General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
U-Müller...
Posted by:
SnakeDoc
()
Date: May 23, 2011 07:22AM
Hello
I have been viewing "REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-172"
(http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-172INT.htm)
On page 102 there is following description:
"It was stated that in April 1943 U-Müller participated with U-172 in an attack on a Gibraltar convoy. U-Müller was depth charged, and 6 torpedoes in the upper deck containers exploded. The explosions could be heard for miles and practically ripped the top deck off. U-Müller reached a depth of 250 meters before regaining control of his boat. U-Müller returned safely, however, to Lorient. It is not known which Müller this might be."
I was very curious about this accident and tried to identify which U-Boot it could be. The number of torpedoes at upper deck fits to the type IX. The name of the commander and type of the boat and date of the accident fit to the U-67 - type IXC U-Boot, which under the command of Günther Müller-Stöckheim, on her 6th patrol (3 Mar 1943 - 13 Apr 1943) operated with U-172 in wolfpack Seeräuber near the Gibraltar. The uboat.net gives (following the Blair), that "U-67 was hit by aerial depth charges and was seriously damaged".
I was able to find more details in the "REPORT ON THEA INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-67", Chapter X. SEVENTH WAR CRUISE OF U-67 (http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-67INT.htm):
"The boat proceeded submerged for some distance and then came to periscope depth in the middle of the convoy. Feeling that the U-boat was at too shallow a depth, the Engineer Officer gave the order to flood 200 liters in the negative buoyancy tank. The order was misunderstood, and 200 liters were pumped. U-67 broke surface with her conning tower but, apparently was not sighted by any of the ships in the convoy. The Engineer Officer then hurriedly gave the order to flood all tanks. U-67 plummeted out of control, diving to a depth of 240 meters before trim could be recovered. The terrific water pressure cause considerable damage. The upper deck containers were stove in, a torpedo became jammed in the tube, several of the vents were broken, and water entered the boat through the Diesel exhaust valve. U-67 ascended to 180 meters and remained at that depth until all danger of discovery by the convoy escort wa passed. She then surfaced. Mller reported the damage and was ordered to return to Lorient."
It seems that the torpedoes stored in the upper deck did not exploded, but containeres imploded under the great water pressure.
But I would ask you, if you have ever met in some sources another description of that event?
--
Regards
Maciek
[www.tvre.org]
I have been viewing "REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-172"
(http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-172INT.htm)
On page 102 there is following description:
"It was stated that in April 1943 U-Müller participated with U-172 in an attack on a Gibraltar convoy. U-Müller was depth charged, and 6 torpedoes in the upper deck containers exploded. The explosions could be heard for miles and practically ripped the top deck off. U-Müller reached a depth of 250 meters before regaining control of his boat. U-Müller returned safely, however, to Lorient. It is not known which Müller this might be."
I was very curious about this accident and tried to identify which U-Boot it could be. The number of torpedoes at upper deck fits to the type IX. The name of the commander and type of the boat and date of the accident fit to the U-67 - type IXC U-Boot, which under the command of Günther Müller-Stöckheim, on her 6th patrol (3 Mar 1943 - 13 Apr 1943) operated with U-172 in wolfpack Seeräuber near the Gibraltar. The uboat.net gives (following the Blair), that "U-67 was hit by aerial depth charges and was seriously damaged".
I was able to find more details in the "REPORT ON THEA INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-67", Chapter X. SEVENTH WAR CRUISE OF U-67 (http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-67INT.htm):
"The boat proceeded submerged for some distance and then came to periscope depth in the middle of the convoy. Feeling that the U-boat was at too shallow a depth, the Engineer Officer gave the order to flood 200 liters in the negative buoyancy tank. The order was misunderstood, and 200 liters were pumped. U-67 broke surface with her conning tower but, apparently was not sighted by any of the ships in the convoy. The Engineer Officer then hurriedly gave the order to flood all tanks. U-67 plummeted out of control, diving to a depth of 240 meters before trim could be recovered. The terrific water pressure cause considerable damage. The upper deck containers were stove in, a torpedo became jammed in the tube, several of the vents were broken, and water entered the boat through the Diesel exhaust valve. U-67 ascended to 180 meters and remained at that depth until all danger of discovery by the convoy escort wa passed. She then surfaced. Mller reported the damage and was ordered to return to Lorient."
It seems that the torpedoes stored in the upper deck did not exploded, but containeres imploded under the great water pressure.
But I would ask you, if you have ever met in some sources another description of that event?
--
Regards
Maciek
[www.tvre.org]
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U-Müller...
|
SnakeDoc | 05/23/2011 07:22AM |