News about Subs during WWII

Nickolas · 02-07-10, 05:41 PM

Hello

Browsing through my stuff I a picture my dad took of an old newspaper and thought it would be nice to share it with you.

it reads:
"Submarine operations
[picture]
A crewmember of the Norwegian freight ship Ida Bakke took this picture of a submarine sailing on the surface when it aproached his ship to inform them that in the proximities laid 4 lifeboats full with crewmembers of the british tanker "Influence" torpedoed 4 hours before by the same uboat. The Ida Bakke, guided by the german sailors, picked up the survivors near the coast of Ireland"

I also have anotherone (i wont post a picture of it because it's only text)
but it says:

"Declarations of the captain of Jenny

The commander of the norwegian freighter Jenny, Peter Sorensen, declared to the journalists upon his arrival to Oporto. He said that a german Uboat stopped his ship under threat of torpedoing it and demanded to be given food.
The crewmember that handed potatoes, dried fish, sugar and bread to the submarine that soon after that the submarine submerged. Two british ships came swiftly and opened fire on the spot the submarine had submerged and launched depth charges. After a while some oil slicks were spotted on the water, it is safe to asume that the submarine was lost with all hands.
the Jenny had come from Glasgow under ballast to Oporto with the intent to pick up cargo to be delivered to Great Britain"

I hope you like them

Schroeder · 02-07-10, 05:48 PM

Interesting.

Letum · 02-07-10, 06:02 PM

Ahh! It's a VIIA. You don't see many photos of them.
I suspect it has had it's guard rails removed as well.

zak2k12 · 02-07-10, 06:04 PM

That's a nice find.

The ship in the first story, British Influence, was sunk on September the 14th, 1939, near Cape Clear by U-29. So the sub in the picture has to be the type VIIA U-29. The survivors were picked up by the Ida Bakke, which rescued more survivors the very next day, when U-53 attacked the British motor tanker Cheyenne.

I couldn't find much about the second story. I think the U-boat in question is U-124. It was sunk near Opporto on April the 2nd, 1943, by two British warships, but I couldn't find any mention of Norwegian freighter Jenny or its Captain.

Letum · 02-07-10, 06:23 PM

I was right!

Welcome to Subsim Zak.

Nickolas · 02-07-10, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

I was right!

Welcome to Subsim Zak.

i always thought that the stern of that uboat looked "funny" to say the least

Letum · 02-07-10, 07:32 PM

It was the straight conning tower I first noticed.
Much more like the IIA conning tower.

Chad · 02-08-10, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak2k12

That's a nice find.

The ship in the first story, British Influence, was sunk on September the 14th, 1939, near Cape Clear by U-29. So the sub in the picture has to be the type VIIA U-29. The survivors were picked up by the Ida Bakke, which rescued more survivors the very next day, when U-53 attacked the British motor tanker Cheyenne.

I couldn't find much about the second story. I think the U-boat in question is U-124. It was sunk near Opporto on April the 2nd, 1943, by two British warships, but I couldn't find any mention of Norwegian freighter Jenny or its Captain.

Welcome aboard and brilliant first post. Thanks for the info!

Kaleu_Mihoo · 02-08-10, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickolas

i always thought that the stern of that uboat looked "funny" to say the least

It's the torpedo tube. Early VII A boats have got their aft torpedo tube in that position, later it was replaced by the "normal" underwater torpedo tube. So probably no stern torpedo shots when surfaced

Letum · 02-08-10, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaleu_Mihoo

So probably no stern torpedo shots when surfaced

Why not?
Even if the torpedo hits the water at a funny angle, the gyroscope will
make sure it goes in the right direction after the turn.

PT boats and destroyers launch their fish from well above the water.
Aeroplanes, even more so.

ReFaN · 02-08-10, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

Why not?
Even if the torpedo hits the water at a funny angle, the gyroscope will
make sure it goes in the right direction after the turn.

PT boats and destroyers launch their fish from well above the water.
Aeroplanes, even more so.

Really? i thought airplanes Crashed into the water prior launching there torpedoes.

Letum · 02-08-10, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReFaN

Really? i thought airplanes Crashed into the water prior launching there torpedoes.

Well, some of them did.

That is a drawing from the plans for a Russian submarine plane armed with torpedoes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_submarine

Nickolas · 02-08-10, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_submarine

from the link "The design never 'got off the ground'."

i giggled.

---
@Kaleu_Mihoo i know how a type VIIA looks like

it just never cossed my mind that i could be looking at a picture of one. the truth was hiding from me on plain sight

.
----

to be honest i don't think a surface aft torpedo launch would be posible.

note the distance between the tube and the stern of the sub. it would require a LOT of compressed air to move the torpedoe from the tube to the water, safely and without banging the hull, a bent fin could mess with the direction or depth keeping mechanisms, blah blah blah...

The Enigma · 02-08-10, 03:14 PM

Interesting and informational read.
Thanks for sharing

Jimbuna · 02-08-10, 03:26 PM

Welcome aboard zak2k12

02-07-10, 05:41 PM	#1
Nickolas Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 112 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	News about Subs during WWII Hello Browsing through my stuff I a picture my dad took of an old newspaper and thought it would be nice to share it with you. it reads: "Submarine operations [picture] A crewmember of the Norwegian freight ship Ida Bakke took this picture of a submarine sailing on the surface when it aproached his ship to inform them that in the proximities laid 4 lifeboats full with crewmembers of the british tanker "Influence" torpedoed 4 hours before by the same uboat. The Ida Bakke, guided by the german sailors, picked up the survivors near the coast of Ireland" I also have anotherone (i wont post a picture of it because it's only text) but it says: "Declarations of the captain of Jenny The commander of the norwegian freighter Jenny, Peter Sorensen, declared to the journalists upon his arrival to Oporto. He said that a german Uboat stopped his ship under threat of torpedoing it and demanded to be given food. The crewmember that handed potatoes, dried fish, sugar and bread to the submarine that soon after that the submarine submerged. Two british ships came swiftly and opened fire on the spot the submarine had submerged and launched depth charges. After a while some oil slicks were spotted on the water, it is safe to asume that the submarine was lost with all hands. the Jenny had come from Glasgow under ballast to Oporto with the intent to pick up cargo to be delivered to Great Britain" I hope you like them

02-07-10, 05:48 PM	#2
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Interesting. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

02-07-10, 06:02 PM	#3
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Ahh! It's a VIIA. You don't see many photos of them. I suspect it has had it's guard rails removed as well. __________________

02-07-10, 06:23 PM	#5
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I was right! Welcome to Subsim Zak. __________________

02-07-10, 07:32 PM	#7
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	It was the straight conning tower I first noticed. Much more like the IIA conning tower. __________________

02-07-10, 06:04 PM	#4
zak2k12 Bilge Rat Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	That's a nice find. The ship in the first story, British Influence, was sunk on September the 14th, 1939, near Cape Clear by U-29. So the sub in the picture has to be the type VIIA U-29. The survivors were picked up by the Ida Bakke, which rescued more survivors the very next day, when U-53 attacked the British motor tanker Cheyenne. I couldn't find much about the second story. I think the U-boat in question is U-124. It was sunk near Opporto on April the 2nd, 1943, by two British warships, but I couldn't find any mention of Norwegian freighter Jenny or its Captain.

02-08-10, 03:14 PM	#14
The Enigma Seer of visions Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Under the surface Posts: 2,315 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Interesting and informational read. Thanks for sharing __________________

02-08-10, 03:26 PM	#15
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Welcome aboard zak2k12 __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!