Hello Simone, HMS SANTA was reported mined in 41°22' N, 08°58' E (western approaches to La Maddalena, actually about 9 miles west of Bonifacio). Is this compatible with the wreck you found? No Allied nor any Axis submarines laid mines in this area but she was most probably sunk on the defensive minefields laid by the German minelayers BRANDENBURG and POMMERN on 26 August 1943 ( thre
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Hi Jack, Rainer and company, I assume that Jack is not absolutely certain of the date ("on or about June 4th 1943"). I have recently completed a study of Italian submarine operations and have come to the conclusion that NIELDS did not sink GORGO but probably damaged U 414. The two aircraft which had reported the submarine and guided it to the U-boat were not British but French Late
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I do not have all the information for this period but I have NORDMARK replenishing U 107 on 3 May 1941 in 7° N, 31° W if that helps. Platon
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Hi Ken, I only have a few pages from NORDMARK KTB and have not seen any other reference to transfer from U-boats but it is quite possible that there is. The KTB is on microfilm roll T1022/2879 (NARA) and the specific file is PG 70757 and covers 7.4 to 20.5.1941. It is not available online AFAIK. Best regards, Platon
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Hello Ken, According to the KTB of NORDMARK, the officer was Kapitänleutnant Kamens and came from SCHIFF 16 (entry of 1030/20 April). The entry reads only: "Kptltnt. Kamens auf SCHIFF 16 übergestiegen". I hope this helps. Platon
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Hello Jane, If I can be of any further assistance, I shall be glad to answer any question within my limited capabilities. I have a fairly detailed database on Allied submarine operations. Platon
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Hello Jane, As far as I can tell, your father carried out only one special operation from Trincomalee when he was in commnand of HMS TERRAPIN and this was not of the "Cloak and Dagger" type but to act as a beacon and also air/sea rescue duties following raids by B-29 bombers of the USAAF on Palembang (operation BOOMERANG on 9-11 August 1944). You might try the "Allies" sec
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Hello Felix, If you are looking for memoirs translated in English, I am afraid there is not much. The only work that come to mind is: "The Hunters and the Hunted" by Aldo Cocchia translation of "BETASOM, Sommergibili all'attaco" and this is not really a memoir as he writes about Italian submarines in the Atlantic. Cocchia was in command of TORELLI and brought his sub
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Hello Vidar, Thank you for an interesting account. g-sachen = Geheime Sachen or secret papers (code books, etc.) Platon
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Hello Tormod, Yes, no submarine operations off Oslofjord either. Platon
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Can anyone supply the movements and notable incidents for U 124 during the sinking of EMPIRE THUNDER and the next three days (6-9 January 1941). Was she hunted by A/S vessels? Many thanks, Platon
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Hello Tormod, No RN or allied submarine activity near Kristiansand in 1943-1945. Platon
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Best wishes to Paul Mengelberg for his 95th birthday and hope for many more! Platon Alexiades
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Hi Brian, You seem to have eagle eyes. I think the date 28.7.42 is a typo and refers actually to the message of 23.7.42. See the KTB entry of 27.7.42 which already assumes the boat is lost as she failed to answer repeated messages. St. Croix recovered a human shoulder so it does seem that a U-boat was indeed sunk at the time. All the best, Platon
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Hi Andy, A variety of sources cover this incident, you will find the book: "Search, Find and Kill" by Norman L.R. Franks to be very informative. Primary sources can be found at the National Archives in London and in Washington which hold the information from the attacking aircraft. I have not (yet) seen the Sunderland reports but I located the Whitley report at NARA in the RG 38 fil
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Submarine was the Italian REGINALDO GIULIANI which had been damaged following attacks from two Sunderlands of 10 RAAF Squadron, a Whitley from 502 Squadron and a Wellington from 304 (Polish) Squadron. The submarine arrived at Santander on 3 September and after temporary repairs sailed on 8 November for Bordeaux. Platon
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Hi Rainer, U 565 is a possibility except for the attack is one day off and the position about 90 miles (I think) to the SE of FANNY's but errors were not uncommon. Have fun at Kew! Platon
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Hello Rainer, U 77 attacked the RHN destroyers IERAX and SPETSAI on 30 July in CP 2698 (from Greek sources in 35°32' N, 34°50' E). However it is unlikely that the Egyptian FANNY was sunk in this attack. She is reported to have been lost on 31 July about 80 miles north of Borollos Lighthouse (i.e. approx. 32°50' N, 30°50' E) on a trip from Limassol to Alexandria. Could F
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Hello, RORQUAL sighted the lights of a fishing vessel from the direction from which the torpedoes were fired but it was too distant to have sighted the submarine. There was the possibility this was an armed trawler or a Q-ship but this is improbable as the Germans would not run Q-ships in areas used by U-boats . I can confirm that there were no Italian submarines in this area at this time. It
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Dear Francesco, I have sent you an e-mail with the pages relating to the sinking of DA VINCI but it came back as wrong address. I had the following address in my notes: francescomattesini@faustwebnet.it Can you send me the correct addres
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Hi John and Mark, HMS URSULA sailed from Gibraltar on 14 Decemnber for an A/S patrol off the Island of Alboran. It is probable that Axis agents reported her departure and it was wrongly assumed that she was part of the convoy's escort. Regards, Platon
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Hello Brian, Correction: U/179 was the aircraft most probably shot down by ARGENTO at 0400/22 January. The identity of the first Wellington is still unknown. Platon
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Hello Brian, The submarine identified the attacking bomber as of the Vickers Wellington type. It made three strafing runs (described as firing violently with its machine-guns) on the submarine but did not drop any bomb. ARGENTO replied with her own machine-guns claiming hits. On the the third it suddenly stopped firing and was seen to lose rapidly altitude, the submarine did not see it crashi
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Hi Brian, This Wellington was most probably the one shot down by the Italian submarine ARGENTO at 2258/21 January 1943 in 38°07.5' N, 06°38' E. This is about 70 miles North of Philippeville. Platon
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Hello Robert, There were no survivors from ZAFFIRO: 5 officers and 42 ratings were lost. Platon
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Hi John, No other allied submarine in the vicinity at the time so we can discount this possibility. The interesting point about this "attack" is that the BdU was informed on 10 December 1941, doubtless through the B-Dienst, that HMS REGENT would pass through BF7795 (43°03' N, 10°30' W). U-105 was initially ordered to intercept her but she was low on fuel and U-332 was
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Hi Rainer, Many thanks for your input! All the best, Platon
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At 1111/15 December 1941 the submarine HMS UNA reported avoiding two torpedoes fired from a U-boat in 42°55' N, 10°31' W. Does anyone have a clue as to the identity of this U-boat or the attack was bogus? Thanks, Platon
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Hello Georg and Peter, The statement that there were no survivors is incorrect: 37 Germans and 14 foreigners were picked up. TANAIS was carrying 492 Jews and pro-Badoglio Italians and 14 of other nationalities. The crew consisted of 12 men and 14 AA gunners, there is also mention of an escort guard of 40 but this is not clear. Best regards, Platon
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Hi John, Just checked again my notes, the correct date is 2323/1 August 1941. Sorry about that. Platon
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