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World War One discussions.
U-75 and U-76 mine operations
Posted by:
Yuri IL'IN
()
Date: April 21, 2003 04:26PM
<HTML>CAMPAIGN of 1917
First in northern waters there came German underwater suppressors U-75 and U-76 which have put in a number of places mine-fields. On a barrage at Gorodetsky cape on July, 25 has blown up and transport <Kovda> was lost. On September, 6 in Arctic ocean three German U-boats have been dispatched: U43, U46 and U48. Their operations in the North have begun from sinking of the ship by boat U-43 at cape Sletnes of the Norwegian steam vessel <Denmark>. After sinking of the ship of several foreign steam vessels on September, 20 U-43 in 50 miles from Teriberki attacked and has sunk a steam vessel of Voluntary fleet <Turgan>. On some data, this boat has visited Kola bay at Aleksandrovsk. On September, 23 by boat U-48 has been captured and resulted in Wilhelmhaven the steam vessel of Voluntary fleet <Suchan> gone to Arkhangelsk with a military cargo (11, page 236). This very day in 100 miles from cape Sacred Bow U-46 has sunk the Russian steam vessel <Eric> gone with a cargo of coal to Arkhangelsk.
Being masked under the fishing vessels, the German U-boats wore on itself sails. On September, 24 the torpedo boat <Imperous>, come to cape Tsyp-Navolok, has met there boats U-43 and U-46 under sails. Having admitted a torpedo boat on distance up to 35 cable's length (cable length = 185,2 m), Germans have opened on an artillery fire.
Has simultaneously opened fire also <Imperous>. From the third shell one of the boats began to receive hits, on her sails have lit up, and she has plunged. The second boat has turned to the north and, conducting a chaotic fire, in some seconds has plunged. Having sunk some more foreign steam vessels, including Romanian <Bystritsa> (U-43 on September, 28), gone to Arkhangelsk with a military cargo for the Romanian army, U-boats, in the beginning, U-46, and then U-43, have abandoned northern waters and have come back in the base. On change by it U-boats - in the beginning U-56, and then U-54 have left.
On October, 9 the steam vessel of a communication service <Feodosiy Chernigov>, following in the Vayda-lip, has met U-56. She has given on a steam vessel three'выстрела from the gun. Later in lip Zubovskoy U-56 <Feodosiy Chernigov> has renewed attack on ship, and last has been forced to run aground, where was fired by U-boat.
On October, 11 U-56 has released a torpedo on facing on an anchor at post Tsyp-Navolok to an advice ship <Kolguev>. The torpedo has passed by. <Kolguev> has opened fire, and the boat has plunged.
From October, 10 till October, 20 U-56 has sunk four foreign steam vessels.
These days the torpedo boat <Storm> together with advice ship <Kupava> and minesweeper T-13 has received the task to escort from Varde two Russian steam vessels, gone with a derrick boat, barges and tows to Aleksandrovsk. On October, 20 about 15 hours on a way from Varde minesweeper T-13 gone a little bit behind of a caravan, has noticed an outline profile of a U-boat which went on rapproachement with <Kupava>. Her approaching have noticed and on <Kupava> about what it has been informed on a torpedo boat <Storm>. The commander <Storm> has punched battle alarm and has gone on rapproachement with a boat. Having pulled together with a U-boat up to 5 cable's length, the torpedo boat has opened on it{her} a fire. Hits have begun from the second outrigger boom in a boat. As a result of four hits the boat has moderated course and with the big trim by the stern has plunged. On a surface the big oily stain has appeared. So U-56 has been sunk. U-boat U-54 has come to Arctic ocean on October, 15. She had some meetings with merchant vessels which ended only by artillery firing. The campaign passed at a full gale. After ten-day without result floatings in northern waters U-54 has come back in the base.
Floating of U-76 to which was entrusted to penetrate into Kola bay was rather unsuccessful later and to put at Aleksandrovsk a mine-field. Carry out this task a suppressor could not. At night January, 8-9, 1917 U-76 has noticed an outline profile of the unknown person vessels (presumably Russian minesweeper such as T-ЗО
, gone, as well as a boat, without fires. The suppressor began sinkage, but completely to plunge has not had time and has received impact in deck house. In a boat water and though the crew managed to stop a leak began to act, but further all has been spent has stocked luboil and diesels were stopped. Some time the boat went under electromotors. Then, when accumulators were completely discharged, she has lost movement. On January, 14 on a commander's decision the suppressor flooded at the Norwegian shores, and her crew is lifted by the Norwegian boat and supplied to a shore.
In September - November, 1916 the greatest quantity of merchant vessels has been sunk by the German U-boats in region of cape Tsyp-Navolok. The merchant vessels gone to Kola bay and holding in the distance of shores, it is usual for definition were directed to Tsyp-Navolok, here again they and were attacked with the German U-boats.
On Tsyp-Navolok the post of a communication service with a radiostation which informed occurrence of enemy boats has been organized. Actions of boats in region have lost a surprise factor.
Having found out a radiostation, Germans fired station twice but unsuccessfully.
Since October, 22 it has been entered convoing of merchant vessels.
Warships of group of a defense of Kola bay escorted from the Norwegian border up to Aleksandrovsk, vessels of a division of trawling - from Aleksandrovsk up to Iokanga.
Secondary occurrence of U-boats in Arctic ocean in the autumn of 1916 has not brought to Germans of such successes as first. Captains of merchant vessels became more cautious, and the majority of vessels armed with artillery.
In total for campaign the German U-boats managed to sink 25 steam vessels the total bulk of 51,1 thousand gross tonn.
CAMPAIGN of 1917
On March, 15 near Varde the German U-boat has stopped and has subjected to survey the fishing boat, on March, 27 at about. Sedlovaty (Kola bay) U-75 has sunk Russian steam vessel (Hunslay>. Next day Russian lookout vessels at an entrance to Kola bay on a line an island the Hummock - cape Letinsky the mine field, and on April, 1 an advice ship <Kolguev> to north-east from Цып-Navolokа one more mine field was revealed has found out.
Both barrages, apparently, posed by U-75. On April, 15 in 8 miles from Nordcap U-45 Russian steam vessel <Olga>, on April, 20 by the same boat - steam vessel <Truvor> has been sunk. Both steam vessels went with coal from England. The steam vessel Voluntary fleets <Tambov> on April, 27 has undergone to attack of the German U-boat, but is ineffectual. Other steam vessel, Voluntary fleets <Nonni>, on May, 27 also has been attacked by a U-boat, but salvaged by that has come in ice. In May by U-28 it has been sunk a little foreign and one Russian steam vessel.
In August on northern marine theatre same German U-28. On August, 20 she acted has stopped the British steam vessel <Olive Brench>, loaded by military property. The crew on boats has abandoned a steam vessel. The U-boat come on close distance, has opened an artillery fire on a steam vessel. The second shell has got in hold with an ammunition, explosion of a steam vessel was so strong, that U-28 has received damage and has sunk. Within September the German U-boats in waters of Arctic ocean anything have not shown themselves. However in October by U-46 it has been sunk four foreign steam vessels, and Russian steam vessel <Irina>. Boat U-46 had no further successes, and on November, 5 she has abandoned northern waters.
Thus, and in campaign of 1917 on northern marine theatre 4 German U-boats acted in the miscellaneous periods. For campaign they have sunk 21 steam vessel the total bulk of 54 thousand gross tonn. German U-boats in this campaign, as well as in the past, 1916, acted mainly in region cape Nordсap - cape Sletnes - Kola bay.</HTML>
First in northern waters there came German underwater suppressors U-75 and U-76 which have put in a number of places mine-fields. On a barrage at Gorodetsky cape on July, 25 has blown up and transport <Kovda> was lost. On September, 6 in Arctic ocean three German U-boats have been dispatched: U43, U46 and U48. Their operations in the North have begun from sinking of the ship by boat U-43 at cape Sletnes of the Norwegian steam vessel <Denmark>. After sinking of the ship of several foreign steam vessels on September, 20 U-43 in 50 miles from Teriberki attacked and has sunk a steam vessel of Voluntary fleet <Turgan>. On some data, this boat has visited Kola bay at Aleksandrovsk. On September, 23 by boat U-48 has been captured and resulted in Wilhelmhaven the steam vessel of Voluntary fleet <Suchan> gone to Arkhangelsk with a military cargo (11, page 236). This very day in 100 miles from cape Sacred Bow U-46 has sunk the Russian steam vessel <Eric> gone with a cargo of coal to Arkhangelsk.
Being masked under the fishing vessels, the German U-boats wore on itself sails. On September, 24 the torpedo boat <Imperous>, come to cape Tsyp-Navolok, has met there boats U-43 and U-46 under sails. Having admitted a torpedo boat on distance up to 35 cable's length (cable length = 185,2 m), Germans have opened on an artillery fire.
Has simultaneously opened fire also <Imperous>. From the third shell one of the boats began to receive hits, on her sails have lit up, and she has plunged. The second boat has turned to the north and, conducting a chaotic fire, in some seconds has plunged. Having sunk some more foreign steam vessels, including Romanian <Bystritsa> (U-43 on September, 28), gone to Arkhangelsk with a military cargo for the Romanian army, U-boats, in the beginning, U-46, and then U-43, have abandoned northern waters and have come back in the base. On change by it U-boats - in the beginning U-56, and then U-54 have left.
On October, 9 the steam vessel of a communication service <Feodosiy Chernigov>, following in the Vayda-lip, has met U-56. She has given on a steam vessel three'выстрела from the gun. Later in lip Zubovskoy U-56 <Feodosiy Chernigov> has renewed attack on ship, and last has been forced to run aground, where was fired by U-boat.
On October, 11 U-56 has released a torpedo on facing on an anchor at post Tsyp-Navolok to an advice ship <Kolguev>. The torpedo has passed by. <Kolguev> has opened fire, and the boat has plunged.
From October, 10 till October, 20 U-56 has sunk four foreign steam vessels.
These days the torpedo boat <Storm> together with advice ship <Kupava> and minesweeper T-13 has received the task to escort from Varde two Russian steam vessels, gone with a derrick boat, barges and tows to Aleksandrovsk. On October, 20 about 15 hours on a way from Varde minesweeper T-13 gone a little bit behind of a caravan, has noticed an outline profile of a U-boat which went on rapproachement with <Kupava>. Her approaching have noticed and on <Kupava> about what it has been informed on a torpedo boat <Storm>. The commander <Storm> has punched battle alarm and has gone on rapproachement with a boat. Having pulled together with a U-boat up to 5 cable's length, the torpedo boat has opened on it{her} a fire. Hits have begun from the second outrigger boom in a boat. As a result of four hits the boat has moderated course and with the big trim by the stern has plunged. On a surface the big oily stain has appeared. So U-56 has been sunk. U-boat U-54 has come to Arctic ocean on October, 15. She had some meetings with merchant vessels which ended only by artillery firing. The campaign passed at a full gale. After ten-day without result floatings in northern waters U-54 has come back in the base.
Floating of U-76 to which was entrusted to penetrate into Kola bay was rather unsuccessful later and to put at Aleksandrovsk a mine-field. Carry out this task a suppressor could not. At night January, 8-9, 1917 U-76 has noticed an outline profile of the unknown person vessels (presumably Russian minesweeper such as T-ЗО
, gone, as well as a boat, without fires. The suppressor began sinkage, but completely to plunge has not had time and has received impact in deck house. In a boat water and though the crew managed to stop a leak began to act, but further all has been spent has stocked luboil and diesels were stopped. Some time the boat went under electromotors. Then, when accumulators were completely discharged, she has lost movement. On January, 14 on a commander's decision the suppressor flooded at the Norwegian shores, and her crew is lifted by the Norwegian boat and supplied to a shore. In September - November, 1916 the greatest quantity of merchant vessels has been sunk by the German U-boats in region of cape Tsyp-Navolok. The merchant vessels gone to Kola bay and holding in the distance of shores, it is usual for definition were directed to Tsyp-Navolok, here again they and were attacked with the German U-boats.
On Tsyp-Navolok the post of a communication service with a radiostation which informed occurrence of enemy boats has been organized. Actions of boats in region have lost a surprise factor.
Having found out a radiostation, Germans fired station twice but unsuccessfully.
Since October, 22 it has been entered convoing of merchant vessels.
Warships of group of a defense of Kola bay escorted from the Norwegian border up to Aleksandrovsk, vessels of a division of trawling - from Aleksandrovsk up to Iokanga.
Secondary occurrence of U-boats in Arctic ocean in the autumn of 1916 has not brought to Germans of such successes as first. Captains of merchant vessels became more cautious, and the majority of vessels armed with artillery.
In total for campaign the German U-boats managed to sink 25 steam vessels the total bulk of 51,1 thousand gross tonn.
CAMPAIGN of 1917
On March, 15 near Varde the German U-boat has stopped and has subjected to survey the fishing boat, on March, 27 at about. Sedlovaty (Kola bay) U-75 has sunk Russian steam vessel (Hunslay>. Next day Russian lookout vessels at an entrance to Kola bay on a line an island the Hummock - cape Letinsky the mine field, and on April, 1 an advice ship <Kolguev> to north-east from Цып-Navolokа one more mine field was revealed has found out.
Both barrages, apparently, posed by U-75. On April, 15 in 8 miles from Nordcap U-45 Russian steam vessel <Olga>, on April, 20 by the same boat - steam vessel <Truvor> has been sunk. Both steam vessels went with coal from England. The steam vessel Voluntary fleets <Tambov> on April, 27 has undergone to attack of the German U-boat, but is ineffectual. Other steam vessel, Voluntary fleets <Nonni>, on May, 27 also has been attacked by a U-boat, but salvaged by that has come in ice. In May by U-28 it has been sunk a little foreign and one Russian steam vessel.
In August on northern marine theatre same German U-28. On August, 20 she acted has stopped the British steam vessel <Olive Brench>, loaded by military property. The crew on boats has abandoned a steam vessel. The U-boat come on close distance, has opened an artillery fire on a steam vessel. The second shell has got in hold with an ammunition, explosion of a steam vessel was so strong, that U-28 has received damage and has sunk. Within September the German U-boats in waters of Arctic ocean anything have not shown themselves. However in October by U-46 it has been sunk four foreign steam vessels, and Russian steam vessel <Irina>. Boat U-46 had no further successes, and on November, 5 she has abandoned northern waters.
Thus, and in campaign of 1917 on northern marine theatre 4 German U-boats acted in the miscellaneous periods. For campaign they have sunk 21 steam vessel the total bulk of 54 thousand gross tonn. German U-boats in this campaign, as well as in the past, 1916, acted mainly in region cape Nordсap - cape Sletnes - Kola bay.</HTML>
