I am researching German language commands for a history-inspired novel I'm writing. I understand the order "ALARM!" was given for a crash dive. But how would a U-boat commander order a non-emergent dive? - Would he use the word "tauchen?" - Would it be preceded by an order to get ready, such as "Bereite das Boot auf das Tauchen vor!"
Forum: General Discussions

Author question: Did Type IX U-Boats have a water distillation system or did they rely only on fresh water tanks? If so do you have a link I can review.
Forum: Technology and Operations

What did the magnetic anomaly detection screens in ASW search aircraft look like? Were they similar to radar oscilloscopes?
Forum: Technology and Operations

How many crewmen were in the control room of a type IX U-Boat? What were their exact duties?
Forum: General Discussions

The Leigh light was effectively deployed by the RAF in North Atlantic ASW attacks in mid 1942. Was it also used in the Caribbean? When?
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When was depth charge depth for attack by aircraft changed from 50 to 25 feet? I've read "early in the war" but can't find a date.
Forum: General Discussions

In the book I'm writing, a B-24 with Leigh light attacks a type IX U-boat at night. I would like to include damage to the U-boat diving mechanism (keeping them on the surface) and a fire on aft or foredeck after a strafing and depth charge attack. What could be set ablaze and where would diving mechanism be damaged?
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The METOX radar detector is said to have transmitted an alarm over the U-Boat PA system. What did it sound like?
Forum: Technology and Operations

I heard somewhere that U-boat crews were kept informed of world news. Did U-boats listen to Deutschlandsender broadcasts to get world news? If so, would they be on surface at night and listen to broadcasts through the boat's P.A. system? If not, did the BdU forward news reports in Morse code?
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Thanks, Stan. See my reply to John above with how I wrote the section. I'm glad to see that I had guessed pretty closely with the prayer and song.
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Thanks John. Here's how I fictionalized it in my book: At 2100, shortly after the last light, the U-023 surfaced in the middle of the Gulf beneath a waxing gibbous moon and scattered stratocumulus clouds. Silver moonlight, intermittently breaking through the clouds, swept across the aft deck as four crewmen, commanded by Leutnant zur See Wolf, gently laid Engel’s body on the grating. Bene
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Thanks for truly excellent reply and links, Maciek!
Forum: Technology and Operations

How would a Milchkuh tanker resupply/refuel a U-boat in mid-Atlantic? - Would the two boats run alongside at low speed and use a highline with a pulley attached to transfer supplies and (sometimes) personnel by rubber raft? - I doubt that torpedoes could be transferred that way. Could the two boats be close enough together to use a crane mounted on the deck of the Milchkuh? -I presume re
Forum: Technology and Operations

Many thanks Maciek
Forum: Technology and Operations

Excellent, Maciek
Forum: Technology and Operations

Great info, Ken
Forum: Technology and Operations

I am writing a historical fiction novel about the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942. I understand that the Milchkühe submarine tankers were positioned about 1000km east of NYC in early 1942. Where were the Milchkühe stationed in May 1942 when the U-boats moved most of their Western Atlantic activity from the eastern seaboard of the USA into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean? Also, any link
Forum: Technology and Operations

I am writing a historical fiction novel about the Battle of the Atlantic. I have two questions about German radio communications in 1942: I. In 1942, Allied intelligence intercepted German spies in Mexico using ham radio transmitters. the spies sent information about shipping and Allied weapons & tactics. I presume these Mexican spies did not have Enigma machines - Did they use another se
Forum: Technology and Operations

Thanks, Karl
Forum: General Discussions

I am writing a novel that includes a nocturnal U-boat burial at sea. I plan a few words by the captain over the body wrapped in a Kriegsmarine ensign. Did the Kriegsmarine also sing "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden" (as the Wehrmacht did)? If not, would any other song be sung at burial? Would they sing Deutschland über Alles? Would it be credible to remove the ensign, and subme
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For complete listings of events in the Battle of the Atlantic by month see: Looks like no U-boats were lost off Cape Hatteras in March 1942. But the USS Roper sank the U-85 off that coast in April.
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Several sources (mostly footnotes) claim that a modified Mexican Air Force AT-6 trainer bombed & damaged the U-129 off Tampico in July 1942. I can find no corroboration of this event and the U129 entry here makes no mention of an attack on the U-boat. Does anyone have reliable info?
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I am writing a book about the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942. What ceremonies would a U-boat funeral at sea include? Did the Kriegsmarine also sing "Ich Hatt' Einen Kameraden" ?
Forum: General Discussions

I am writing a historical fiction novel loosely-based on Reinhard Hardegen U-123. I have read in several accounts that all he had in January 1942 were a Knaurs Welt Atlas, NY tourist map and a map of the Atlantic ocean. I doubt that such a carefully-prepared captain would be sent on Unternehmen Paukenschlag without some sort of coastal maps. What were they? Can I find a copy?
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Well, on further research into the U-123 Kriegstagebuch & other online articles (e.g.,) - it looks like Hardegen did NOT actually enter the harbor. He reasonably did as Steve suggested - he sank a freighter off shore using the lights (no blackout in Jan 42.
Forum: General Discussions

I am writing a historical fiction novel based on the U-123 in 1942. How would the U-boat navigate underwater into New York harbor at night? Would it travel very slowly and rely on its observation periscope and GHG hydrophones? I don't think it had passive ultrasound etc.
Forum: General Discussions