I didn't say it didn't happen, simply that the Germans were also guilty of it. Everyone would like to think that their warriors are always the honorable ones. It just isn't so. There are no saints on the battlefield. Speaking of U2513. I was aboard her several times while she was at Portsmouth,NH. She was designated 'EX-U2513' along with 'EX-U3008'. They were b
Forum: General Discussions

I had no idea the German Armed Forces were so honorable that they did not engage in prohibited actions. My cousin's jewelry was stolen from him by the soldiers in the field at point of capture. I can understand confiscating watches in POW camps and holding for 'safekeeping' maybe to be returned upon release. As for quality, American watches were of the same quality as German, since
Forum: General Discussions

Gert Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello Barrie, > > One of the U-407 survivors was Mechanikermaat > (torpedo mixer) EMIL PIENTKA. He died in 1994. As > it happens (quite a coincidence, I should think), > his nephew. Miro Herold, at this very time is > looking for information and photos of U-407. You > can reach him at: >
Forum: General Discussions

I don't know about it being displayed at different ports after the war, but I do know that 505 was at the shipyard at Portsmouth, NH. It was black and dirty at a side pier. I was stationed there 1946-1947. We paid no attention to it. We didn't know its history, it just looked like junk. We were more attracted to U-3008 which was clean, operational with a USN crew and we could visit aboa
Forum: General Discussions

Yes, it is tragic that innocent civilians were killed, but let's keep it in perspective. The ship was in dangerous waters, it was not a hospital or non-combatant ship. It was, as I understand, using only red and green running lights. Granted, the Soviet launched without really identifying the target. I'm sure that he would have sunk her even if he had identified her. After all, she was
Forum: General Discussions

Not bragging, but not only did I see them, but I did go aboard both of them. We Marines got along very well with the submarine sailors. They would let us visit their boats anytime. Most of them had served on War Patrols. We were mostly 18 yr. olds. It was very impressive to be in their company. U-2513 was dark and weather-beaten from service. Inside she looked used. U-3008 was gray and very clean
Forum: General Discussions

I was stationed at the Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH, 1946-1947. At the time there were a couple of captured U-boats (U-2513, U-3008). The Navy was using them as models while they experimented with some of our own Fleet Boats from WW2. Two of the subs I remember were ODAX and Amberjack. The U-boats were serviceable and did go out to sea. No U.S. subs had Snorkel systems during the war so far as
Forum: General Discussions

Just to add a little clarification. USS Prairie (AD-15) was a destroyer tender, not a tanker. Its configuration could not be mistaken for a tanker. Anyone in Naval Intelligence looking at a photograph of a tanker with the name Prairie on the superstructure would certainly see it as a fake. In fact, anyone who has ever seen a destroyer tender would know it.
Forum: General Discussions