Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
RE: U 977
Posted by:
Jon Walsh
()
Date: March 19, 2001 01:26PM
Antonio Veiga .... Thank you for the photo of the sinking of the U977 off Cape Code, Mass in Nov. 1945.
My uncle, EMC Celestine Urbaniak, USN was a member of the prize crew who was sent to Argentina to bring the U977 back to the United States. He told me that when the prize crew arrived in Argentina the U977 was in bad shape. The U-boat was dirty and had been looted by the time the U.S. Navy crew arrived. The Navy crew spent several weeks getting the U-boat in shape before they took her back to the States. He said that the local population was very pro-German. On the voyage back they had engine failure at sea which he said was due to German sabatoge. He said that they found sand in the lubricating oil. They had to overhaul the engines at sea. Once back in the States, they took the U977 on a tour of ports on the East Coast as part of a Victory Bond sale where they gave tours of the boat. My uncle said that the prize crew was treated like royalty in those ports.
After my uncle\'s death, I received a photo of the U977 at sea and a photo of the prize crew on the U977. I also, have a list of the prize crew names and a serving tray he acquired in Argentina with the U.S. Flag and U977.
My uncle, EMC Celestine Urbaniak, USN was a member of the prize crew who was sent to Argentina to bring the U977 back to the United States. He told me that when the prize crew arrived in Argentina the U977 was in bad shape. The U-boat was dirty and had been looted by the time the U.S. Navy crew arrived. The Navy crew spent several weeks getting the U-boat in shape before they took her back to the States. He said that the local population was very pro-German. On the voyage back they had engine failure at sea which he said was due to German sabatoge. He said that they found sand in the lubricating oil. They had to overhaul the engines at sea. Once back in the States, they took the U977 on a tour of ports on the East Coast as part of a Victory Bond sale where they gave tours of the boat. My uncle said that the prize crew was treated like royalty in those ports.
After my uncle\'s death, I received a photo of the U977 at sea and a photo of the prize crew on the U977. I also, have a list of the prize crew names and a serving tray he acquired in Argentina with the U.S. Flag and U977.
