General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Information request U-boat attack on Aruba
Posted by:
Chris van der Vaart
()
Date: October 08, 2002 02:48PM
<HTML>Hello U-boat.net,
Is there any information about a U boat attack against Aruba? I have been searching the site, but since I don't know the boat number I didn't have any luck. Maybe you can tell me the boat number of this boat, of maybe where on the site I can find any other details concerning this operation? I have added all the information I know below for reference.
It would be really nice I you could help me along, and I not, thanks anyway!
Kind regards,
Chris van der Vaart
Curacao, Dutch Antilles
When I was working as a dive master on Aruba I was told the following story.
A U-boat was send on a mission to destroy the (large) oil refinery which is located at San Nicolas (Aruba). The allies had heard about this operation (Which makes me believe that this incident took place after breaking the enigma code) and as a counter measure they placed two Large (And I guess disposable) oil tankers in front of the refinery with all their lights on. They extinguished all the lights in the refinery itself.
When the u-boat surfaced it tried to launch a long range attack with its deck cannon, which exploded, supposedly because they forgot to take off the anti water plug of the cannon. After this failure they moved in closer to attack with torpedoes. The attacked the two oil tankers (Oranjestad & Pedernalis), and hit them both. The Oranjestad was lost and the Pedernalis was beached. Later on in the war they cut the mid section of the ship loose and welded bow and stern together to use this as a troopship. The midsection of the ship was (after the war) used for target practice. Remains of the mid section lay a few miles of the coast in about 10 feet of water. (We used to dive their with students every day.)</HTML>
Is there any information about a U boat attack against Aruba? I have been searching the site, but since I don't know the boat number I didn't have any luck. Maybe you can tell me the boat number of this boat, of maybe where on the site I can find any other details concerning this operation? I have added all the information I know below for reference.
It would be really nice I you could help me along, and I not, thanks anyway!
Kind regards,
Chris van der Vaart
Curacao, Dutch Antilles
When I was working as a dive master on Aruba I was told the following story.
A U-boat was send on a mission to destroy the (large) oil refinery which is located at San Nicolas (Aruba). The allies had heard about this operation (Which makes me believe that this incident took place after breaking the enigma code) and as a counter measure they placed two Large (And I guess disposable) oil tankers in front of the refinery with all their lights on. They extinguished all the lights in the refinery itself.
When the u-boat surfaced it tried to launch a long range attack with its deck cannon, which exploded, supposedly because they forgot to take off the anti water plug of the cannon. After this failure they moved in closer to attack with torpedoes. The attacked the two oil tankers (Oranjestad & Pedernalis), and hit them both. The Oranjestad was lost and the Pedernalis was beached. Later on in the war they cut the mid section of the ship loose and welded bow and stern together to use this as a troopship. The midsection of the ship was (after the war) used for target practice. Remains of the mid section lay a few miles of the coast in about 10 feet of water. (We used to dive their with students every day.)</HTML>
Information request U-boat attack on Aruba