Favorite Sub Commander

[Collin Dougherty]

So,
pretty easy question.
There have been many Submarine Hero's throughought time.
Who is your favorite?
(Nation? Ships sunk/Damaged? Tonnage?)
My sig sais it all

[frau kaleun]

In no particular order:

Kretschmer
Topp
Cremer

Altho this is probably because I've read enough about them or by them to be suitably impressed with regard to their achievements and character.

I would H. Lehmann-Willenbrock but I know my opinion of him is mostly a result of his semi-fictional portrayal in Das Boot so it really doesn't count.

[Jimbuna]

Kretschmer....went to see where he was imprisoned(or what was left of it) in England last September.

[Raptor1]

Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, not necessarily for the massive amount of ships and tonnage he sank (194 for 453,716 GRT), but for being so successful despite being in primitive WWI boats and doing so while following the prize rules of the time.

[nikimcbee]

Mush Morton!
Dick O'Kane

Prien
Hardegen
Kretschmer

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, not necessarily for the massive amount of ships and tonnage he sank (194 for 453,716 GRT), but for being so successful despite being in primitive WWI boats and doing so while restricted by prize rules.

Good Choice
For WWI, I'll say Weddigen

[Feuer Frei!]

Otto Kretschmer, without a doubt:
In all, he sank 56 ships to become the tonnage king of the German U-Boat service, with a total tonnage of 313,611 tons. This was a remarkable achievement considering that he only spent 18 months at sea in WW2.
Awarded The Knight's Cross on the 4th. of August 1940, Oak Leaves added on the 4th. of November 1940, and Swords added on the 26th. of December 1941.



My second favourite is:
Wolfgang Luth.
Over his time at sea, he sank 221,981 tons of shipping made up from the 47 ships he sent to the bottom.
He came to a tragic end when Admiral Donitz sent him off to the Naval Academy in Flensburg-Murwik to take over command there, he was mistakenly shot by a sentry there, to die on the 14th. of May in 1945.
He was given a State funeral two days later, the only U-Boat Captain to be honoured that way.
Awards:
The Knight's Cross on the 24th. of October 1940, Oak Leaves added on the 13th. of November 1942, Swords added on the 15th. of April 1943, and the final accolade, Diamonds added on the 9th. of August 1943. Wolfgang was one of two U-Boat commanders to gain the Diamonds award to his Knight's Cross.


Both Legends, i salute you

[Collin Dougherty]

U-99 right?
Why wasent he imprisoned?
He continued to serve after WWII right?
And even before?

[mookiemookie]

Hardegen, Kretschmer, O'Kane, Kossler, Lueth to an extent, and Cremer.

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I would H. Lehmann-Willenbrock but I know my opinion of him is mostly a result of his semi-fictional portrayal in Das Boot so it really doesn't count.

Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
Captain of U-96, sailing out of Kiel for his first patrol on the 5th. of December that year, Heinrich sank five ships, and put a torpedo into the British 10,746 ton ship Pendrecht. On the following patrol, over two days, the 16th. and 17th. of January in 1941, U-96 sank two British ships, Oropesa and Almeda Star, both of whom were 14,000 ton vessels. All up, this Captain, and his command, sank 25 ships with a total tonnage of 183,253 tons.
He was certainly considered an Ace

[Collin Dougherty]

All Very Good
The only reason I like prein So much is because he was original, the old breed.
The "First" of the aces I guess you could say.

[nikimcbee]

Luth is an interesting guy, you should read his bio.

Oh, how could I forget Mr. Topp. I have an interview tape of him. Pretty interesting stuff.

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by Collin Dougherty

U-99 right?
Why wasent he imprisoned?
He continued to serve after WWII right?
And even before?

His boat U-99 was attacked and damaged by two British destroyers, HMS Vanoc and HMS Walker. He was unable to submerge, the U-Boat was scuttled, and along with all his crew he was taken prisoner.
His first command was U-35 a Type VIIA U-Boat, in 1937.
He spent almost 7 years as a POW. In 1943 Germany attempted to rescue him, which failed.
He was allowed to return to Germany in 1947.
He joined the BundesMarine in 1955.

[Collin Dougherty]

I like Hardagen Because he was an anti-nazi (Im a communist what do you expect :p)
Who served for germany, and not for hitler.
How brave

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

His boat U-99 was attacked and damaged by two British destroyers, HMS Vanoc and HMS Walker. He was unable to submerge, the U-Boat was scuttled, and along with all his crew he was taken prisoner.

Yeah, he was lucky. Prien and Schepke were lost around the same time period.