U-864 Sub vs Sub

Hanzberger · 08-08-09, 04:08 PM

Just watched an interesting show (1hr) on U-864. It left Kiel in Dec 1944 with Jet power technolgy for Japan. The sub ran into engine trouble just off Norway I believe and had to turn around. The engine problem caused it to give off more noise then it would have liked. A British sub with a brilliant young captian tracked it down. After following the German sub for nearly 2 hrs it figured out its pattern of travel. She was zig zagging at periscope depth. (Remember that couldn't really see the boat except for the occasional periscope) The British sub fired 4 minnows at her. (somewhat blindly) The first 3 missed but the last one got her. This was the only sub vs sub in WW2 and the U-864 was the one of the last German subs sunk in the war. Sorry for lack of more details.

http://uboat.net/boats/u864.htm

The boat was also carrying a lot of mercury. You should be able to find articles on this cuz it is a big problem over there today.

Kapt Z · 08-08-09, 05:21 PM

Yes, I remember seeing some show on TV about this a while back.

Are you sure this was the only incident of sub vs sub in the entire war? Seems hard to believe.

Oh, the only submerged combat between subs. Ok.

Hanzberger · 08-08-09, 05:35 PM

According to the show and that web link, its the only known sub vs sub.

I'm surprised to actually even hear of one, but I suppose there could be a surfaced battle.

DaveU186 · 08-08-09, 06:28 PM

Think a few u-boats were sunk while surfaced by other submarines. Remember seeing this programme though. Was some top work from the British sub.

Jimbuna · 08-09-09, 08:28 AM

Yes quite a feat by the British Commander:

Quote:

Venturer had only 8 torpedoes as opposed to U-864's 22, and so after 3 hours Launders decided to make a prediction of his opponent's zig-zag, and release a spread of his torpedoes into its predicted course. This manual computation of a firing solution against a three-dimensionally manoeuvring target was the first occasion on which techniques were used which became the basis of modern torpedo computer targeting computer systems.
The first torpedo was released at 12.12 and then at 17 second intervals after that (taking 4 minutes to reach their target), and Launders then dived suddenly to evade any retaliation from his opponent. U864 heard the torpedoes coming and also dived deeper and turned away to avoid them, managing to avoid the first three but unknowingly steering into the path of the fourth. Exploding, U864 split in two, was sunk with all hands and came to rest more than 150 m (500 ft) below the surface on the seafloor. Launders was granted a bar to his DSO for this action.

This story has been posted a few times here....but it's always good to read it again....SINK EM ALL!!

Hanzberger · 08-09-09, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the update Jimbuna

Yea why not post again, it was new to me so it's gotta be new to someone else.

08-08-09, 04:08 PM	#1
Hanzberger Helmsman Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 102 Downloads: 140 Uploads: 0	U-864 Sub vs Sub Just watched an interesting show (1hr) on U-864. It left Kiel in Dec 1944 with Jet power technolgy for Japan. The sub ran into engine trouble just off Norway I believe and had to turn around. The engine problem caused it to give off more noise then it would have liked. A British sub with a brilliant young captian tracked it down. After following the German sub for nearly 2 hrs it figured out its pattern of travel. She was zig zagging at periscope depth. (Remember that couldn't really see the boat except for the occasional periscope) The British sub fired 4 minnows at her. (somewhat blindly) The first 3 missed but the last one got her. This was the only sub vs sub in WW2 and the U-864 was the one of the last German subs sunk in the war. Sorry for lack of more details. http://uboat.net/boats/u864.htm The boat was also carrying a lot of mercury. You should be able to find articles on this cuz it is a big problem over there today.

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08-08-09, 05:21 PM	#2
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	Yes, I remember seeing some show on TV about this a while back. Are you sure this was the only incident of sub vs sub in the entire war? Seems hard to believe. Oh, the only submerged combat between subs. Ok.

08-08-09, 05:35 PM	#3
Hanzberger Helmsman Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 102 Downloads: 140 Uploads: 0	According to the show and that web link, its the only known sub vs sub. I'm surprised to actually even hear of one, but I suppose there could be a surfaced battle.

08-08-09, 06:28 PM	#4
DaveU186 Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 112 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Think a few u-boats were sunk while surfaced by other submarines. Remember seeing this programme though. Was some top work from the British sub.

08-09-09, 11:36 AM	#6
Hanzberger Helmsman Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 102 Downloads: 140 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the update Jimbuna Yea why not post again, it was new to me so it's gotta be new to someone else.