Molch [pic heavy]

[WetOne]

Well it sounds like a death trap to me. With stats like those, I wonder who would volunteer to operate one? If you look inside, the space for the operator is so small, its crazy to think that the whole front part JUST caries the batteries.

Can you imagine being depth charged in one of these? I mean I can't realy imagine what it must have felt like at the best of times, never mind on my own in little more than a tin can. It must have been terrifying. The hatch is so small I dont know how anybody could NOT feel claustrophobic in one of these.

It just makes me respect those U boat sailors even more.

I found the following Patrol report from M 58:

PATROL AND SINKING OF M 58
M 58 left on 2330 and proceeded dead slow (four knots) for 1½ hours with periscope visible. The Coxswain then took her to 5 metres (16.4 feet) and maintained the same speed until 0300, when he increased to ¾ speed (7 knots). At 0400 he arrived in his operational area off Nice, some 4-5 miles south-west. of Cap Ferrat, having steered 230 degrees throughout. He took his boat down to 12 metres (39.4 feet) and slowly circled around. Shortly before 0615, it became evident that the boat was bow heavy, and the coxswain was unable to trim her. At 0615 he came to periscope depth, and was almost immediately sighted by an aircraft which dropped a number of smoke floats near him. Destroyers soon approached and made contact; the coxswain, believing that depth charges would be set much deeper, decided that it would be safest to remain at 5 metres, (16.4 feet). Eighteen to twenty depth-charges were dropped shortly afterwards, but all exploded beneath him. Two more series followed, and the last depth charge to explode caused a water entry on the port side below the Control Room. The boat became stern heavy, and after setting the scuttling charges, the coxswain opened the cupola and abandoned ship at 0845.

Have alook at the following site for a few more:
http://www.juergenthuro.de/html/molchusa.html

[FlankSpeed]

Wow, the Molch certainly seems like a weapon born out of desperation, you'd have to be equipped with nerves of steel to operate one!

Although the design, intended use and operating procedures are very different, they do remind me of the British and Italian manned torpedos. Originally an Italian idea, they were used by underwater demolition teams to sink ships at anchor in enemy harbours.

Commando frogmen riding the device would infiltrate the enemy harbour, steer the torpedo towards the target, detatch the warhead under the ship, (or physically attatch it to the ship's hull in the case of limpet mines) set it for a timed detonation and then ride the torpedo away.

Seems like madness but infact they were rather successful.