Who killed Prien?

[Bilge_Rat]

70 years ago today, march 7,1941, Gunther Prien, arguably the most famous U-boat commander of the war disappeared.

This much is known, he filed his last position report on 0440, attacked a 20,000 ton ship in convoy Outbound 293, hitting her with two torpedoes, then U-47 disappeared for all time.

initially the Admiralty gave the credit to "Wolverine" for a DC attack at 0400 on march 8, however this would have meant Prien had chased the convoy far to the west for 24 hours which is unlikely given that he was low on torpedoes.

According to Clay Blair, the most likely explanation is that U-47 was destroyed during the many DC attacks "Wolverine" and/or " Verity" launched on U-47, U-70 and U-99 on march 7.

Among the other possibilities are that U-47 was sunk by a circular running torpedo, by crew error or for unknown causes on the way back to Lorient with a defective
radio.

U-47 had sailed on February 20 after 76 days in port. There had been a substantial turnover in the crew and little opportunity to train before sailing, so crew error is a real possibility.

[Gerald]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_Prien

http://www.uboat.net/men/prien.htm

http://www.u47.org/english/u47_pri.asp

http://www.leisuregalleries.com/prienp.html

[Feuer Frei!]

Conclusion: Inconclusive.

[nikimcbee]

If I recall, the one the Wolverine sunk had a bent prop shaft, and that is how they were able to track it. Whether or not it was the U-47, I guess we'll never know.

[Bilge_Rat]

we should have a better idea on the cause when they find the wreck of U-47 at the bottom of the Atlantic.

I am surprised it has not been located yet, considering all the other wrecks which have found in recent years.

[Dowly]

Dont think there is an answer to this. Not definitive atleast.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

we should have a better idea on the cause when they find the wreck of U-47 at the bottom of the Atlantic.

I am surprised it has not been located yet, considering all the other wrecks which have found in recent years.

That would be quite the find. I don't know how'd they ID the boat though, unless they went inside.

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

That would be quite the find. I don't know how'd they ID the boat though, unless they went inside.

They keep finding new u-boats and other wrecks, although most of them are in relatively shallow waters (i.e. Less than 300 feet) and accessible to scuba divers.

http://www.uboat.net/announce.html

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

That would be quite the find.

Don't hold your breath. (Pun intended).

[Jimbuna]

I subscribe to Blairs theory....well either that or he met his end in GWX

[Tchocky]

Cigarettes!

[MaddogK]

Probably an errant torpedo, they seemed to follow Prien (pun intended),

Unfortunately defective torpedoes weren't invented before Royal Oak.

http://s1.postimage.org/231wpky74v/image273_18.jpg

[CCIP]

It's not very likely they'll ever find her. The sub sank in a very deep part of the ocean, and considering the manner in which subs usually go down (i.e. implode from the pressure) it's probably in a pretty poor shape. Not very many wrecks this small tend to be located that deep, and even with radar searches it's unlikely to be easily identifiable as a U-boat, let alone a specific boat. I think there's almost no chance the boat will ever be found, and even if it's found, it's improbable that will yield any clues as to how it sank.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by CCIP

It's not very likely they'll ever find her. The sub sank in a very deep part of the ocean, and considering the manner in which subs usually go down (i.e. implode from the pressure) it's probably in a pretty poor shape. Not very many wrecks this small tend to be located that deep, and even with radar searches it's unlikely to be easily identifiable as a U-boat, let alone a specific boat. I think there's almost no chance the boat will ever be found, and even if it's found, it's improbable that will yield any clues as to how it sank.

Not that it hasn't been done its just there is no pressing demand to find out what happened.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not that it hasn't been done its just there is no pressing demand to find out what happened.

Oh indeed. Though I think the search for U-47, especially with the number of other very similar wrecks littering that area, would be even more difficult and costly, and who'd pay?

I'm also skeptical that she's not just a debris field now. At least that's my impression of what most U-boats sunk in violent action in deep ocean look like - i.e. torn up and in pieces.