Thanks, Ron! FYI, you can still view/read the achived blog page here: [74.125.47.132] I would follow the lead myself but I already have way, way too many irons in the fire as it is. -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Jim, Have you seen: "...An old sketch shows the last moments of the Bray Head on Wednesday March 14th 1917 as recorded by a crew member, J Watson. A German U-boat fired a torpedo at the steamer but missed. The U-boat surfaced and renewed its attack on the Bray Head. Watson’s diary reports ‘Our gunners assisted by crew fought the U-boat from 6.10am on Wednesday morning until 8
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Gerald, all... Have you had a look at: Gerald, kudos on your efforts and I do hope you will keep us appraied as to your progress. -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, Anyone know where one might find a good picture of Karl Stöter? I'm trying to help a fellow out who is researching a ship sunk by Stöter. Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Understood...I am in similar circumstances myself. For future reference I would be happy to assist in the project once it gets underway. In the meantime if you think of things necessary to this effort, please PM me. Take care, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, Is there any movement underway to include actual photos of the WWI-era u-boats on this site? Also curious if there are any boats for whom there is no known photo. Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Michael, The link addressed the discrepancy, but not the crew's confusion, nor the sounds they heard. I agree the u-boat probably sank her (the crew describes her listing heavily to port, which to me is more indicative of a torpedo strike...if the bottom had been blown out by the zeppelin's bomb, perhaps she would have setted quite differently) but I keep getting stuck on the cre
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, A follow-up to my post about the book 'Open Boats' re: 'La Belle France', another source of confusion is around the attack on and subsequent sinking of the 'Franz Fisher'. The sinking is officially attributed to UB17 but the crew in this book (on pages 50 - 57) swear they were sunk by a zeppelin. What would you think would lead to such an erroneous conclu
Forum: WWI forum

Aha. I was looking for 'La Belle France', not 'Belle of France'. Many thanks! Incidentally, if you are researching U-22, U-24, U-33, U-34, U-35, U-38, U-39, U-66, UB-17, UB-29 or UC-10, their kills are in this book, described from the survivors' perspective. Reads a bit like propaganda but may be of interest. -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, In reading 'Open Boats' by Alfred Noyes, I see reference to the sinking of the merchant vessel 'La Belle France' by torpedo on January 31,1916. I see no credit for her in the database, and wondered if anyone knew which u-boat sank her? You can read (or download a free copy in pdf format) here: The attack and sinking of 'La Belle France' is menti
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Michael, Happy to hear from you. Was there ever any indication that the tendency to 'supersize' was intentional, i.e., they wanted to bulk up their tonnage in their reports to the powers that be, or was it more about the optics they were using, conditions on the surface, etc.? I am wondering if any u-boat commanders were ever asked about this phenomenon. Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, I am trying to pin down where the RMS Carmania and RMS Caronia were in February 1917. My understanding is that the RMS Carmania was at that time operating as a troopship at Gallipoli; where was RMS Caronia? Also, would it have been likely that u-boat commanders would have known where these two ships were, generally speaking? I ask because the ship I am researching was misidentified
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the CD 'Hoch Deutschlands Flotte!' for the holidays, and found it to be both a great CD as well as an illuminating read. For those unfamiliar with the CD, it contains restored, original archival recordings of the music of the Imperial German Navy, 1907-1917. I was wondering if others have picked this CD up and their impressions.
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, Thanks for the clarification. While it is clear there is no 1:1 correlation between the various ranks, I am getting a much better sense of who did what. I have two follow-up questions: while on this boat Petz gave the order to fire, who actually pushed the button, so to speak? I am trying to describe this boat in action in my book, and I don't want to have the cook firing the
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Michael, This is very helpful. What may not come as a surprise (to you) is the u-boat whose crew who I am looking at (and seeking to better understand): The Heizer.Ing came straight form there (crew member name Langfeldt)...so it would appear they have an error on their site. I neglected to include O.Matrose in my initial inquiry...would that be the equivalent of an AB? -Danie
Forum: WWI forum

Hi, I have a few abbreviated ranks I can't seem to find the full names for in the glossary or elsewhere online (and their equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy): F.T.O.Gast F.T.Gast Strm.Mt. Lotse Heizer.Ing. M.O.Ing. O.Matr. O.Matrose (same as above?) Masch. Mach.Mt. Bts.M.Mt. Strm. Any guidance would be a great help. Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi John, I thought that was what the deck gun was for! Seriously, I have not heard that, though I am far from being an expert on the subject. Perhaps others more versed on the subject can weigh in. Just looking at it from the wreck diving angle, there's no traffic or chatter on this subject, so if some boats did carry such things, it would appear not to be SOP. Take care, -Dani
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, I am looking for a thorough description or account (preferably in English) of how 'Visit and Search' was usually conducted in WWI. In particular I am interested in knowing the mechanics of how this was carried out, which u-boat crew members were tasked with this work and their respective roles and functions when a 'Visit and Search' was conducted. Any leads (books
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Yves, I am most interested in the California and Vedamore at present, both sunk by U-85 on Feb 7, 1917. I am reaaly most interested right now in finding interviews of survivors, but I will take whatever they might have that is not the usual stuff. FYI, Oberlin College Archive already has acknowledged my research request and I should have an idea of what they have early next week. -Dani
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, I just finished Wesley Frost's book (via Google Books) 'German Submarine Warfare', and found a wealth of useful information therein on a variety of u-boat attacks in the Great War; it made me wonder where are the records of his interviews with attack survivors that he references throughout his book? I have a lead on some of Frost's papers at the Oberlin College Arch
Forum: WWI forum

Hi, I have recently read and found helpful the following four books: 1. Verschollen: World War I U-Boat Losses. Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, c2002. 2. The German Submarine War 1914-1918, by R.H. Gibson and Maurice Prendergast 3. Lost Patrols - Submarine Wrecks of the English Channel, by Innes McCartney 4. The Most Formidable Thing: The Story of the Subma
Forum: WWI forum

Hello kpp, I was wondering if your offer still stands? I am very interested in scans of the pertinent pages on U-85/Willy Petz from Spindler (according to the reference given in 'Verschollen: World War I U-Boat Losses' it is Spindler, Volume 4: pp. 103-104), and would be willing to do a quid pro quo research lookup of material for you at the New York Public Library, if there is some
Forum: WWI forum

Hi all, I saw the movie trailier this past weekend for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Brad Pitt; of note to folks in this forum is a scene where, in WWII (I think), Brad is on what looks like a merchant ship that runs over a u-boat in stormy seas. Anyone else see this or know more about the sequence? Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: Movies and Films

Hi Simon, You wrote: >The large sub seems to be S.M. U 155. Please note the guns and the 'baffle paint'. I think that paint is what they use on the White House. Great photos. Now, if only someone would sell some U85 pics... -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Bill, They definitely had telegraph. The 'spark key' was recovered from the wreck; here's a picture: The web page from which the picture originates, with info on who recovered it: -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi, Just paste the listing number (370050676283) into the eBay search field and you will see the listing. You can view and download all 9 photos at your leisure. Click on each if you want to supersize them before you download them. -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi, Thank you both for the kind offers! I am presently researching Willy Petz, U-85, her crew and her career in WWI; I have the KTB and a few articles I dug up here and there but would love a copy of anything that has been written about her. I would be happy to trade copies of what I have, if that helps. Thanks, -Daniel
Forum: WWI forum

Hi Michael, Thanks for the insight regarding the records. I am wondering if you know of a place I can find a copy of Spindler IV? That particular book covers the period of most interest to me at present. According to WORLDcat, the nearest public copy is located in Australia at the Australian War Memorial. Given I am in New York that is a bit problematic! I am also gathering that this sort
Forum: WWI forum