Grey Wolf? Why?

Tachyon · 12-06-06, 01:58 AM

Why were the U-boats nicknamed as "Grey Wolves"??? I don't get it, they could have used other titles, although GW is also quite fine.

Also, what does the term "Laid down" refer to?

danlisa · 12-06-06, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachyon

Why were the U-boats nicknamed as "Grey Wolves"??? I don't get it, they could have used other titles, although GW is also quite fine.

Also, what does the term "Laid down" refer to?

Laid Down - when a ships keel is layed ready for construction at the docks.

Grey Wolves - I assume it's as simple as, they were grey and hunted in packs.

Venatore · 12-06-06, 03:29 AM

well lets see now........ one u-boat would be patrolling and come across a convoy (the sheep pack), this u-boat would shadow the convoy....at the same time radio to BDU who would in-turn call other u-boats to the location of the shadowing u-boat. The original u-boat would keep its distance as not to alarm the convoy of its presence. Once the other u-boats arrived (in some cases 22 u-boats) these u-boats would become the wolf pack. At a certian time/or if the convoy did something stupid, the wolf pack would attack...... the protection would try to fight the pack off, but in the early days the wolves always found a way into the sheep pack and the slaughter would begin. As the years went by and the defences of the convoy became more experinced the wolf pack in many cases became the not the hunters but the hunted.

The term Grey Wolves came from the grey hulls of the u-boats and the wolf was due to their tactics...well thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

There are many books about the wolf packs 1939-1945, and I think Santa will be bringing me some more.....I've been a good boy.

Kpt. Lehmann · 12-06-06, 04:09 AM

Ummm, you guys are "sort-of" right...

In truth Admiral Doenitz' men referred to him as "The Lion of the Atlantic" and he referred to his men as "The Grey Wolves" generally as a reference to the grey oil-skins they used to wear...and as a reference to the color of the U-boats themselves.

The reference was to the men and not the U-boats themselves.

Venatore · 12-06-06, 04:24 AM

I knew Kpt Lehmann would come along and give us the right answer:rotfl:

Pants · 12-06-06, 04:27 AM

And here's me..I thought they were named after thier fur stoals LOL JK :rotfl:

Dowly · 12-06-06, 04:31 AM

:rotfl:

OT: I got your PM, Pantsy. No worries.

_Seth_ · 12-06-06, 04:37 AM

Why "the grey wolves"....? Wouldnt it sound stupid if it was called "The fluffy bunnies" or "The quacking ducks".... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

mookiemookie · 12-06-06, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pants

And here's me..I thought they were named after thier fur stoals LOL JK :rotfl:

Goes with that pink u-boat that danlisa made. SASSY! JUST FABOO!

Lanzfeld · 12-06-06, 09:18 AM

A quack pack!:rotfl:

AVGWarhawk · 12-06-06, 09:23 AM

Yeah, something like "fear the lemings" as they mass and jump into the sea just does not quite grasp the ferocity of the men and the boats.

Let see, gray boats, well, gray everything....run in packs and nip at the convoys...just seem to fit I guess.

Tachyon · 12-06-06, 09:28 AM

"Der Zimpsons" , now that's scary :rotfl:

12-06-06, 01:58 AM	#1
Tachyon Captain Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: India Posts: 514 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Grey Wolf? Why? Why were the U-boats nicknamed as "Grey Wolves"??? I don't get it, they could have used other titles, although GW is also quite fine. Also, what does the term "Laid down" refer to? __________________ My propellor is faster than yours!!! Last edited by Tachyon; 12-06-06 at 02:09 AM.

12-06-06, 04:09 AM	#4
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,993 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	Ummm, you guys are "sort-of" right... In truth Admiral Doenitz' men referred to him as "The Lion of the Atlantic" and he referred to his men as "The Grey Wolves" generally as a reference to the grey oil-skins they used to wear...and as a reference to the color of the U-boats themselves. The reference was to the men and not the U-boats themselves. __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

12-06-06, 04:27 AM	#6
Pants Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Somewhere in the Atlantic Posts: 849 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	And here's me..I thought they were named after thier fur stoals LOL JK :rotfl: __________________ Ex GWX Dev Team member and proud GWX user

12-06-06, 04:37 AM	#8
_Seth_ Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In Tromsoe, @Tirpitz' final resting place.. Posts: 3,277 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	Why "the grey wolves"....? Wouldnt it sound stupid if it was called "The fluffy bunnies" or "The quacking ducks".... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: __________________

12-06-06, 09:23 AM	#11
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Yeah, something like "fear the lemings" as they mass and jump into the sea just does not quite grasp the ferocity of the men and the boats. Let see, gray boats, well, gray everything....run in packs and nip at the convoys...just seem to fit I guess. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

12-06-06, 03:29 AM	#3
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	well lets see now........ one u-boat would be patrolling and come across a convoy (the sheep pack), this u-boat would shadow the convoy....at the same time radio to BDU who would in-turn call other u-boats to the location of the shadowing u-boat. The original u-boat would keep its distance as not to alarm the convoy of its presence. Once the other u-boats arrived (in some cases 22 u-boats) these u-boats would become the wolf pack. At a certian time/or if the convoy did something stupid, the wolf pack would attack...... the protection would try to fight the pack off, but in the early days the wolves always found a way into the sheep pack and the slaughter would begin. As the years went by and the defences of the convoy became more experinced the wolf pack in many cases became the not the hunters but the hunted. The term Grey Wolves came from the grey hulls of the u-boats and the wolf was due to their tactics...well thats my story and I'm sticking to it. There are many books about the wolf packs 1939-1945, and I think Santa will be bringing me some more.....I've been a good boy.

12-06-06, 04:24 AM	#5
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	I knew Kpt Lehmann would come along and give us the right answer:rotfl:

12-06-06, 04:31 AM	#7
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	:rotfl: OT: I got your PM, Pantsy. No worries.

12-06-06, 09:18 AM	#10
Lanzfeld Grey Wolf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 994 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	A quack pack!:rotfl:

12-06-06, 09:28 AM	#12
Tachyon Captain Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: India Posts: 514 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	"Der Zimpsons" , now that's scary :rotfl: __________________ My propellor is faster than yours!!!