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Molch [pic heavy]
So here in Johannesburg, we have South Africa's Military History Museum with a wealth of very interesting exhibits. Of particular interest is their Molch Mini U boat. Now how exactly it came to be in South Africa I have no idea, but I thought I would share some pics for those who are interested.
http://img215.imageshack.us/i/molch1.jpg/http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5541/molch1.jpg In this first pic you can see the size of it. I believe it would carry just one man, it looks like it would accomodate one person very easily, however when you actually look in you see that it had better be a very small person. http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9275/molch2.jpg One of the things that surprised me was the fact that the periscope stuck out far more than i would have thought. http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/3505/molch3.jpg So i guess the number M391 refered to it being the 391st out of a total of 393 built in total. The torpedos you can see are G7e's http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/4120/molch4.jpg Here you can see the rudder and tail assembly quite nicely. http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/6486/molch6.jpg In this pic you can see the torpedo again as well as the battery. Also if you look above it, you will see a mine with a cross section (I had imagined the mines to be bigger) http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/8484/molch7.jpg Ya, I dunno what that funny litle thing is in front either, I imagine it is for attaching a rope to. http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/350/molch9.jpg This pic shows the battery. Well, one of them, apparently the reason the Molch was so big was because most of the forward part contained the batteries. So there it is, my own "U boat up the road" :D I think the only U boat I am likely to come across in my part of the world. http://img215.imageshack.us/i/molch1.jpg/ |
Is that something similar to ohka? Or is it meant to return after launching torpedoes? It looks like a torpedo itself, must have quite a bad range I guess, with those batteries you won't get far. Besides where's the food, water, bed, loo, or anything in it? Needs perfect weather to sail too I guess, such a small thing wouldn't hold out long in the big waves and traveling underwater for long periods would be difficult, can't see much oxygen in it.
Can't see it as anything but a suicide boat, or perhaps it's meant to be towed by a real uboat or ship and released when the target is in range, how would one get back to the uboat/ship is a difficult question as well. You got me intrigued, gonna research this one a little when I get the time, or one of the experts will post a summary of this thing. |
Great pictures. It looks like something inbetween a manned torpedo and a midget submarine. Were they ever used in action?
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Great pictures! Thanks for posting them. :rock:
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From Wikipedia
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Well it sounds like a death trap to me. With stats like those, I wonder who would volunteer to operate one? If you look inside, the space for the operator is so small, its crazy to think that the whole front part JUST caries the batteries.
Can you imagine being depth charged in one of these? I mean I can't realy imagine what it must have felt like at the best of times, never mind on my own in little more than a tin can. It must have been terrifying. The hatch is so small I dont know how anybody could NOT feel claustrophobic in one of these. It just makes me respect those U boat sailors even more. I found the following Patrol report from M 58: Quote:
http://www.juergenthuro.de/html/molchusa.html |
Wow, the Molch certainly seems like a weapon born out of desperation, you'd have to be equipped with nerves of steel to operate one!
Although the design, intended use and operating procedures are very different, they do remind me of the British and Italian manned torpedos. Originally an Italian idea, they were used by underwater demolition teams to sink ships at anchor in enemy harbours. Commando frogmen riding the device would infiltrate the enemy harbour, steer the torpedo towards the target, detatch the warhead under the ship, (or physically attatch it to the ship's hull in the case of limpet mines) set it for a timed detonation and then ride the torpedo away. Seems like madness but infact they were rather successful. |
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