General Discussions  
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII. 
Go to: Forum List•Message List•New Topic•Search•Log In•Print View
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind
Posted by: John Griffiths ()
Date: November 28, 2001 08:44PM

<HTML>Hi JRC,

Okay, given the rudimentary nature of radar at that time in history, the height of the scanner above the deck of your vessel, the almost negligable echo of a half submerged U-boat and you have a target un-ID. Low and slow.

The closer encounter....Hmm, and this is speculation now. U-boat CO knew you were coming and rather than draw attention to himself by crash diving - phospheresence, wake tracks, bubbles - and the very real chance ASDIC would have picked him up, he kept his bottle and tried to get as close to you as he could knowing your weapons would be unable to depress far enough and hoping that his proximity to you would give him the edge -

...whilst risking his boat but knowing he could give it a really good try? Why alter course and speed when you were that close?

I wonder why your A/S crews didn't wallop him with depth charges seeing as he was in your wake and, by that time, had been seen?

Seems to me it was a case of seamanship practised well!

Oh and probably a rug dance with respective CO's given that it was ever allowed to develop in the first place! Then again, I could tell you of an incident when I was closed up onan ASW sweep aboard one of Queen Elizabeth's finest when a dirty great Soviet sub came up on the port side.....out of nowhere!

It happens.

Just speculating!

Yours aye,

John</HTML>

Options: Reply•Quote


Subject Written By Posted
Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind JAYRSEE 11/28/2001 07:50PM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind Rainer Bruns 11/28/2001 08:27PM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind John Griffiths 11/28/2001 08:44PM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind oliver 11/28/2001 09:40PM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind joe brandt 11/29/2001 12:23AM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind Terry Andrews 11/30/2001 08:24AM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind JAYRSEE 12/01/2001 05:55PM
Re: Close Encounters of the U-Boat Kind JAYRSEE 12/01/2001 05:55PM


Go to: Forum List•Message List•Search•Log In
Your Name: 
Your Email: 
Subject: 
Spam prevention:
Please, enter the code that you see below in the input field. This is for blocking bots that try to post this form automatically.
 **      **  **     **  ********   **    **  ******** 
 **  **  **  **     **  **     **  **   **   **       
 **  **  **  **     **  **     **  **  **    **       
 **  **  **  **     **  **     **  *****     ******   
 **  **  **  **     **  **     **  **  **    **       
 **  **  **  **     **  **     **  **   **   **       
  ***  ***    *******   ********   **    **  **