Grey Wolf? Why?

[Tachyon]

Why were the U-boats nicknamed as "Grey Wolves"??? I don't get it, they could have used other titles, although GW is also quite fine.

Also, what does the term "Laid down" refer to?

[danlisa]

Why were the U-boats nicknamed as "Grey Wolves"??? I don't get it, they could have used other titles, although GW is also quite fine.

Also, what does the term "Laid down" refer to?

Laid Down - when a ships keel is layed ready for construction at the docks.

Grey Wolves - I assume it's as simple as, they were grey and hunted in packs.:doh:

[Venatore]

well lets see now........ one u-boat would be patrolling and come across a convoy (the sheep pack), this u-boat would shadow the convoy....at the same time radio to BDU who would in-turn call other u-boats to the location of the shadowing u-boat. The original u-boat would keep its distance as not to alarm the convoy of its presence. Once the other u-boats arrived (in some cases 22 u-boats) these u-boats would become the wolf pack. At a certian time/or if the convoy did something stupid, the wolf pack would attack...... the protection would try to fight the pack off, but in the early days the wolves always found a way into the sheep pack and the slaughter would begin. As the years went by and the defences of the convoy became more experinced the wolf pack in many cases became the not the hunters but the hunted.

The term Grey Wolves came from the grey hulls of the u-boats and the wolf was due to their tactics...well thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

There are many books about the wolf packs 1939-1945, and I think Santa will be bringing me some more.....I've been a good boy.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Ummm, you guys are "sort-of" right...

In truth Admiral Doenitz' men referred to him as "The Lion of the Atlantic" and he referred to his men as "The Grey Wolves" generally as a reference to the grey oil-skins they used to wear...and as a reference to the color of the U-boats themselves.

The reference was to the men and not the U-boats themselves.;)

[Venatore]

I knew Kpt Lehmann would come along and give us the right answer:rotfl:

[Pants]

And here's me..I thought they were named after thier fur stoals LOL JK :rotfl:

[Dowly]

:rotfl:

OT: I got your PM, Pantsy. No worries. :up:

[_Seth_]

Why "the grey wolves"....? Wouldnt it sound stupid if it was called "The fluffy bunnies" or "The quacking ducks".... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[mookiemookie]

And here's me..I thought they were named after thier fur stoals LOL JK :rotfl:

Goes with that pink u-boat that danlisa made. SASSY! JUST FABOO!

[Lanzfeld]

A quack pack!:rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

Yeah, something like "fear the lemings" as they mass and jump into the sea just does not quite grasp the ferocity of the men and the boats.

Let see, gray boats, well, gray everything....run in packs and nip at the convoys...just seem to fit I guess.;)

[Tachyon]

"Der Zimpsons" , now that's scary :rotfl: