Hi,

markos88 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> - Would the two boats run alongside at low speed
> and use a highline with a pulley attached to
> transfer supplies and (sometimes) personnel by
> rubber raft?

The food transfer as well as the canisters with
distillate water were transfered that way.
In the U459 KTB is also written, that after breaking
off the hose for transferring lubricating oil, it was
also transfered in canisters - by means of the
high line or rubber raft.

> - I doubt that torpedoes could be transferred that
> way. Could the two boats be close enough together
> to use a crane mounted on the deck of the
> Milchkuh?

The torpedoes were pulled out of their stowage canisters
under the upper deck, the Mae Wests were attached to them
and the U-Boat slightly submerged. The torpedoes were floating
on the surface and moved by crew to the other boat. The other
boat has also deck slightly submerged, so after placing the
torpedo over, it surfaced and the torpedo could be loaded inside.

> -I presume refueling hoses (two?) would be secured
> to a heaving line and pulled through the water.

When transferring the fuel oil, the supplied boat was running behind
the Milchkühe. Both boats were cruising at low speed (~3 knots), connected
with towing line. To the towing line the fueling hose was attached.
It was quite difficult to maintain constant relative speed and position,
so the towing line and hose were often break off.

See this movie:
[www.youtube.com]
and look at these documents:
[uboatarchive.net]
[uboatarchive.net]

--
Regards
Maciek


[www.tvre.org]