German U-boats and the "High Scope" Technique

Subnuts · 08-11-09, 04:53 PM

I was browsing through Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's U-Boat War today, and a few of the photos caught my attention. In many of the shots of U-96 in the storm, or in rough weather, one of the periscopes is raised about a third of the way up. In most of the shots of the boat in calm weather, both are lowered. I also noticed this in many of the photographs in U-boat War Patrol, though the weather was calmer in most of the shots.

Now, the use of the "high scope" was sometimes used by Fleet boats in the Pacific, although the pros and cons of the technique were hotly debated. But this is the first time I've ever noticed it being used by the Germans. It seems that at least two of the "Aces" used this technique (Willenbrock and Suhren), but damned if I can find any references to it in literature. Anybody have any good leads?

Thanks!

08-11-09, 04:53 PM	#1
Subnuts The Old Man Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,658 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	German U-boats and the "High Scope" Technique I was browsing through Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's U-Boat War today, and a few of the photos caught my attention. In many of the shots of U-96 in the storm, or in rough weather, one of the periscopes is raised about a third of the way up. In most of the shots of the boat in calm weather, both are lowered. I also noticed this in many of the photographs in U-boat War Patrol, though the weather was calmer in most of the shots. Now, the use of the "high scope" was sometimes used by Fleet boats in the Pacific, although the pros and cons of the technique were hotly debated. But this is the first time I've ever noticed it being used by the Germans. It seems that at least two of the "Aces" used this technique (Willenbrock and Suhren), but damned if I can find any references to it in literature. Anybody have any good leads? Thanks! __________________ My Amazon.com reviews