IX U boats - Solitary Raiders

kiwi_2005 · 12-11-06, 06:54 PM

Some facts taken from the book "U-boat far from home" by David Stevens about the Type IXD2 U-862 voyage around Australia/New Zealand. Most your probably already know but its a first for me about the Bachstelze

IX U boats -Solitary Raiders
Being comparatively slow to dive and hard to manoeuvre, the Type IX was
unsuitable for convoy battles, but this was never intended to be its role. It
was instead to be a solitary raider, laying mines off foreign coasts or using
its high speed and endurnace to catch the fast,
independently routed merchant ships encountered in distant waters.

Donitz suggested the need for a boat that could apply 'strategic pressure in very remote territores'.
The development of a completely new U-boat
would have entailed significant delays and further stretched the building
yards, already overloaded with wartime production. Instead, it was decided
to enlarge the existing Type IXC. This solution would offer cost advantages
and have far less impact on the overall contruction schedule. The result
was the Type IXD2 Officially designated a U-Kreuzer (U-Cruiser),
the Type IXD2 U-boats were commonly known as UberseeKuhe (Super or oversea cows)
Twenty nine of this type were eventually commissioned.

The Bachstelze
IXD2 - came with the FockeAchgelis FA-330, more commonly known as
the Bachstelze (Water-wagtail). The Bachstelze was an unpowered,
single-seat autogyro. The Pilot sat on metal frame against an aluminium
mast on top of which were three cloth-covered blades, each about 3m long.
Before being launched, the machine first needed to be assembled on a small
platform abaft the storage containers. When ready the U-boat would head into
the wind until the relative velocity was suffient to turn the rotor
blades at between 130-360rpm. As the Bachstelze rose, a towing cable
would be pulled slowly from a third container beneath the launch platform.
Thus tethered, this precursor of the helicopter effectively gave the U-boat
a 100-150m viewing platform. The pilot was provided with a parachute
and passed messages to the tower on a telephone. Though it had potential
to extend the U-boats's from diving quickly and hence could only be used
in remote areas, where allied air patrols were unlikely.

The FuMB 26 Tunis was fixed on top of a wooden rod and attached to the
periscope standands or into the D/F loop. The Tunis provided
counterdetection at ranges between 50km-70km, but the aerial was not
watertight and had to be dismounted before diving. (Does SH3 have the FuMB 26 for the IXD2?)

It should be kept in mind that even after modification there was nothing
revolutionary about the Type IX U-boats. Developments between the wars
had provided improvments in fire control, torpedoes, communications,
diving depth and shock resistance, but the basic design remained
conventional. In most areas the Type IX was only slightly superior to
Germany's large ocean going U-boats of the previous war. Thus the boats
that Germany had in service in September 1939 were submersibles rather
than true submarines and could not complete with the rapid advances in
anti-submarine techniques that occurred during the course of the conflict.
By August 1943, with U-boats forced to spend longer and longer periods
submerged, all the pre-war types were recognised as obsolescent.

_Seth_ · 12-12-06, 02:46 AM

nice read, Kiwi!!!

Myxale · 12-12-06, 04:06 AM

Agree a good read. and so true! The IX is the best thing ever. It may be an ugly bastard but a fine boot!:hmm:

Jimbuna · 12-12-06, 06:45 AM

Well posted Kiwi

The IX is not your usual 'pack animal'...she's definitely a 'lone wolf'

She aint ugly Myxale

...she's beautiful

melnibonian · 12-12-06, 06:46 AM

I enjoy the lone patrols and the vastness of the ocean. I don't change my beloved IXC for anything

12-12-06, 07:04 AM

IIRC from my reading, the Type IX's held most of the records for tonnage.

12-12-06, 05:51 PM

@ kiwi_2005

nice read! always learning in this forum...

makes me want to get a class ix...

kiwi_2005 · 12-12-06, 06:18 PM

The Kapitan of U-862 is that avatar in SH3 commander wearing the white suit Heinrich Timm who earned the knights Cross. When i get the IXD2 im choosing him as my avatar then will sail around AUS/NZ

Nikolaus Heinrich Timm, U-862's first and only commander, remains something of an enigma. Few documents exist, and with the passing of the years the memories of the men who served under him have mellowed. Undeniably, Timm earned the undying loyalty and devotion of his crew, and those who survive still regard him as 'one of the best German U-boat commanders of the Second World War.

Jimbuna · 12-13-06, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastik

@ kiwi_2005

nice read! always learning in this forum...

makes me want to get a class ix...

Don't be shy...get one...travel the worlds oceans...see places...visit/raid ports...SINK EM ALL !!

Konovalov · 12-13-06, 05:46 AM

Excellent read. Of course I'm biased because I'm a Type IXb driver and I'm loving it.

hyperion2206 · 12-13-06, 10:37 AM

I agree: The IX are are fine boats with a lot of firepower, but they are ugly as well! I hate their rising bow!!!

Jimbuna · 12-13-06, 02:58 PM

Shame on you sir...they are truly graceful

melnibonian · 12-13-06, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

I agree: The IX are are fine boats with a lot of firepower, but they are ugly as well! I hate their rising bow!!!

IXs are gorgeous. I can't see what is not to like about them

Dietrich · 12-14-06, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

The result
was the Type IXD2 Officially designated a U-Kreuzer (U-Cruiser),
the Type IXD2 U-boats were commonly known as UberseeKuhe (Super or oversea cows)

Nice find, kiwi_2005

However, I would dispute the use of the term U-Kreuzer for the Type-IXD2.

According to http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterseekreuzer , a U-Kreuzer was an historical U-Boat (up to the end of WWII) with a displacement of 2000+ tonnes. The IXD2 did not qualify (1600 surfaced, 1800 submerged).

According to http://uboat.net/types/projects.htm , the U-Kreuzer was the name given to the Type-XI. Four of these, U 112 - U 115 were planned, but never built.

I'd never heard of "Überseekuhe" before, and neither, does it seem, had the Internet either. Does anyone have any information about this?

Further references:

http://www.deutsches-museum-shop.com.../9783763762460

PS: Finally, and most curiously, while researching this, I came across a reference to a movie, titled: "U-Kreuzer. U-Deutschland. 105 Tage Kreuzerfahrt".

http://www.deutsches-filminstitut.de/filme/f035485.htm

kiwi_2005 · 12-14-06, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dietrich

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

The result
was the Type IXD2 Officially designated a U-Kreuzer (U-Cruiser),
the Type IXD2 U-boats were commonly known as UberseeKuhe (Super or oversea cows)

Nice find, kiwi_2005

However, I would dispute the use of the term U-Kreuzer for the Type-IXD2.

According to http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unterseekreuzer , a U-Kreuzer was an historical U-Boat (up to the end of WWII) with a displacement of 2000+ tonnes. The IXD2 did not qualify (1600 surfaced, 1800 submerged).

According to http://uboat.net/types/projects.htm , the U-Kreuzer was the name given to the Type-XI. Four of these, U 112 - U 115 were planned, but never built.

I'd never heard of "Überseekuhe" before, and neither, does it seem, had the Internet either. Does anyone have any information about this?

Further references:

http://www.deutsches-museum-shop.com.../9783763762460

PS: Finally, and most curiously, while researching this, I came across a reference to a movie, titled: "U-Kreuzer. U-Deutschland. 105 Tage Kreuzerfahrt".

http://www.deutsches-filminstitut.de/filme/f035485.htm

Can't really help you there, all i know is the author is a former naval officer who served for 20 yrs in the Royal Australian Navy. On retiring from the RAN in 1994 he was appointed director of Naval Historical Studies within the Department of Defense. (Navy) The Book Uboat Far From Home was dedicated to his Grandfather William Crawford a survivor of SS City of Simla sunk by U 138 on 21 Sept 1940. He did a lot of research on Uboats & interviewed surviving crew members of U-862.
BTW Nice shot of your sig!

12-11-06, 06:54 PM	#1
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	IX U boats - Solitary Raiders Some facts taken from the book "U-boat far from home" by David Stevens about the Type IXD2 U-862 voyage around Australia/New Zealand. Most your probably already know but its a first for me about the Bachstelze IX U boats -Solitary Raiders Being comparatively slow to dive and hard to manoeuvre, the Type IX was unsuitable for convoy battles, but this was never intended to be its role. It was instead to be a solitary raider, laying mines off foreign coasts or using its high speed and endurnace to catch the fast, independently routed merchant ships encountered in distant waters. Donitz suggested the need for a boat that could apply 'strategic pressure in very remote territores'. The development of a completely new U-boat would have entailed significant delays and further stretched the building yards, already overloaded with wartime production. Instead, it was decided to enlarge the existing Type IXC. This solution would offer cost advantages and have far less impact on the overall contruction schedule. The result was the Type IXD2 Officially designated a U-Kreuzer (U-Cruiser), the Type IXD2 U-boats were commonly known as UberseeKuhe (Super or oversea cows) Twenty nine of this type were eventually commissioned. The Bachstelze IXD2 - came with the FockeAchgelis FA-330, more commonly known as the Bachstelze (Water-wagtail). The Bachstelze was an unpowered, single-seat autogyro. The Pilot sat on metal frame against an aluminium mast on top of which were three cloth-covered blades, each about 3m long. Before being launched, the machine first needed to be assembled on a small platform abaft the storage containers. When ready the U-boat would head into the wind until the relative velocity was suffient to turn the rotor blades at between 130-360rpm. As the Bachstelze rose, a towing cable would be pulled slowly from a third container beneath the launch platform. Thus tethered, this precursor of the helicopter effectively gave the U-boat a 100-150m viewing platform. The pilot was provided with a parachute and passed messages to the tower on a telephone. Though it had potential to extend the U-boats's from diving quickly and hence could only be used in remote areas, where allied air patrols were unlikely. The FuMB 26 Tunis was fixed on top of a wooden rod and attached to the periscope standands or into the D/F loop. The Tunis provided counterdetection at ranges between 50km-70km, but the aerial was not watertight and had to be dismounted before diving. (Does SH3 have the FuMB 26 for the IXD2?) It should be kept in mind that even after modification there was nothing revolutionary about the Type IX U-boats. Developments between the wars had provided improvments in fire control, torpedoes, communications, diving depth and shock resistance, but the basic design remained conventional. In most areas the Type IX was only slightly superior to Germany's large ocean going U-boats of the previous war. Thus the boats that Germany had in service in September 1939 were submersibles rather than true submarines and could not complete with the rapid advances in anti-submarine techniques that occurred during the course of the conflict. By August 1943, with U-boats forced to spend longer and longer periods submerged, all the pre-war types were recognised as obsolescent. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

12-12-06, 02:46 AM	#2
_Seth_ Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In Tromsoe, @Tirpitz' final resting place.. Posts: 3,277 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	nice read, Kiwi!!! __________________

12-12-06, 04:06 AM	#3
Myxale Admiral Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: PQ AN 25 Posts: 2,178 Downloads: 70 Uploads: 0	Agree a good read. and so true! The IX is the best thing ever. It may be an ugly bastard but a fine boot!:hmm: __________________ SH3+GWX SH5+WoS Still Sailing....still Deep

12-12-06, 06:45 AM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Well posted Kiwi The IX is not your usual 'pack animal'...she's definitely a 'lone wolf' She aint ugly Myxale ...she's beautiful __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-12-06, 06:46 AM	#5
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I enjoy the lone patrols and the vastness of the ocean. I don't change my beloved IXC for anything __________________ http://www.thegreywolves.com/ http://wolvesatwar.com/ Download GWX and other goodies: http://hosted.filefront.com/melnibonian

12-12-06, 07:04 AM	#6
von Zelda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Tonnage Records IIRC from my reading, the Type IX's held most of the records for tonnage.

12-12-06, 05:51 PM	#7
plastik Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	@ kiwi_2005 nice read! always learning in this forum... makes me want to get a class ix...

12-12-06, 06:18 PM	#8
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	The Kapitan of U-862 is that avatar in SH3 commander wearing the white suit Heinrich Timm who earned the knights Cross. When i get the IXD2 im choosing him as my avatar then will sail around AUS/NZ Nikolaus Heinrich Timm, U-862's first and only commander, remains something of an enigma. Few documents exist, and with the passing of the years the memories of the men who served under him have mellowed. Undeniably, Timm earned the undying loyalty and devotion of his crew, and those who survive still regard him as 'one of the best German U-boat commanders of the Second World War. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

12-13-06, 05:46 AM	#10
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Excellent read. Of course I'm biased because I'm a Type IXb driver and I'm loving it. __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

12-13-06, 10:37 AM	#11
hyperion2206 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 1,227 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I agree: The IX are are fine boats with a lot of firepower, but they are ugly as well! I hate their rising bow!!!

12-13-06, 02:58 PM	#12
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Shame on you sir...they are truly graceful __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!