Peter, There is a message here: the backstory for your documentary should be that despite the facts, the myth of Irish assistance to U-boats still survives. Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Maybe I am being naive, but I find the most interesting part of this story is the communication, presumably via vhf, between the U-boat and the German merchant ship. Either the Koln had Enigma, and hence codebooks, or the communication was carried out in plain language/low grade cipher. It is unlikely that any ‘real’ merchant ship had Enigma (unless anyone knows to the contrary?) and if G
Forum: General Discussions

The National Archives, in Kew, southwest London, holds the logbooks for submarines of that era, and they are available to the public. Have a look at this link: The logs are in the series ADM 173, plus there are other records to consult depending on where your interests take you. It is well worthwhile, if investigating a specific incident, to look closely at the original FO (Foreign Off
Forum: WWI forum

Celia, The ships logs are at The National Archives, Kew, and can be viewed and copied by the public. Hope this helps, Bruce
Forum: Warship forum

Ken, I have seen a similar photo in an Italian book on midget submarines. I can't read the language but it certainly looked like the deck-mounted tubes were for carrying Italian two-man craft. Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Ken, Roger You are probably familiar with 'Farewell Milag', (ISBN 0 9513475 1 9) by Arthur H Bird MBE. If not, I am sure you will find it useful. Bird was the only Merchant Navy seaman to successfully escape from Milag Nord. Hope this helps, Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

See the thread at Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Hoxter was used by the Kreigsmarine during 1942 as a hospital ship, based in St Malo. Can anyone tell me anything about her? Thanks in advance, Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Eric, thanks for the information. This fits the situation exactly and confirms what is implied in the KTBs. Apologies for the delay in posting. Regards, Bruce
Forum: Technology and Operations

Can anybody tell me what an ‘S-gerat’ was? In context: Five German ships are travelling together so the one equipped with S-gerat was placed closest to the shore. It would be easy to assume from this that it was a depth-finding sonar device, but hopefully someone will know for sure. Thanks in advance, Bruce
Forum: Technology and Operations

Pinguin was operating around Australia at that time, including laying mines. She had quite a few successes despite engine trouble, before leaving to attack the Norwegian whaling fleets in the Antarctic. The story is explained in good detail in ‘The Secret Raiders’ by David Woodward and also ‘German Raiders of World War 11’ by Karl August Muggenthaler. There are other sources, but these
Forum: General Discussions

Alain, Some long time users of this forum will know of my previous interest in ‘secret U-boat pens’ and ‘secret refuelling bases’ in the First World War. The fact is that despite several hundred reports, many cited as ‘confirmed’, reliable’, ‘eyewitness’ or ‘definite’, there was no such enterprise on the part of the German Navy after the opening weeks of the war (and only
Forum: General Discussions

Ron, There is no record in the online National Archives index relating to a Board of Enquiry for the event. However, in my experience, that is only Round One. For example, there are many Boards of Enquiry reports within documents indexed under ‘Actions with the Enemy’ or ‘Actions against the Enemy’. If your uncle was lost in an action involving Axis forces there is a much better c
Forum: Warship forum

Richard, You can find a lot of information about the boats scuttled at the end of the war by going to the link 'THE BOATS' at the top of this page. Look under 'FATES' and 'OPERATION DEADLIGHT'. There is a list of the boats scuttled, including one with a number similar to the one your friend has given you. Hope this helps, Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Rainer, The typeface used in the KTBs and Meldung we are working with is the standard manual typewriter style that is typical of the time, and the ‘I’ and ‘1’ are quite distinctive. Although I believed there was a typist's error, it seems silly to make assumptions like that. Your answer fits perfectly with the rest of the known facts. Thanks for your help. The passage about
Forum: General Discussions

Extract from decoded and translated German Naval intercepts held in the National Archives: Short naval situation report dated 7/Sep/42, item V: Channel and Atlantic Coast “On the afternoon of 3rd September a diesel generator in the U-boat base at Brest was damaged by explosive charge. On the same day 2 further charges were set in transformer plants in the dockyard area. One charge was a
Forum: General Discussions

It has been a year since I first posted this request so I thought it might be worth asking again: Does anybody know what percentage of the Kriegsmarines resources went to the U-boats? For example, manpower, shipbuilding, base facilities etc on an annual basis? I saw a piechart years ago in a reference book giving personnel allocation annually and can't remember where; maybe someo
Forum: General Discussions

Barry, My original post was prompted by a request for historical help from a diver who visits the wreck of Kyarra. This lies at location: 50°34.90N; 01°56.59W (Swanage) There are a few websites that have information about diving the wreck but the historical information on them is not to be taken as gospel. Try this link to divesitedirectory.co.uk. for more general info about the wreck.
Forum: WWI forum

In Diana Preston’s book 'Lusitania', also released as 'Wilful Murder', she discusses the KTB of U-20 at length. I won’t attempt to retell her reasoning (which appears sound), but she concludes that the entries concerning the sinking of Lusitania were altered. I am not aware of any other examples of a KTB being altered after the event. The book is well worth reading.
Forum: WWI forum

Earlier today I attended a reunion of RN and RNVR veterans. As usually happens, the stories began to flow and speeches were made, battles re-fought and absent friends remembered. In the past at these gatherings I have been struck by the respect these men had for their opponents at the time and how now, over six decades later, there is a complete absence of any form of malice or resentment again
Forum: General Discussions

Interesting. Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

"If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn't bump his butt when he jumped" Hope this helps, Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Paul Try: Regards, Bruce
Forum: Warship forum

George, It didn't happen. One of the threads that covered the subject before is: Your father was not alone in believing in them. The belief in 'Secret Bases' was strong in the Great War, and many officers who should have known better started the same time-wasting process in WW11. The myth lingers on, and probably never will die completely, but it is just that: a myth
Forum: General Discussions

Paul, Thank you. Bruce Dennis
Forum: General Discussions

Paul, glad the link was of interest. You have mail. Regards, Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

Worth a look. Bruce
Forum: General Discussions

In 'The Silent War: A History of Western Naval Intelligence' by Richard Deacon, he states (page 213)...'By the end of the 1940's it was clear that the USSR gave top priority to naval intelligence and that they had engaged former German naval officers as advisers on submarine warfare.' Deacon is reliable and was a member of NID at the time of the Cold War. Is there a
Forum: General Discussions

Ken, you have mail. Bruce
Forum: Warship forum

Conway Maritime Press was taken over by Anova Books. Try this link: They may be able to help with past issues,or try an excellent maritime bookseller: Maritime Books 66 Royal Hill, Greenwich London SE10 8RT. Telephone 020 8692 1794 Contact Mr Anthony Simmonds & Mrs Setitia Simmonds Hours Open: 10:00-18:00 Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday Hope this helps, Bruce Den
Forum: Warship forum