General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Tippelskirch U-439
Posted by:
Andrew Mair
()
Date: April 16, 2001 07:25AM
<HTML>Hi Thomas,
Helmut von Tippelskirch was born in Cuxhaven on 7th December 1917. He joined the navy as an officer cadet in 1937 and was a WO in the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla from April 1939 to June 1940. From July 1940 until March 1941 he was attatched to C-in-C Minesweepers West and C-in-C Escorts West. Von Tippelskirch then served on the 3rd R-Boat Flotilla (small motor minesweepers) until September 1941.
He began his U-Boat training in October 1941 and then became 1st WO of the Type 1XC, U-160, under the command of Georg Lassen. His date of arrival at the U-160 is given as April 1942 which must have been after this boat\'s first war patrol. Von Tippelskirch left the U-160 in December 1942 after two war patrols and began his U-Boat commander\'s course at the 24th Flotilla.
Von Tippelskirch took command of the Type V11C, U-439, on February 1943, and carried out two Atlantic war patrols. The U-439 was sunk in a collision with the U-659 as she followed a convoy off Cape Finisterre. Nine crewmen of the U-439 were picked up but von Tippelskirch was lost - you can find a good account of this collision in Michael Gannon\'s book \'Black May\'.
In their interrogation by RN officers the U-439 survivors stated that von Tippelskirch was \'\'adventurous and very popular with his men\'\', but that, having begun service on a Type 1XC, the U-160, \'\'he had difficulty handling a Type V11C.\'\'
Sources: \'German U-Boat Commanders\' by Busch and Roell; \'U-Boat Operations\' by Wynn; \'Black May\' by Gannon.
Hope this has been of help.
Regards,
Andrew
</HTML>
Helmut von Tippelskirch was born in Cuxhaven on 7th December 1917. He joined the navy as an officer cadet in 1937 and was a WO in the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla from April 1939 to June 1940. From July 1940 until March 1941 he was attatched to C-in-C Minesweepers West and C-in-C Escorts West. Von Tippelskirch then served on the 3rd R-Boat Flotilla (small motor minesweepers) until September 1941.
He began his U-Boat training in October 1941 and then became 1st WO of the Type 1XC, U-160, under the command of Georg Lassen. His date of arrival at the U-160 is given as April 1942 which must have been after this boat\'s first war patrol. Von Tippelskirch left the U-160 in December 1942 after two war patrols and began his U-Boat commander\'s course at the 24th Flotilla.
Von Tippelskirch took command of the Type V11C, U-439, on February 1943, and carried out two Atlantic war patrols. The U-439 was sunk in a collision with the U-659 as she followed a convoy off Cape Finisterre. Nine crewmen of the U-439 were picked up but von Tippelskirch was lost - you can find a good account of this collision in Michael Gannon\'s book \'Black May\'.
In their interrogation by RN officers the U-439 survivors stated that von Tippelskirch was \'\'adventurous and very popular with his men\'\', but that, having begun service on a Type 1XC, the U-160, \'\'he had difficulty handling a Type V11C.\'\'
Sources: \'German U-Boat Commanders\' by Busch and Roell; \'U-Boat Operations\' by Wynn; \'Black May\' by Gannon.
Hope this has been of help.
Regards,
Andrew
</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Tippelskirch U-439
|
Thomas Caramela | 04/15/2001 10:46PM |
|
RE: Tippelskirch U-439
|
Andrew Mair | 04/16/2001 07:25AM |