in front of the damaged tower) It was attacked by aircraft, but returned and repaired to survive the war. The U 744, (boat with the swordfish) however wasnt so luckey. The pic shows the boarding party from one of the half dozen destroyers and corvettes that had her surrounded. Interesting thing about that event was, the boarding party had recovered the enigma and code books and other intel, but during the transfer the seas were so rough, all the material was lost. After the boarding party had cleared the area she was sent to the bottom. There were 8 fatalities, most likely after brought to the surface and shelled by the guns. Good pic of the two type X side by side. The U234 on the left has been modified for cargo and the boat to the right is still in minelayer configguration. You can see where they removed the forward mine dispensers and the stowage chambers on either side of it on the 234. They just left a narrow catwalk deck and didnt replace the bulkheads on the balast tanks. Some sources say it helped diving time, but no so much as for hydrodynamics but getting the trapped air, forward, out between the pressure hull and deck supports much quicker, thus knocking a second or two in diving. They did the same for a few type IX minelayers as well.

[trout]

My brother lives at Cudjoe Key. Next time I come down to visit, we will look you up.

[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.

[greenman407]

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

[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.

[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

[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

[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]

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]

[greenman407]

[greenman407]

Thanks Mike for the extra goodies.

[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