Gunther Prien almost torpedo's a fat tanker 63 years after its fired!

Freiwillige · 09-28-09, 04:48 AM

True story. Taken from U-47.org

Prien's Ghost?

The story of the attack by U-47 at Scapa flow did not end on the fateful day in October 1939; as recently as September 2002, almost 63 years after the event, Prien and his boat were in the news again following the rather bizarre discovery of one its torpedoes by the Norwegian tanker MV Petrotrym. The following extract is taken from The Scottish Banner, a paper published in the United States for Scottish expatriates:

"TORPEDO" - Scapa Flow, Orkneys: An oil tanker recently had a narrow escape when it was nearly hit by a German torpedo - fired 63 years ago! The missile was one of four launched by submarine U-47 to scupper the battleship 'Royal Oak' in 1939 resulting in the loss of 833 lives.
Even though it failed to hit its target, the torpedo has lain on the seabed ever since, until it recently resurfaced in the dark waters of Scapa Flow and started to drift towards the 62,000 ton Norwegian tanker 'Petrotrym' , which was at anchor. Fortunately an attentive watchman noticed the barnacle-encrusted missile and raised the alarm in time.
The 15 foot torpedo was towed away by a tug to safe waters a mile away where it was detonated by a Royal Navy bomb disposal unit. Although its warhead was missing, the Navy said that it posed a genuine threat as it still contained its chamber of compressed gas.
(Thanks to Allan F. Cameron for submitting this article)

Following the removal of the torpedo to Scapa Pier on 9 September, Captain Nigel Mills, the Director of Orkney Island Council's Harbours Department, offered the following explanation for its sudden reappearance:

"It is difficult to state at this point exactly why this object decided to surface now. We did have an exceptionally low tide on Monday and it is possible that this disturbed the torpedo and allowed it to surface. Compressed air within a chamber inside the torpedo can force them to the surface in the way this one apparently did".
(Details from the Orkney Islands Council web site)

While the surfacing of the torpedo can be explained in purely scientific terms, its sudden reappearance in Scapa Flow over sixty years afterwards was remarkable. Might it indeed have been Prien's ghost, shouting defiantly from the depths?

flakmonkey · 09-28-09, 07:02 AM

Ha, thats brilliant, i wonder if Prien would have been given the tonnage credit for the sinking had this warheadless torpedo somehow sunk that 62000ton tanker

Hitman · 09-28-09, 07:06 AM

... and the warhead still has not appeared

so watch out, it could still make some damage

Jimbuna · 09-28-09, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

... and the warhead still has not appeared

so watch out, it could still make some damage

Probably been 'weighed in' at the local scrap dealers for a few balloons

Tomas23 · 09-28-09, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Might it indeed have been Prien's ghost, shouting defiantly from the depths?

Given a second chance, I don't think Prien would have missed twice with the same torpedo.

A very good read, though. Thanks for posting it.

flag4 · 09-28-09, 10:13 AM

a remarkable story, just like the event that took it there.

Danelov · 09-28-09, 10:18 AM

One G7e certainly, Dönitz had give to Prien this type of torpedos for this mission.

09-28-09, 01:45 PM

I've always found it interesting that a few modern merchants can equal the tonnage of an entire WWII ace carreer. It's mind boggling how big they've gotten, and at the same time, that there's no shortage of traffic out there.
Thanks for sharing. Great post.

The Bandit · 10-01-09, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danelov

One G7e certainly, Dönitz had give to Prien this type of torpedos for this mission.

Possibly but if thats the case then someone does not have their facts straight. G7a/T1 was a wet-heater powered by a combustion engine, the G7e/T2 was battery powered. As far as I know it would not have had any compressed air/gas in it, other than possibly some hydrogen from the batteries. IIRC they both had faulty impact pistols, T2 had some depth keeping problems, and T2 was the only one that had the faulty Magnetic pistol (IIRC even though it does in SH3 T1 did not have a magnetic pistol option)

09-28-09, 04:48 AM	#1
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Gunther Prien almost torpedo's a fat tanker 63 years after its fired! True story. Taken from U-47.org Prien's Ghost? The story of the attack by U-47 at Scapa flow did not end on the fateful day in October 1939; as recently as September 2002, almost 63 years after the event, Prien and his boat were in the news again following the rather bizarre discovery of one its torpedoes by the Norwegian tanker MV Petrotrym. The following extract is taken from The Scottish Banner, a paper published in the United States for Scottish expatriates: "TORPEDO" - Scapa Flow, Orkneys: An oil tanker recently had a narrow escape when it was nearly hit by a German torpedo - fired 63 years ago! The missile was one of four launched by submarine U-47 to scupper the battleship 'Royal Oak' in 1939 resulting in the loss of 833 lives. Even though it failed to hit its target, the torpedo has lain on the seabed ever since, until it recently resurfaced in the dark waters of Scapa Flow and started to drift towards the 62,000 ton Norwegian tanker 'Petrotrym' , which was at anchor. Fortunately an attentive watchman noticed the barnacle-encrusted missile and raised the alarm in time. The 15 foot torpedo was towed away by a tug to safe waters a mile away where it was detonated by a Royal Navy bomb disposal unit. Although its warhead was missing, the Navy said that it posed a genuine threat as it still contained its chamber of compressed gas. (Thanks to Allan F. Cameron* for submitting this article)* Following the removal of the torpedo to Scapa Pier on 9 September, Captain Nigel Mills, the Director of Orkney Island Council's Harbours Department, offered the following explanation for its sudden reappearance: "It is difficult to state at this point exactly why this object decided to surface now. We did have an exceptionally low tide on Monday and it is possible that this disturbed the torpedo and allowed it to surface. Compressed air within a chamber inside the torpedo can force them to the surface in the way this one apparently did". (Details from the Orkney Islands Council web site) While the surfacing of the torpedo can be explained in purely scientific terms, its sudden reappearance in Scapa Flow over sixty years afterwards was remarkable. Might it indeed have been Prien's ghost, shouting defiantly from the depths?

09-28-09, 07:02 AM	#2
flakmonkey Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Staffordshire, Uk Posts: 944 Downloads: 78 Uploads: 0	Ha, thats brilliant, i wonder if Prien would have been given the tonnage credit for the sinking had this warheadless torpedo somehow sunk that 62000ton tanker __________________

09-28-09, 07:06 AM	#3
Hitman Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 6,109 Downloads: 109 Uploads: 2	... and the warhead still has not appeared so watch out, it could still make some damage __________________ One day I will return to sea ...

09-28-09, 10:13 AM	#6
flag4 Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Location: as far away as possible Posts: 1,625 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 0	a remarkable story, just like the event that took it there. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] ' We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different.' Kurt Vonnegut

09-28-09, 10:18 AM	#7
Danelov Gunner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 94 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	One G7e certainly, Dönitz had give to Prien this type of torpedos for this mission.

09-28-09, 01:45 PM	#8
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I've always found it interesting that a few modern merchants can equal the tonnage of an entire WWII ace carreer. It's mind boggling how big they've gotten, and at the same time, that there's no shortage of traffic out there. Thanks for sharing. Great post.