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Re: Tanker.
Posted by: Rainer Kolbicz ()
Date: October 25, 2006 04:54PM

Hi John

I never understood the task given to U-boats to escort surface ships. They were quite often ordered to wait in a certain area for incoming blockade runners and to escort them to a French port, but there was not a single case where an U-boat could prevent the sinking of an escorted ship after they had been located by the enemy. U-boats even sank two blockade runners by mistake.

For example the RHAKOTIS had an escort of three U-boats in January 1943, one 40 miles ahead and the other two 20 miles from each side of the ship. The blockade runner was intercepted and sunk by HMS SCYLLA and this was not even noticed by the U-boats.

The BdU again and again complained about the use of U-boats in this role at the high command of the Kriegsmarine but to no avail.

Best regards
Rainer

Options: Reply•Quote


Subject Written By Posted
Tanker. john 10/22/2006 10:46AM
Re: Tanker. Rainer Kolbicz 10/22/2006 11:16AM
Re: Tanker. john 10/23/2006 04:13PM
Re: Tanker. Rainer Kolbicz 10/25/2006 04:54PM
Re: Tanker. herbert gratz 10/27/2006 08:05AM
Re: Tanker. john 11/01/2006 08:43PM


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