"Real" Recognition Guide
 

Does anyone know what UBoats actually used for recognition guides? I assume the Kriegsmarine had a silhouette guide for warships, and they probably used Lloyd's register or something similar for merchants. I've tried numerous internet searches but have come up empty - would appreciate any assistance. Thanks.

I have a picture in a book where Erich Topp is seen writing in his diary and a open book on the table shows ship silhouettes. I will see about scanning it, but if you do a search for Topp images you might find it. I think it belongs to the U-552 patrol that was covered by a journalist, there are lots of photos about it.:hmm:

EDIT: Found it! See it here: http://www.u552.de/images/galleries/toppkm/topp03.jpg

Thanks. I've found what US boat skippers used (put out by ONI), but I'm wondering what book it is he's using.

What have you been searching so far? For a KM book, or for the Lloyd's register? Or both? The picture can be of some use if you now start looking for ship's registers and if the KM just copied one instead of doing their own book :hmm: . Anyway, try now to see if you find old registers pics and compare. Look at this example:

http://books.google.es/books?id=AR4k...houette&pgis=1

Hope that helps

Hitman,
I've tried searching for a Kriegsmarine book but have not found any... so I'm trying to find out what book(s) the U-Boat captains actually used to identify targets. For example, if it was a KM book, what was the book (so I can then go try to find one)? I think they used a Lloyd's register for merchants, but I'm not sure and haven't found a reference that says what they used.
Thanks for the link to the photo w/ Topp - knowing what the pages inside look like will help.

For some reason, the name 'Groners' with an umlaut over the 'o' comes to mind. I think that was the German equivalent of "Jane's".

Thanks - I've found a few german links for "GrÖners" and they look promising.

For warships, try the Weyers Taschenbuch der Kriegsflotten, a yearly publication still in existance today. I have a copy of the 1943/44 edition. VERY thorough and goes to the level of listing the name and specs of each known individual warship in each Navy. Certainly used by the Kriegsmarine in WWII, but if it was the "official" guide, I do not know.

Here's what they look like (a random one found on ebay)...

Can you post them here? Since I speak german I might be able to dig a bit deeper:hmm:

Erich Gröner - Taschenbuch der Handelsflotten 1939

Google didn't turn up an actual copy of that book, but Gröner is also the author of the famous (I have a copy) http://www.amazon.co.uk/German-Warsh.../dp/0870217909

JSCones - thanks! That's what I've been looking for. Appreciate the help!

Plenty on ebay

http://search.ebay.de/Weyers