Quagmire
08-04-06, 10:25 AM
Mein Gott! The Fuhrer will not be pleased!
Check out the POW interrigation report from the sinking of U-233. They were telling the Yanks everything! They told them that their Naxos radar detector could detect Yank radar but the Wanz G-2 or Borkum detectors couldn't. They even spilled the Navy beans on a new type of mine they were laying! :o
The new mine was called a “Drückunterschiedsmine” (pressure differential mine) and it could "maintain a pre-set depth of four to six meters below the water surface, regardless of tide conditions." They described it so well that the Yanks were able to draw a schematic of its inner workings! Pretty cool huh? Too bad the Yanks and Limeys know all about it now!
Also, it is no wonder that my watch crew cannot spot anything. Here is a rather telling description of the crew:
CHAPTER IV. CREW OF U-233
GENERAL
U-233 carried a total complement of 60 officers and men: the captain, two watch officers. An engineer officer, a doctor, a midshipman under training who also acted as third watch officer, and 54 men.
The crew, judged from the 29 survivors, was a poor one. Most of the men were totally lacking in previous U-boat experience and a large number had never been to sea before. As a whole they gave the impression of being in the dregs of the reserve pools in Germany and shore stations on the Baltic, with a very small sprinkling of experienced petty officers to stiffen the whole.
Due to the unfortunate handling between the port of entry and interrogation center the crew, in addition, was extremely secure and presented a very difficult problem to interrogators. This security consciousness was undoubtedly enhanced by the character of U-233’s mission and the fact that so many of the crew had spent the war in Germany under the full influence of propaganda and without the revealing experience of life at the front.
OFFICERS
Steen was popular with his crew and considered to be an efficient officer. He belonged to the April 1937 Naval Term, but little is known of his career. Prior to taking over U-233 he was first watch officer under Neumann on U-117, a 1600-ton supply boat.
Betzin, the first watch officer, was formerly in the merchant marine. To interrogators he was sly and vain, though apparently popular enough with the crew.
Gärtner, the second watch officer, was nondescript and secure. Some of the men thought he was too young for his responsibilities. He belonged to the May 1941 Naval Term.
Huar, the midshipman, was an unpleasant little Nazi who distinguished himself on board one of the rescuing vessels by posing as one of the men until he got tired of being treated like one. <-- :rotfl:He is my favorite LOL!
Nothing is known of Bartling, the engineer officer, except that he belonged to the October 1937 Naval Term, or of Moeller, the doctor, except that he was said to have been born in Russia.
MEN
Typical of the motley character of the crew was the chief boatswain, a man 42 years old who had first enlisted in 1921 and who, with the exception of a brief period on a schoolboat, had no previous U-boat experience.
The crew as a whole, besides their inexperience, showed little interest in the U-boat arm, knew little about it and cared less. If they could be taken as typical of the crews now manning the newer German U-boats, the prospect would be encouraging indeed. But past experience has shown that no general conclusions can be accurately drawn from the experience of one crew.
Learn more here: http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-233INT.htm
Check out the POW interrigation report from the sinking of U-233. They were telling the Yanks everything! They told them that their Naxos radar detector could detect Yank radar but the Wanz G-2 or Borkum detectors couldn't. They even spilled the Navy beans on a new type of mine they were laying! :o
The new mine was called a “Drückunterschiedsmine” (pressure differential mine) and it could "maintain a pre-set depth of four to six meters below the water surface, regardless of tide conditions." They described it so well that the Yanks were able to draw a schematic of its inner workings! Pretty cool huh? Too bad the Yanks and Limeys know all about it now!
Also, it is no wonder that my watch crew cannot spot anything. Here is a rather telling description of the crew:
CHAPTER IV. CREW OF U-233
GENERAL
U-233 carried a total complement of 60 officers and men: the captain, two watch officers. An engineer officer, a doctor, a midshipman under training who also acted as third watch officer, and 54 men.
The crew, judged from the 29 survivors, was a poor one. Most of the men were totally lacking in previous U-boat experience and a large number had never been to sea before. As a whole they gave the impression of being in the dregs of the reserve pools in Germany and shore stations on the Baltic, with a very small sprinkling of experienced petty officers to stiffen the whole.
Due to the unfortunate handling between the port of entry and interrogation center the crew, in addition, was extremely secure and presented a very difficult problem to interrogators. This security consciousness was undoubtedly enhanced by the character of U-233’s mission and the fact that so many of the crew had spent the war in Germany under the full influence of propaganda and without the revealing experience of life at the front.
OFFICERS
Steen was popular with his crew and considered to be an efficient officer. He belonged to the April 1937 Naval Term, but little is known of his career. Prior to taking over U-233 he was first watch officer under Neumann on U-117, a 1600-ton supply boat.
Betzin, the first watch officer, was formerly in the merchant marine. To interrogators he was sly and vain, though apparently popular enough with the crew.
Gärtner, the second watch officer, was nondescript and secure. Some of the men thought he was too young for his responsibilities. He belonged to the May 1941 Naval Term.
Huar, the midshipman, was an unpleasant little Nazi who distinguished himself on board one of the rescuing vessels by posing as one of the men until he got tired of being treated like one. <-- :rotfl:He is my favorite LOL!
Nothing is known of Bartling, the engineer officer, except that he belonged to the October 1937 Naval Term, or of Moeller, the doctor, except that he was said to have been born in Russia.
MEN
Typical of the motley character of the crew was the chief boatswain, a man 42 years old who had first enlisted in 1921 and who, with the exception of a brief period on a schoolboat, had no previous U-boat experience.
The crew as a whole, besides their inexperience, showed little interest in the U-boat arm, knew little about it and cared less. If they could be taken as typical of the crews now manning the newer German U-boats, the prospect would be encouraging indeed. But past experience has shown that no general conclusions can be accurately drawn from the experience of one crew.
Learn more here: http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-233INT.htm