Historical Question Regarding U-Boats

gi_dan2987 · 12-25-13, 11:07 PM

I'm actually ordering a book from Amazon which contains the personal accounts of a Kaleun in the Monsun boats that left for the far east. I heard that run was daunting. They lost a few boats with all hands to American ASW's off the coast of west Africa. I think one of their Milchkuh's was taken out also, so they had to run on meager rations and conserve fuel even more so than usual.

I wonder what happened to the Germans who remained in Jakarta when the ceasefire was signed?

My cousin's husband's dad served on a troop ship near the Philippines, and was sunk by a German Monsun boat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. People like to say that the Monsun fleet only operated off the coast of India and the Indian Ocean, but there were plenty of war patrols that ventured into the Pacific theater. I often wonder how deep into the Pacific the Monsun boats would go.

I'm big into history, especially the parts of history that aren't well explained or talked about.

Dread Knot · 12-26-13, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gi_dan2987

I wonder what happened to the Germans who remained in Jakarta when the ceasefire was signed?

Like all the German crews left stranded in the Far East they likely went into internment and their boats were handed over to the Japanese. The U-boats' crews and base personnel in Malaysia were trucked to an ex-British rubber plantation at Batu Pahat in for internment. The ones in Java likely faced a similar predicament.

At the time of the German capitulation the Japanese fleet commander in Singapore politely invited some German officers to an interview before they were interned. In presence of high ranking Japanese officers he stated in all seriousness that the Japanese armed forces would reconquer Germany. This incident revealed to what extent, that either the Japanese were living in a fantasy world, or were just big into telling their guests what they thought they wanted to hear.

areo16 · 12-28-13, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gi_dan2987

My cousin's husband's dad served on a troop ship near the Philippines, and was sunk by a German Monsun boat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. People like to say that the Monsun fleet only operated off the coast of India and the Indian Ocean, but there were plenty of war patrols that ventured into the Pacific theater. I often wonder how deep into the Pacific the Monsun boats would go.

Can anyone else confirm this? Did your cousin's husband's dad care to say how he knew it was a Monsun boat?

gi_dan2987 · 12-28-13, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areo16

Can anyone else confirm this? Did your cousin's husband's dad care to say how he knew it was a Monsun boat?

He said him and the remaining survivors on the lifeboats saw it surface shortly after they had abandoned ship. When the U-boat turned to move away after confirming its kill, they saw a peculiar German marking on the side. When they asked about this later they found out it was a Monsun boat.

Many people think the Germans only stuck to the Indian Ocean. Truth is they did make brief forays into the PTO.

areo16 · 12-28-13, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gi_dan2987

He said him and the remaining survivors on the lifeboats saw it surface shortly after they had abandoned ship. When the U-boat turned to move away after confirming its kill, they saw a peculiar German marking on the side. When they asked about this later they found out it was a Monsun boat.

Many people think the Germans only stuck to the Indian Ocean. Truth is they did make brief forays into the PTO.

I just looked at uboat.net and there is only about maybe 6 possible boats there were even of the Monsun Gruppe during that time. None have recordings of killings in the area or near the date.

My issue is this. The guy was on a troopship, which is very large. If a boat had such a kill it would certainly be recorded. These are often escorted and are in convoys. Mind you, Leyte Gulf is the LARGEST NAVAL BATTLE IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND (tonnage). So, for just a few survivors to see the uboat, and no other vessels to, is a bit of a phenomenon. And during this very great battle, the uboat captain decided to risk his boat by surfacing.

If my troopship was sunk, I'd certainly want to believe it was done by a uboat in the middle of the Pacific. What a story!

Plus, you get alot of these young GI's together, and stories change and people are influenced over time. They've forgotten, mistaken, coercion, etc..

Do you see where I'm coming from?

gi_dan2987 · 12-28-13, 07:18 PM

Well excuse me while I clean the saliva off my uniform....

He was an old man. Consider the source.

areo16 · 12-28-13, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gi_dan2987

He was an old man. Consider the source.

I have, that's why I've posted four paragraphs in response.

You posted the story, pal.

gi_dan2987 · 12-28-13, 08:53 PM

You're correct, I did. You've made your point, thank you. The world is now a better place.

Eastwa · 01-11-14, 06:33 AM

As far as I am aware only one uboat made a patrol in the pacific and that was u862 between late 1944 and early 1945 and that was around the southern part of Australia and also around New Zealand. Most monsoon boats operated in the Indian Ocean. There is a good book about u862s voyage called uboat far from home

Gerald · 01-11-14, 06:40 AM

^Like this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Boat-Far-F.../dp/1864482672

12-28-13, 07:18 PM	#6
gi_dan2987 Weps Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 359 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Well excuse me while I clean the saliva off my uniform.... He was an old man. Consider the source. Last edited by gi_dan2987; 12-28-13 at 07:29 PM.

01-11-14, 06:40 AM	#10
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	^Like this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Boat-Far-F.../dp/1864482672 __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

12-25-13, 11:07 PM	#1
gi_dan2987 Weps Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 359 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	I'm actually ordering a book from Amazon which contains the personal accounts of a Kaleun in the Monsun boats that left for the far east. I heard that run was daunting. They lost a few boats with all hands to American ASW's off the coast of west Africa. I think one of their Milchkuh's was taken out also, so they had to run on meager rations and conserve fuel even more so than usual. I wonder what happened to the Germans who remained in Jakarta when the ceasefire was signed? My cousin's husband's dad served on a troop ship near the Philippines, and was sunk by a German Monsun boat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. People like to say that the Monsun fleet only operated off the coast of India and the Indian Ocean, but there were plenty of war patrols that ventured into the Pacific theater. I often wonder how deep into the Pacific the Monsun boats would go. I'm big into history, especially the parts of history that aren't well explained or talked about.

12-28-13, 08:53 PM	#8
gi_dan2987 Weps Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 359 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	You're correct, I did. You've made your point, thank you. The world is now a better place.

01-11-14, 06:33 AM	#9
Eastwa Torpedoman Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	As far as I am aware only one uboat made a patrol in the pacific and that was u862 between late 1944 and early 1945 and that was around the southern part of Australia and also around New Zealand. Most monsoon boats operated in the Indian Ocean. There is a good book about u862s voyage called uboat far from home