General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: U-Boats, Spanish Civil War ?
Posted by:
Yuri IL\'IN
()
Date: May 11, 2001 12:25AM
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<PRE>
Autor unknown
Translated from Russian
Original: <A href=\"[www.submarine.id.ru]\">R. Verdia</A>
</PRE>
<P align=center>
<B>R. VERDIA</B>
</P>
<P>
In February 1936 in Spain the government of National front has come to authority. Not having a possibility to overthrow by its constitutional way, the Spanish monarchists have made the rate on armed performance. The General Franco, convicted in preparing mutinity, was transferred by the General-governor to the Canary islands, and his accomplices are dismissed with the full salaries. It was supposed, that by it the republicans will punish Franco. On the business at the monarchists the perfect possibility has appeared to engage in preparing of armed performance for public account. In night with 17 on July 18 1936 it began in all garrisons of Spain. But if many from overland garrisons have adjoined to Franco in a full composition, on the ships the confrontation between the sailors and officers - monarchists taken all basic command positions was fastened. From 19 Spanish admirals on the party of Republic there was only two, and from 128 captains of the third rank - only 13 men. One of them was the officer - submariner R. Verdia.<BR>
<BR>
Low-level propagation the proofly cut out commander of a submarine <em>C-5</em> R.Verdia has appeared unique on a undersea fleet the officer of the aged metal hardenability which has not acted against the Madrid government. Not without reason he used exclusive trust of a crew of the ship. His calmness and reliance that he does, were transferred to the officers - beginners who have chosen career of the submariner only by virtue of political convictions. The native of Spanish North, Verdia differed by tersity and judiciousness, at all not reminding hot man from south, which during Republic constituted skeleton of rather bull anarchist current. To the anarchists, that like before meetings, but not having slightest experience of management of war by the sea, the flotilla commander Verdia has opposed the iron will and decisive command to respect military discipline. (Hardly later sane Spaniards surprised of negligence anarchist on the composition of a crew of a huge battleship <em>Hayme I</em>, sank in harbour Cartagena after random explosion in the powder cellar which has occurred on fault of the sailors - smokers.)<BR>
Per the first military days the commander <em>C-5</em> has made all from him depending, that the undersea fleet of Spain has remained on the party of republican government. When the civil war began, almost all submarines have appeared centred on two bases - in Cartagena and on an island Menorca. Only one - two boats lay in the open sea. It has facilitated a task Verdia a little, which has headed scrambling crews of subsurface ships against the own officers. The scrambling this was crowned with success - from the very beginning of battle actions and about last days of existence of Republic practically all undersea fleet of Spain acted against the Nationalist ships.<BR>
Under a start R. Verdia there was a small flotilia all from 13 subsurface ships. Its basis was constituted submarines of <em>C</em> type, built on the Italian wharfs in the begining of 30th. The fighting readiness of these ships completely depend on possibilities of the naval ministry to buy through the third countries the Italian torpedoes, which were effected in Fiume. Under the initiative of republican government on ship-building wharfs of Spain more modern submarines such as <em>D</em> were pledged, but the battle actions have found them on slipways. The control stakes of the shares of wharfs in Cartagena and Ferrola, where these large submarines were plotted, belonged to the Englishmen, which have held waiting game and obviously during events of 1936. In result the technical condition of a underwater flotilia in heat of Civil War was rather pitiable.<BR>
At the end of a summer 1936, after recommission of a battleship <em>Espania</em> and cruiser of <em>Servere</em>, at the supporters a possibility Franco has appeared to block northern provinces of country from the sea. The large ships not only fired at coast. They have created substantial threat to existence of the aquatic communications, which linked centre of country with Basconia and Asturia, loyal Madrid government. The command of a undersea fleet immediately has withdrawn north-up majority of submarines from region of Gibraltar, where they since the first days of performance of the General Franco actively supported actions of an overland troops of the republicans. In battles against the large ships the weakness of a undersea fleet of Republic was detected. First of all opponent has destroyed aged small submarines such as <em>B</em>. The participation of boats of this type in civil war was completed on September 19 - that day, when Nationalist destroyer <em>Velasco</em> has sunk last of them close Santandera.<BR>
There was a hope that the boats such as <em>C</em> will appear more successful. The submarine <em>C-5</em>, with which personally commanded Verdia, carried a battle duty at Cantabrica. The boat long searched for the opponent and at last has found. To her attack the battleship, plying in these waters, <em>Espania</em> - largest ship of Nationalist has undergone. Verdia carefully has calculated an angle of a torpedo volley and, not coming off from a periscope, has deduced a boat on the necessary position. After an outrigger boom the commander <em>C-5</em> did not begin to leave on depth, and, remaining on surfaces, watched of a torpedo\'s trace. It has got in the purpose, but has not blown up-apparently, because of unserviceability of a detonator.<BR>
The remaining submarines of a flotilia Verdia too tried to act actively, but, as a rule, their heroic efforts vanished for nothing - basically because of technical lack of torpedo weapon. The majority of the torpedoes, which have stayed on arms, was purchased in 1928 at the Italian producers. Since then they laid by a dead cargo and gradually lost the battle qualities. Because of inability to defend itself in the necessary moment of a boat losted one for another.<BR>
Longer others the submarine <em>C-6</em> was at war. Running forward,say, that in Jule 1937 the command by this submarine has passed to Don Matiss - the battle pseudonym of the Soviet naval officer, Hero of the Soviet Union N. P. Egipko was those. In region Asturia, northern port, which the Republicans retained longly, <em>C-6</em> has sunk a battle-boat of the opponent. Almost at once after that the boat has got under bombing. The damages have appeared so serious, that she has lost course. The government commission, specially set up in this occasion, has made a decision to flood a subsurface ship. In the French port Sent-Naser Don Matissa has selected to itself other boat, has repaired her and in July 1938 has returned back, to the Mediterranean sea. However undersea fleet of Spain as such has ceased to exist much earlier. Despite all reasonable efforts Verdia, by October, 1936 in a composition of a underwater flotilia of the Republicans there were only three submarines such as <em>C</em>.<BR>
Undoubtedly, the contribution Verdia in scrambling with the supporters of the general Franco would be where large, if in 1936 commanding by a flotilia was not lost in Malaga. Verdia was shipped there for improvement of mysterious circumstances of loss of a submarine <em>C-3</em>, which, hardly come out from shores, stone has gone to bottom. By bull explosion on a surface has thrown out of two men - the navigational officer and captain. The navigational officer has survived, but anything new about the reasons of catastrophe from him to learn was not possible. It was clear only, that on a boat there was a serious accident. At the same time, Verdia did not exclude a possibility of attack of a submarine by the Italian submarine.<BR>
The investigation was delayed, and commanding by a underwater flotilia has decided not for a long time to remain in Malaga. This solution became fatal for R.Verdia - he was lost during air bombing. So the life of one of few experimental Spanish officers - submariners of the end 1930th has broken. And at the same time idealist, which was frequently declined to overestimate fighting capability of the ships and reliability of their personal composition.<BR>
Appendix (Yuri IL\'IN)
<P>Full list of Soviet navy officers take part in Civil War in Spain
<PRE>
Inan Burmistrov Commander
Nikolay Egipko Commander
German Kuzmin Commander
Vladimir Egorov Commander
Sergey Lisin 1WO
Mikhail Grachev 1WO
</PRE>
<BR>
</HTML>
<TR>
<TD> <BR>
<PRE>
Autor unknown
Translated from Russian
Original: <A href=\"[www.submarine.id.ru]\">R. Verdia</A>
</PRE>
<P align=center>
<B>R. VERDIA</B>
</P>
<P>
In February 1936 in Spain the government of National front has come to authority. Not having a possibility to overthrow by its constitutional way, the Spanish monarchists have made the rate on armed performance. The General Franco, convicted in preparing mutinity, was transferred by the General-governor to the Canary islands, and his accomplices are dismissed with the full salaries. It was supposed, that by it the republicans will punish Franco. On the business at the monarchists the perfect possibility has appeared to engage in preparing of armed performance for public account. In night with 17 on July 18 1936 it began in all garrisons of Spain. But if many from overland garrisons have adjoined to Franco in a full composition, on the ships the confrontation between the sailors and officers - monarchists taken all basic command positions was fastened. From 19 Spanish admirals on the party of Republic there was only two, and from 128 captains of the third rank - only 13 men. One of them was the officer - submariner R. Verdia.<BR>
<BR>
Low-level propagation the proofly cut out commander of a submarine <em>C-5</em> R.Verdia has appeared unique on a undersea fleet the officer of the aged metal hardenability which has not acted against the Madrid government. Not without reason he used exclusive trust of a crew of the ship. His calmness and reliance that he does, were transferred to the officers - beginners who have chosen career of the submariner only by virtue of political convictions. The native of Spanish North, Verdia differed by tersity and judiciousness, at all not reminding hot man from south, which during Republic constituted skeleton of rather bull anarchist current. To the anarchists, that like before meetings, but not having slightest experience of management of war by the sea, the flotilla commander Verdia has opposed the iron will and decisive command to respect military discipline. (Hardly later sane Spaniards surprised of negligence anarchist on the composition of a crew of a huge battleship <em>Hayme I</em>, sank in harbour Cartagena after random explosion in the powder cellar which has occurred on fault of the sailors - smokers.)<BR>
Per the first military days the commander <em>C-5</em> has made all from him depending, that the undersea fleet of Spain has remained on the party of republican government. When the civil war began, almost all submarines have appeared centred on two bases - in Cartagena and on an island Menorca. Only one - two boats lay in the open sea. It has facilitated a task Verdia a little, which has headed scrambling crews of subsurface ships against the own officers. The scrambling this was crowned with success - from the very beginning of battle actions and about last days of existence of Republic practically all undersea fleet of Spain acted against the Nationalist ships.<BR>
Under a start R. Verdia there was a small flotilia all from 13 subsurface ships. Its basis was constituted submarines of <em>C</em> type, built on the Italian wharfs in the begining of 30th. The fighting readiness of these ships completely depend on possibilities of the naval ministry to buy through the third countries the Italian torpedoes, which were effected in Fiume. Under the initiative of republican government on ship-building wharfs of Spain more modern submarines such as <em>D</em> were pledged, but the battle actions have found them on slipways. The control stakes of the shares of wharfs in Cartagena and Ferrola, where these large submarines were plotted, belonged to the Englishmen, which have held waiting game and obviously during events of 1936. In result the technical condition of a underwater flotilia in heat of Civil War was rather pitiable.<BR>
At the end of a summer 1936, after recommission of a battleship <em>Espania</em> and cruiser of <em>Servere</em>, at the supporters a possibility Franco has appeared to block northern provinces of country from the sea. The large ships not only fired at coast. They have created substantial threat to existence of the aquatic communications, which linked centre of country with Basconia and Asturia, loyal Madrid government. The command of a undersea fleet immediately has withdrawn north-up majority of submarines from region of Gibraltar, where they since the first days of performance of the General Franco actively supported actions of an overland troops of the republicans. In battles against the large ships the weakness of a undersea fleet of Republic was detected. First of all opponent has destroyed aged small submarines such as <em>B</em>. The participation of boats of this type in civil war was completed on September 19 - that day, when Nationalist destroyer <em>Velasco</em> has sunk last of them close Santandera.<BR>
There was a hope that the boats such as <em>C</em> will appear more successful. The submarine <em>C-5</em>, with which personally commanded Verdia, carried a battle duty at Cantabrica. The boat long searched for the opponent and at last has found. To her attack the battleship, plying in these waters, <em>Espania</em> - largest ship of Nationalist has undergone. Verdia carefully has calculated an angle of a torpedo volley and, not coming off from a periscope, has deduced a boat on the necessary position. After an outrigger boom the commander <em>C-5</em> did not begin to leave on depth, and, remaining on surfaces, watched of a torpedo\'s trace. It has got in the purpose, but has not blown up-apparently, because of unserviceability of a detonator.<BR>
The remaining submarines of a flotilia Verdia too tried to act actively, but, as a rule, their heroic efforts vanished for nothing - basically because of technical lack of torpedo weapon. The majority of the torpedoes, which have stayed on arms, was purchased in 1928 at the Italian producers. Since then they laid by a dead cargo and gradually lost the battle qualities. Because of inability to defend itself in the necessary moment of a boat losted one for another.<BR>
Longer others the submarine <em>C-6</em> was at war. Running forward,say, that in Jule 1937 the command by this submarine has passed to Don Matiss - the battle pseudonym of the Soviet naval officer, Hero of the Soviet Union N. P. Egipko was those. In region Asturia, northern port, which the Republicans retained longly, <em>C-6</em> has sunk a battle-boat of the opponent. Almost at once after that the boat has got under bombing. The damages have appeared so serious, that she has lost course. The government commission, specially set up in this occasion, has made a decision to flood a subsurface ship. In the French port Sent-Naser Don Matissa has selected to itself other boat, has repaired her and in July 1938 has returned back, to the Mediterranean sea. However undersea fleet of Spain as such has ceased to exist much earlier. Despite all reasonable efforts Verdia, by October, 1936 in a composition of a underwater flotilia of the Republicans there were only three submarines such as <em>C</em>.<BR>
Undoubtedly, the contribution Verdia in scrambling with the supporters of the general Franco would be where large, if in 1936 commanding by a flotilia was not lost in Malaga. Verdia was shipped there for improvement of mysterious circumstances of loss of a submarine <em>C-3</em>, which, hardly come out from shores, stone has gone to bottom. By bull explosion on a surface has thrown out of two men - the navigational officer and captain. The navigational officer has survived, but anything new about the reasons of catastrophe from him to learn was not possible. It was clear only, that on a boat there was a serious accident. At the same time, Verdia did not exclude a possibility of attack of a submarine by the Italian submarine.<BR>
The investigation was delayed, and commanding by a underwater flotilia has decided not for a long time to remain in Malaga. This solution became fatal for R.Verdia - he was lost during air bombing. So the life of one of few experimental Spanish officers - submariners of the end 1930th has broken. And at the same time idealist, which was frequently declined to overestimate fighting capability of the ships and reliability of their personal composition.<BR>
Appendix (Yuri IL\'IN)
<P>Full list of Soviet navy officers take part in Civil War in Spain
<PRE>
Inan Burmistrov Commander
Nikolay Egipko Commander
German Kuzmin Commander
Vladimir Egorov Commander
Sergey Lisin 1WO
Mikhail Grachev 1WO
</PRE>
<BR>
</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U-Boats, Spanish Civil War ?
|
Vin | 05/09/2001 08:56AM |
|
RE: U-Boats, Spanish Civil War ?
|
Antonio Veiga | 05/09/2001 05:05PM |
|
RE: U-Boats, Spanish Civil War ?
|
Vin | 05/10/2001 04:11AM |
|
RE: U-Boats, Spanish Civil War ?
|
Yuri IL\'IN | 05/11/2001 12:25AM |