General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
U 537, The weather forecast –U Boot-spy !
Posted by:
Freddy
()
Date: May 24, 2004 01:02PM
Hello,
Maybe will somebody be interested in this short press release I recently read about the U 537 !
The U-537, Captain Peter SCHREWE, left Kiel on the 18.09.1943 with her full crew and 2 additional ‘Scientifics’, Dr. Kurt Sommermeyer and his assistant, plus special material in containers on board. Namely a automatic weather-station developed by Siemens, called WETTERFUNKGERÄT-LAND # 26 (or WFL #26) with codename : KURT.
The aim of the German Marine was in that time to know everyday the exact weather situation on the East-coast off North America, and in particular the Halifax-zone, from where so many convoys started to Europe.
The U 537 crossed the Atlantic under very heavy conditions; she had to surface to recharge her battery during a heavy storm which wrapped his AA-gun off the deck,etc but finally she reached Martin Bay, Labrador on the 22 of October.
On this place, they putted the material in a dinghy, went to the shore and had to bring the more than 150 kg. heavy WETTERFUNKGERÄT-LAND # 26, 52 meters high, on the top of the cliff.
This station was supposed to send once a day to Germany, with a LORENZ-transmitter (3,94 MHz) the wind speed/direction, T°, etc.
After staying more than 30 hours in the bay and having tested the instruments, the U 537 came successfully back to Germany.
Later, on November 9th 1944, she was sunk by the US submarine FLOUNDER ! All hands were lost except Werner BENDELER, who just before they left again, was promoted ‘instructor’ and misted so the last mission of his U 537 !.
The secret of WFL #26 was kept so good that the installation was found by a Canadian Coast Guard patrol in the summer of … 1980 !
Cheers !
Maybe will somebody be interested in this short press release I recently read about the U 537 !
The U-537, Captain Peter SCHREWE, left Kiel on the 18.09.1943 with her full crew and 2 additional ‘Scientifics’, Dr. Kurt Sommermeyer and his assistant, plus special material in containers on board. Namely a automatic weather-station developed by Siemens, called WETTERFUNKGERÄT-LAND # 26 (or WFL #26) with codename : KURT.
The aim of the German Marine was in that time to know everyday the exact weather situation on the East-coast off North America, and in particular the Halifax-zone, from where so many convoys started to Europe.
The U 537 crossed the Atlantic under very heavy conditions; she had to surface to recharge her battery during a heavy storm which wrapped his AA-gun off the deck,etc but finally she reached Martin Bay, Labrador on the 22 of October.
On this place, they putted the material in a dinghy, went to the shore and had to bring the more than 150 kg. heavy WETTERFUNKGERÄT-LAND # 26, 52 meters high, on the top of the cliff.
This station was supposed to send once a day to Germany, with a LORENZ-transmitter (3,94 MHz) the wind speed/direction, T°, etc.
After staying more than 30 hours in the bay and having tested the instruments, the U 537 came successfully back to Germany.
Later, on November 9th 1944, she was sunk by the US submarine FLOUNDER ! All hands were lost except Werner BENDELER, who just before they left again, was promoted ‘instructor’ and misted so the last mission of his U 537 !.
The secret of WFL #26 was kept so good that the installation was found by a Canadian Coast Guard patrol in the summer of … 1980 !
Cheers !
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U 537, The weather forecast –U Boot-spy !
|
Freddy | 05/24/2004 01:02PM |
|
Re: U 537, The weather forecast –U Boot-spy !
|
ROBERT M. | 05/24/2004 10:31PM |
|
Re: U 537, The weather forecast –U Boot-spy !
|
Rod | 05/26/2004 06:56AM |
|
Re: U 537, The weather forecast –U Boot-spy !
|
Frank Bendeler | 05/16/2018 03:59AM |