What combo of skills for officers

Draka · 11-19-10, 03:57 PM

For what it is worth:

From "Wolf-Pack - The Story of the Uboat in WWII" by Gordon Williamson, pp. 179-180 we have the following optimized crew roster:

"Commander Kapitänleutnant, usually referred to as 'Herr Kaleu'.
There were a few Korvettenkapitän-ranked commanders
and a number of commanders with the rank of
Oberleutnant zur See, particularly later in the war.
First Officer Typically, an Oberleutnant zur See (or Leutnant zur See
on boats where the commander was an Oberleutnant).
The First Watch Officer was usually referred to as the
IWO.
Second Officer Usually a Leutnant zur See and referred to as the
'Zweiter Wach Offizier'.
U-BOAT CREWS
179
Engineering Officer Generally a Leutnant or Oberleutnant zur See, his title
was 'Leitender Ingenieur' or Leading Engineer and he
was normally referred to as the 'LF.
Third Watch Officer This post was held by a warrant officer grade, typically
the Obersteuermann or Navigator.
Fourth Watch Officer This was a non-commissioned post often held by the
Oberbootsmaat or bosun.
The remainder of the crew would be made up approximately as follows (total
crew numbers could vary from boat to boat):
Stabsobermaschinist Chief Warrant Officer (1) Engine Room
Obermaschinist Senior Warrant Officer (2) Engine Room
Maschinenobermaat Chief Petty Officer (2) Engine Room
Maschinenmaat Petty Officer (5) Engine Room
Maschinenobergefreiter Leading Seaman (11) Engine Room
Maschinengefreiter Able Seaman (5) Engine Room
Funkobermaat Chief Petty Officer (3) Radio Operator
Funkobergefreiter Leading Seaman (1) Radio Operator
Funkgefreiter Able Seaman (2) Radio Operator
Oberbootsmann Senior Warrant Officer (2)
Bootsmann Warrant Officer (1)
Matrosenobergefreiter Leading Seaman (7)
Matrosengefreiter Able Seaman (3)
Obermechaniker Senior Warrant Officer (1) Torpedo Room
Mechanikermaat Petty Officer (2) Torpedo Room
Mechanikerobergefreiter Leading Seaman (1) Torpedo Room
Mechanikergefreiter Able Seaman (1) Torpedo Room
Sanitätsmaat Petty Officer (1) Medical Orderly"

Notice the preponderance of engine-room types - and the "mechaniker" torpedomen were mechanics trained in the maintenance of them - the "matrosen" were the ones who would be loading/unloading, etc - and any other grunt work.

Also, as to the original topic - I also have Line and Engineer Officers, with the latter concentrating on Mechanic and Repair skills, while the Line types are Helmsman, Watch Officer, and combat skills as needed. Because of the way Ubi made the Nav function an Officer one instead of a PO, I have one of the Officers fill in when using those functions - but don't have one permanently assigned as such.

Analysis of actual rosters of boats when lost (from http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ mostly) verifies the above; altho most boats lacked many of the slots shown, the emphasis on engineering and relative "undermanning" of the torpedo rooms as we tend to think of them are accurate.

11-19-10, 03:57 PM	#24
Draka Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256 Downloads: 322 Uploads: 0	For what it is worth: From "Wolf-Pack - The Story of the Uboat in WWII" by Gordon Williamson, pp. 179-180 we have the following optimized crew roster: "Commander Kapitänleutnant, usually referred to as 'Herr Kaleu'. There were a few Korvettenkapitän-ranked commanders and a number of commanders with the rank of Oberleutnant zur See, particularly later in the war. First Officer Typically, an Oberleutnant zur See (or Leutnant zur See on boats where the commander was an Oberleutnant). The First Watch Officer was usually referred to as the IWO. Second Officer Usually a Leutnant zur See and referred to as the 'Zweiter Wach Offizier'. U-BOAT CREWS 179 Engineering Officer Generally a Leutnant or Oberleutnant zur See, his title was 'Leitender Ingenieur' or Leading Engineer and he was normally referred to as the 'LF. Third Watch Officer This post was held by a warrant officer grade, typically the Obersteuermann or Navigator. Fourth Watch Officer This was a non-commissioned post often held by the Oberbootsmaat or bosun. The remainder of the crew would be made up approximately as follows (total crew numbers could vary from boat to boat): Stabsobermaschinist Chief Warrant Officer (1) Engine Room Obermaschinist Senior Warrant Officer (2) Engine Room Maschinenobermaat Chief Petty Officer (2) Engine Room Maschinenmaat Petty Officer (5) Engine Room Maschinenobergefreiter Leading Seaman (11) Engine Room Maschinengefreiter Able Seaman (5) Engine Room Funkobermaat Chief Petty Officer (3) Radio Operator Funkobergefreiter Leading Seaman (1) Radio Operator Funkgefreiter Able Seaman (2) Radio Operator Oberbootsmann Senior Warrant Officer (2) Bootsmann Warrant Officer (1) Matrosenobergefreiter Leading Seaman (7) Matrosengefreiter Able Seaman (3) Obermechaniker Senior Warrant Officer (1) Torpedo Room Mechanikermaat Petty Officer (2) Torpedo Room Mechanikerobergefreiter Leading Seaman (1) Torpedo Room Mechanikergefreiter Able Seaman (1) Torpedo Room Sanitätsmaat Petty Officer (1) Medical Orderly" Notice the preponderance of engine-room types - and the "mechaniker" torpedomen were mechanics trained in the maintenance of them - the "matrosen" were the ones who would be loading/unloading, etc - and any other grunt work. Also, as to the original topic - I also have Line and Engineer Officers, with the latter concentrating on Mechanic and Repair skills, while the Line types are Helmsman, Watch Officer, and combat skills as needed. Because of the way Ubi made the Nav function an Officer one instead of a PO, I have one of the Officers fill in when using those functions - but don't have one permanently assigned as such. Analysis of actual rosters of boats when lost (from http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ mostly) verifies the above; altho most boats lacked many of the slots shown, the emphasis on engineering and relative "undermanning" of the torpedo rooms as we tend to think of them are accurate.