Historical Hunting Techniques

[BillCar]

My grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940-1945, and I asked him about this this afternoon! His opinion certainly is that a U-Boat trying to carry on on the surface against a convoy at that point in the war was asking to be destroyed. He served on four ships (two Flower corvettes, two Tribal destroyers), and saw quite a few U-Boats destroyed – one of those was on the surface, destroyed through his fire direction (he ran the radar gunnery on HMCS Haida and HMCS Huron for his respective assignments to each ship).

The book is kind of chilling to read, because one gets the impression that BdU knew they were passing on lethal advice to inexperienced crews, but they were willing to sacrifice the subs and men so long as they could get two or three ships sunk instead of one in a convoy. Of course, that gamble was always being played, but at that stage of the war, it was becoming pretty certain that if you wanted to play with a convoy on the surface for multiple attacks, you were going to the bottom soon afterwards.

[flag4]

Originally Posted by BillCar

My grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940-1945, and I asked him about this this afternoon! His opinion certainly is that a U-Boat trying to carry on on the surface against a convoy at that point in the war was asking to be destroyed. He served on four ships (two Flower corvettes, two Tribal destroyers), and saw quite a few U-Boats destroyed – one of those was on the surface, destroyed through his fire direction (he ran the radar gunnery on HMCS Haida and HMCS Huron for his respective assignments to each ship).

The book is kind of chilling to read, because one gets the impression that BdU knew they were passing on lethal advice to inexperienced crews, but they were willing to sacrifice the subs and men so long as they could get two or three ships sunk instead of one in a convoy. Of course, that gamble was always being played, but at that stage of the war, it was becoming pretty certain that if you wanted to play with a convoy on the surface for multiple attacks, you were going to the bottom soon afterwards.

WOW!

you should/must get your grandfather to tell all into a recording devise, recounting all the detail he remembers. it was a fascinating time and turning point in a pivotal war of the 20th century. i have read alot about the convoys, the merchant men, the navies that fought on both sides, but i bet nothing compares to a first hand account!!

my grandfather was in the german army and, at one point, fought in norway - i have seen the black and white photo's of him. at some point on his return he was captured by the russians later in the war and escaped when his captor got drunk. when the war was over he walked back to austria so as to clear his head - everything in ruins. he died before i got chance to ask him about it all. he would relay these events to my mother as she fell asleep for bed time stories!!

talk to your grandfather alot!!

[BillCar]

I do! In fact, I helped edit and translate some of his memoirs... and come to think of it, I have some on this computer!

He doesn't write about EVERY detail, because a lot of it concerns his life before and after the war (he was a golf pro and the first pediatric doctor in our city) and I think he isn't used to typing so much. He'll be 89 this year, but still plays golf every day.

I know a lot of his stories by heart, but I will publish some excerpts from his memoirs on here today. I am positive that he would be okay with it – I will leave his name out, and maybe change the names of some people (except for prominent sailors, like the commander of HMCS Haida, Harry G. DeWolf, RCN, most decorated commonwealth sailor of the entire war!). I don't know where to publish them, exactly... any ideas on a forum section? I've only ever posted in here. Maybe I will start with an excerpt in here right now and can publish elsewhere if need be:

"In the early months of 1938, a few of my friends and I found ourselves bored, and decided to join the army. My mother was not pleased. We joined the Canadian Fusiliers Reserve Regiment at London, Ontario in April of 1938 -- I was only seventeen at the time, and obviously did not present a birth certificate.

My only notable action in the army came when the Thames River flooded, putting London West under water, and I was stationed on Wharncliffe Road to assist in water-stopping. My other big moment came when King George V and Queen Elizabeth visited London, and the regiment lined up on Dundas Street. We stood at attention in front of the armouries in the blistering heat, wearing winter uniforms -- a couple of soldiers fainted.

The Second World War began in September of 1939, and it became obvious that the Fusiliers wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. We transferred instead to the Royal Canadian Army Corps. In September 1940, we still had not been called into active duty, and some of the fellows at Breezie's had heard that the navy was looking for men with at least a Grade 13 education to go to the University of Western Ontario for advanced radio science training. Earl *****, George **** and myself all transferred to the navy. So finally, I got to attend university -- I suppose I owe that much to Adolf Hitler.

Our course was supposed to last six months or more, but the situation in the North Atlantic was shaping up poorly for the allies, so we were rushed through and shipped out to the Stadacona Barracks in Halifax to commission the HMCS Drumheller. I had met Bunny ********* at Western, and was very happy when I discovered that we were both Drumheller draftees. To this day, he is still one of my best friends.

Drumheller, like all newly commissioned corvettes, had a very green crew. Most of us had never seen an ocean. The navy attempted to put sailors with actual experience on each new ship, but these were unfortunately few in number. We on the Drumheller were lucky to be given a few really good ones."

....


I'll use that as a teaser, and stop it there, since this'll be a really long post otherwise. If there's interest, I can make a thread somewhere else (Sub & Naval Discussions? General Topics?).

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by BillCar

I'll use that as a teaser, and stop it there, since this'll be a really long post otherwise. If there's interest, I can make a thread somewhere else (Sub & Naval Discussions? General Topics?).

I for one would like to read more!

[sergei]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I for one would like to read more!

Seconded.
I think you'll find there will be quite a lot of interest in this.

[BillCar]

http://subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160925

Here you guys go!

[sergei]

[johan_d]

Originally Posted by BillCar

I'll use that as a teaser, and stop it there, since this'll be a really long post otherwise. If there's interest, I can make a thread somewhere else (Sub & Naval Discussions? General Topics?).

You bet we are interrested!