Technology and Operations
In mid 1943 most of the German the “milk cows†were sunk because the Allied broke the German Navy communication code. The KM wanted ten large Italian Ocean going submarines usually based in Bordeaux and convert them into supply/cargo boats. The Italian Government obliged but asked ten class VIIC boats. Doentiz groaned but had to accept, so the deal was set. The Italian boats were renamed UIT plus digit and the German ones S1, S2, S3… S10. Italian Officers and sailors went to Gdansk (Gotenhafen) for training but saw no operational service with the new hardware. On the 8th of September 1943, the Germans took back control of all the boats, packed the Officers for a long, unpleasant holiday. Some of the Italian sailors and Petty Officers were “convinced†to operate the supply/cargo boats. Only one survived the war, interned in Japan, and was scrapped in 1946 by the Americans.
Being the son of one of the engineers who actually built them, I would like to know the opinion of the German crews about the Italian submarines.
Greetings
Walter M.
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Leased submarines
Posted by:
Walter M
()
Date: July 03, 2001 06:52PM
In mid 1943 most of the German the “milk cows†were sunk because the Allied broke the German Navy communication code. The KM wanted ten large Italian Ocean going submarines usually based in Bordeaux and convert them into supply/cargo boats. The Italian Government obliged but asked ten class VIIC boats. Doentiz groaned but had to accept, so the deal was set. The Italian boats were renamed UIT plus digit and the German ones S1, S2, S3… S10. Italian Officers and sailors went to Gdansk (Gotenhafen) for training but saw no operational service with the new hardware. On the 8th of September 1943, the Germans took back control of all the boats, packed the Officers for a long, unpleasant holiday. Some of the Italian sailors and Petty Officers were “convinced†to operate the supply/cargo boats. Only one survived the war, interned in Japan, and was scrapped in 1946 by the Americans.
Being the son of one of the engineers who actually built them, I would like to know the opinion of the German crews about the Italian submarines.
Greetings
Walter M.
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Leased submarines
|
Walter M | 07/03/2001 06:52PM |
|
RE: Leased submarines
|
AL Wellman | 07/17/2001 05:52PM |
|
RE: Leased submarines
|
walter M | 07/18/2001 10:20AM |
|
RE: Leased submarines
|
walter M | 08/05/2001 07:24AM |