Off topic I know but another example of how the British Government treats things. A petition to 10 Downing Street to save this ship does not expire until 07.02.09 but look what has happened. MPC I will make no further comment as I don't wish to be hung drawn and quartered.
Forum: General Discussions

Do not get too excited. I think all you will be able to do is to look through something like plexiglass at each end of the segments and will not be allowed inside any of them. Perhaps you will be able to touch the outside of the hull and feel the steel hull of a U-boat, one of many, that nearly brought Great Britain to her knees in two world wars. By cutting U 534 up they have destroyed her so
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Jim, It's very rare to see something like that here. It, somehow, brings a rather personal touch to things what with all those hours flying over unfriendly seas etc. I found it very interesting especially as you had followed up your search and found the relevant information yourself Thanks & Best Wishes MPC
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Gudmundur, Thanks for your New Year greetings for 2009 but...............PLEASE let us know the name of the little one. It is not fair to him to be referred to as "it, the baby, the boy etc." I am sure that a lot uf us parents, grandparents and great-grandparents would like to know the little one's first name. It is easier to think of him as a person and not an object.
Forum: General Discussions

Hi VEK et ALL, I echo your sentiments regarding our newest forum member and his parents. No doubt he will be in nappies(daipers) for some months to come and after that I doubt Gudmundur will let him near a keyboard for some considerable time after. Still he is, as it were, our newest forum member. So, to ALL the forum members wherever you are in the world HAVE A PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS A
Forum: General Discussions

The link is to a recent article in a UK newspaper about this ship. Regards MPC
Forum: WWI forum

Heartfelt Congratulations Gudmundur, Being a parent is one of the finest things in the world. Love him, care for him, nuture him and help him grow into a good son. With my sincere best wishes to you all. MPC A father, grandfather and great-grandfather
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Simon, I believe it is because officers who only commanded school/training U-boats, like Oblt.z.S. Fritz Dönitz are not included. Neither are the pre-war commanders included like Kptlt. v. Boehm-Bezing SMU 1, the very first U-boat commander. There is also no mention of the commanders of SMU 2,3,4. I think that they should be included especially the commander of SMU 3 who was the first U-bo
Forum: WWI forum

You are probably thinking of the Laconia Incident There was a brilliant book written by a Frenchman Leonce Pelliard (?) many years ago but probably out of print now. Hope this helps MPC
Forum: General Discussions

Yes, Barry, you are still missed by all those who knew you by whatever medium they had contact with you. You enlightened a number of lives (probably more than you knew) with your sense of humour, grace and knowledge of numerous things. God Bless Dear Friend MPC JNM Thanks for this post. I wanted to do something myself but was not sure of the exact date. Take care - MPC
Forum: General Discussions

Hi All, How things have changed since the early submarines/Uboats went to war. MPC
Forum: General Discussions

No, I was not confused by ..... "my poor attempt that managed to confuse MPC" I was a little puzzled because you did not explain yourself correctly or properly in the English language. Perhaps English is not your first language, as it is not for a number who visit this forum but they do manage to make themselves understood quite clearly.
Forum: WWI forum

Jo, I have had a quick skeg of some of the names/Uboats mentioned but cannot work out what your point is. Would be greatful if you could check again and also get in touch with those who run this site and advise them if there is an error. Regards MPC
Forum: WWI forum

........and...........?
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Michael, A boom defence vessel is a ship used for maintaining the buoys, hawsers and netting of a boom defence. The Germans would have had these to protect their harbours from attack by enemy surface ships and submarines. One famous incident is the attack on the Tirpitz by Royal Navy X-craft For Prize Rules see the following link. Re OBVs, Germany did not have a real need for them i
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Michael, If I remember correctly OBVs were ships that patrolled UK waters, particularly in the early months of both World Wars. Their role was to stop and search any foreign vessel suspected of carrying contraband or enemy aliens. For example a neutral Scandanavian vessel on passage from the Americas to Europe. The ship's manifest might have stated that she was carrying foodstuffs or s
Forum: General Discussions

According to an online translation it is:- "Ozeaneinstiegbehälter" These were British ships that stopped and searched suspect ships for any contraband that might be usefull to an enemy in time of war. Hope this helps MPC
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Simon, That grey colour looks very much like the colour used on "The Old Grey Funnel Line" (The Royal Navy). Thousands of surface warships were painted in a 'battleship grey' colour both inside and out and with a black boot-topping. Submersible warships were mostly black on the outside but probably grey inside. It makes sense to order millions of gallons of one
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Shelia, On your father's papers the date 17/4/42 will have been the day he joined the ship, probably in Liverpool as the convoy sailed from there. The days between his joining and the ship sailing would have been used to either unload/load cargo or if she was sailing empty to have sorted out the ballast - ships have to have something in the holds to keep them stable. The date of dis
Forum: General Discussions

Michael, You will probably find that a Matrose is similar to an AB and an Obermatrose similar to a Leading Seaman. Both are junior rates. MPC
Forum: WWI forum

Vlad, No matter what their ranks or jobs were they were 20 men who died unnecessary. They went to sea to do their job and due to a tragic accident lost their lives. Those men will have had families and loved ones who now have a great pain in their hearts. May they Rest in Peace, may the injured recover and may God help those who have lost loved ones. It is so very, very sad on the eve of
Forum: General Discussions

Hi Dave, Another book to look for is at this link:- Edited by a former U-boat commander and a well known war artist. Regards MPC
Forum: WWI forum

You wrote:- "Not sure why not - this is a forum on World War I, and this is directly related to it, though possibly not of personal interest to you...Where would you recommend I go?" This is a forum for WW1 U-boats and what they did. British Dreadnoughts did not and could not hunt U-boats. Try a forum dealing with the Royal Navy. MPC
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Richard, Thanks for jogging my memory, My error. Both are sad cases. The sinking of HMS/M E 3 leads directly to a British war crime where Kptlt Bernd Wegener and some of the crew of SMU 27 were murdered/executed by the Brits. The other case is sad because the two commanders were good friends. Regards MPC
Forum: General Discussions

There is only one recorded incident of a submerged submarine sinking a submerged U-boat. In all other cases,including unsucessful attacks, at least one of the vessels was surfaced - usually the attacked and not the attacker. The first known case of a submmersible vessel sinking another was on 21.01.1915 when SMU 22, Kptlt. Bruno Hoppe torpedoed and sank SMU 7, Kptlt. George König. Both vessel
Forum: General Discussions

Just for information: Ted Briggs has passed away. May he and all other brave men like him Rest in Peace. MPC
Forum: General Discussions

Shortly after midnight, Gunther Prien, Commander of German U boat U- 47, was lying off the east coast of Orkney. Leading into the British Navy’s main anchorage at Scapa Flow were four narrow channels between islands which had been further restricted by sinking blockships. Prien chose Kirk Sound where, on a fast incoming tide, he was able to navigate though a gap and into the calm wate
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A very interesting priest to listen to and an even greater man to talk to. MPC
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Dave, Get stuck into the book, it really is a good read. Take care of it though as a first edition might be worth somethin if it's in good condition. Regards MPC
Forum: WWI forum

MPC Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Sorry. A correction to my bad English.......... It appears that any book by his is certainly worth reading and adding to one's own library. "..any book by his.." should read as "any book by him" OR "any book of his" MPC (Yes, an Englishman)
Forum: General Discussions