Not much to add to what has already been said, just something I have found myself, in reading survivors reports from sunk ships, if they had recieved any store/provisions from the uboat the interviewee will invaribaly always describe the items provided by the Germans. I have not come across any Irish stores been handed out to the lifeboats, always either German or continenal in orign. I have also
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Gents, Can anyone confirm that there was an Italian officer onboard the U176 during its first war patrol? The second officer from the RICHMOND CASTLE states that when he took his lifeboat alongside the uboat he conversed with a young Italian officer who was on the conning tower. Any info would be appreciated. Regards, Mark
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Thanks for the input, the only thing about Capt Kerr thinking he heard "Cologne" instead of "coast" is that Heinicke then told the lifeboats to steer 251, the opposite direction to that they should be going to reach the coast. Regards, Mark
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Craig, I think you will find that wearing gloves with your No. 1 uniform is the standard, even in todays navies. regards, Mark
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Bruce, very good point, Capt Kerr says in his interview that Heinicke told him the KOLN was 200nm away, so it must have been some form of radio communication between the uboat and the merchant ship. regards, Mark
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Rainer, Interesting about the ROTHESAY CASTLE, this is not mentioned by Captain Kerr. is it in the U 53 war diary? Not familiar with Ritschel, what is his reference work called? regards, Mark
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Ken, Thanks for your assistance, much appreciated. Yes Capt. Kerr's interview does mention that Heinicke offered medical assistance. After Heinicke told Kerr what course to steer to meet the Koln he sailed away for a couple of hours, when he returned he told Kerr that he would not be meeting the Koln, but instead the uboat would tow them to Ireland. He then said that he was going back to
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Ken, Many thanks for the information on the Koln, thats good to know that there was an actual ship by that name. Myy source is the Admiralty interview of Captain Hugh kerr, master of the Cheyenne. I am not saying that the Koln was sunk now, but that Heinicke was trying to get the Koln to pick up t survivors of the Cheyenne. This would mean th the Koln was attempting to return to Germany, anb
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Thanks Paul, I'm aware of that and also of the subsequent rescue of the crew by the IAD BAKKE, it is this ship COLOGNE that is the main focus of my enquiry. regards, Mark
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Going through the sinking of the CHEYENNE on 18th September 1939, by U 53 (Heinicke), the Master (Hugh Kerr) claims that the uboat gave the survivors the in the lifeboats a course to steer to meet up with the ship called the COLOGNE. Keer states that Heinicke told him what course to steer and that he had contacted the COLOGNE to come and rescue the crew of the CHEYENNE. I have looked for any
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Hi Paul, The date of the incident was the 16th of September, the story was printed in the newspaper on the 18th. Thanks all the same. regards, Mark
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Both badges are very crude cast copies, do not part with any money for either of these. regards, Mark
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Here is an interesting story, I wonder if anybody can confirm it. Doing my research and I came across a story in the newspaper (Cork Examiner 18.09.1939), that says that on Saturday 16th off the south west coast of Ireland, a German submarine surfaced and came alongside a fleet of trawlers and asked for a supply of fish. before they could get any fish two larg ships escorted by destroyers appear
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Sent you an email Mark
Forum: General Discussions