Carrying firearms...

[rifleman13]

I was wondering if u-boats have a cache of small arms in hand.

Kar 98k, MP40, Stielhandgrenate, did they carry they carry those around.

Thnx.

[Stealth Hunter]

Yes. U-boat's quite frequently carried Walther P38s, MP40s, KAR 98s, occasionally Lugers, and grenades of sorts (and they also carried scuttling charges).

[MRV]

In the Conning Tower Room of the Subs in SH3 there are a couple of MG42's stored on the Wall. I wonder if they were able to mount them on the bridge.

As far as i know, a few desperate u-boat crews put small arms supressing fire on destroyers decks to prevent the crew from manning their guns after the sub was forced to surface.

I even read about a crazy plan of surfacing directly next to the DD's bow and a few men trying to board it by climbing over from the bridge to its deck.

Its likely that subs, like most other military ships, were able to outfit a small group of regular infantry soldiers, but I think the on-board weaponry was focused with close combat situations in mind (Mp40's, Pistols, Grenades) for self defence and fighting during boarding operations, rather then using long range Weapons like rifles which are difficult to handle in close quarters.

[Ivan Putski]

They carried arms, but nothing you`d want to take on larger than a row boat, the deck gun was their firepower. If you had to surface near a warship, or two, you are already in trouble, the best thing to do would be throw your hands up, while the charges to scuttle the boat were set, then get the hell off it. Better to smoke those English, or Yankee cigarettes, then get ripped a new "A". :D

[Mittelwaechter]

I remember a type II to sink some fishtrawlers with handgrenades in the black sea.

[Brag]

The posts above describe well the small arms carried by U-Boats. The primary reason was to provide security while in port. A few of the officers had pistols, mostly P38 Walters.

[rifleman13]

In the Conning Tower Room of the Subs in SH3 there are a couple of MG42's stored on the Wall. I wonder if they were able to mount them on the bridge.


Wait, wait, wait!!!

MG42s in the conning tower, didn't notice it before!
Going to check that later!:hmm:

=====
@everyone
Thnx for the replies!:arrgh!:

[Randomizer]

According to U-Boats Under the Swastika (Jak Mallmann-Showell) a typical inventory included six-rifles (probably KAR-98k at least early in the War) six-pistols, demolition charges and single and multi-barrelled signal guns. More small arms would be provided if the mission involved contact with the shore like weather station maintenance or dropping off an agent.

KL Heinz Eck (U-852, Type IXD2) apperantly used both machine guns and machine-pistols (sub-machine guns) when ordering the shooting of the survivors of SS Pelius on the night of 13 March 1944 in the Indian Ocean. Types of weapons are not specified in the references consulted, MG-42's and MP-43's are probably good assumptions.

Good Hunting