Annette, There's not a simple answer to that. If he was an officer, during the war, he’s easy to trace. If he was killed on a U-boat, there’s a list for that. Otherwise, it can get very hard. It would help if you could tell us all you know about his naval service. Name, age, and information you might have on where he served (Flanders, Mediterranean, etc.), where he served in the engine
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This is a good news/bad news sort of post. The good news is that I was recently at Duke University library and made a copy of the 1937 volume of the Rangliste der Deutschen Kriegsmarine that they have. I'm currently in the process of updating our World War Two commander crew and promotion date information based upon this important source, which is one in a series of yearly lists of German
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Chris, Some back of the envelope numbers from this website's database that I generated. I'm an admin, and there is an admin function to sort by ship type): Steam powered: Steamer: 3,989 Passenger steamer: 197 Tanker: 145 Troopship: 27 Armed merchant cruiser/armed boarding steamer/escort ship: 37 Hospital ship: 17 (Steam) Trawler: 281 Navy trawler: 184 (Steam) Drifter: 3
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Oliver, Start by having a look at the Mercantile Navy List. Various years (sadly not 1916 or 1917) are online here: For Reindeer, see: Best wishes, Michael
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Claus, Thank you for your interest in our WWI section. You're misreading the decoration information. The date applies only for decoration in the same row, and not awards listed below it. So in this case, the 1906 date applies only for the Order of the Crown. The Iron Cross Second Class was obviously a war-time award but I don't currently have a date for that, so no date is listed. (I
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Steve, I've found a grid map that shows that area. Quick question: what Greek letter follows the 132 and 024 grid references? Yes, in the German grid system of the time it matters a lot. And PM me your e-mail address. Best wishes, Michael
Forum: General Discussions

Steve, It's not that simple. There actually were a series of maps and then the German navy completely changed its grid system system 1918. So the question really is when and where you're for a grid map of. Best wishes, Michael
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Joe, June 5, 1917 is correct but UC 70 was in Ostende, not Zeebrugge. Best wishes, Michael
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Stavros, I don't have UB 50's KTB in front of me, but I would take it that what Simon is describing is only the March 18 entry. There would be additional entries for March 14th through 17th. Whether they would provide much detail is a different matter. Best wishes, Michael
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Stavros, The boat you're looking for is likely UB 50, which sailed from Pola on March 14th. UB 50 would also be a better fit for the 33-man crew you describe than a smaller UCII like UC 37. The only other boats that sailed between March 12 and 18 were UC 25 (on the 14th from Cattaro), UC 37, and the Austrian U 41. I have UB 50's KTB on microfilm but I suspect that Oliver or Simon
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Simon/Joe, Thanks for the information. Have updated our files. Best wishes, Michael
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Stavros, UC 37 seems like the best bet though the crew size seems a bit high. UB 51 and UB 68 aren't matches as not at sea then. Best wishes, Michael
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Naumachos, UB 48's KTB gives the position of the attack/sining as 42°40'N, 8°39'E. Best wishes, Michael
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Simon, James J. Bibby/Dargle isn't listed in the 1918/19 edition of Lloyd's Register, which makes sense as she ordinarily used for training and not trading. She is in the 1918 Mercantile Navy List though: Built 1902 in Garston and of 63 tons net. Best wishes, Michael
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A couple more details per ADM239/26: Dargle was a schooner and the action happened at 1650 British time. There's no obvious match in Spindler. I will have a look at some KTBs next time I'm at the library if Oliver or Simon don't find the answer first. Best wishes, Michael
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Naumachos, I have UB 105's KTB and will check if Oliver or Simon don't provide an answer before I get to it. Best wishes, Michael
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Peter, I'd need some additional information to try to give you an answer to that. Where and when was your grandfather based? Note also that the likely result was that the he was involved in an incident that didn't actually result in the sinking of a U-boat. Best wishes, Michael
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Joe, The mines were mechanically released from the chutes and dropped out of the bottom of the chutes. Hope this makes sense. Best wishes, Michael
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And speaking of the Canadian War Museum, they have a similar lamp: Best wishes, Michael
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TK, St.B = Steuerbord = starboard And if it's inscribed as "U-157" then it's definitely a later non-German marking -- the Germans would have written the boat's number without the dash. FWIW, the Canadian War Museum has a larger artifact — a 88mm/30 caliber WWI naval gun — and they aren't sure how they came by that either. Best wishes, Michael
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James, Great question and I can't give a good answer. Hassan certainly is listed on the Tower Hill Memorial to merchant marine crew killed during the war with no known grave. His name is also on a list of British merchant marine crew taken prisoner by the Germans which I found online... I’m not sure which is correct. Best wishes, Michael
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John, Gestrichen -- deleted or stricken "vorgesehen für U 685, nicht im bau" -- intended for U 685, not in construction (not being built). Best wishes, Michael
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The 1914/1915 edition of “Lloyd's Register of Shipping” comes in two parts (volumes). Volume two contains a listing by nation of steamers over 100 tons. There’s a good news/bad news element here: Google with leading US universities has formed the HathiTrust to digitalize old books. The good news is that this includes some editions of “Lloyd's Register of Shipping” including Volume tw
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See: And Dwight Messimer did write the book on the subject. MPL
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Joe, They're different guys. The LI of U-Deutschland was named Hugo Klees. Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks, have updated our files. Best wishes, Michael
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James, Thanks, we've updated our files. Best wishes, Michael
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Sebastian, The war diaries of the UBIs at sea didn’t mention a corresponding air attack, so UB 27 must have been the boat attacked. I’ll e-mail you some additional details. Best wishes, Michael
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Well, if that reference is to stopping a ship on the open Atlantic Ocean, based upon Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1916/1917, there would seem to be two possibilities: 1. A steel bark built in 1891 of 1070 grt and owned by A. Corrado, Genoa. Built as Loreley. 2. A wooden bark built in 1875 of 614 grt and owned by G. Pittaluga fuF., Genoa. Built as Nuova Margherita. Best wishes,
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Bruce, I’m one of the two people that handles the WWI side of this website and think I can help help you with this. That said, I would also recommend a copy of V.E. Tarrant's excellent "The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945." Best wishes, Michael
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