Q - Where is U-Boat Skipper Gerhard Nolde? He was in Berlin at the birthday of Hitler on 20 April, 1945 but then he went missing; without a trace. He was not killed in action, he just went missing. It is important for vital research we are doing, that we learn the fate of Gerhard Nolde.

Q - JOE McCARTHY (3853-1994) would like to know how many torpedoes are kept as reloads for the bowroom on a TYPE VII-C boat, and how many for the after torpedo room?

Q - For J. DEBUS (3799-1994); What movie in the 1960's showed a lone sniper on land keeping a heavy German warship at bay? What was the basis for this story?

Q - LEE DUNLAP (3168-1993) would like to know what was the typical armament for a pre-World War II U-Boat; of each type.

Q - JIM McCOY (3686-1994) asks what's the disagreement we at SHARKHUNTERS have with Bucheim, author of 'DAS BOOT'.

A - Actually, it is the vast majority of the U-Bootfahrer who have a disagreement (putting it mildly!) with Bucheim. They actually are more upset with the book that followed 'DAS BOOT', which never was released in any English-speaking country to my knowledge. The title roughly translated, was 'VICTORIOUS UNTIL DEATH' which we understand, was a real attack on the character of Gross Admiral Dönitz. Most U-Bootfahrer hold Karl Dönitz in extremely high esteem, so an attack on his character was not tolerated.

A - SIGMUND KLAUSSNER (211-1986) has this answer to a previously asked question regarding the ship SS HAMBURG. This ship and her sister-ship SS NEW YORK were twin-screw ships of 27,000 tons each. SS HAMBURG evacuated some 60,000 refugees from the eastern sections, out of reach of the advancing Red Army, and carried them safely to Kiel and other German ports.

In March of 1945, SS HAMBURG struck two mines placed by British forces off Schwienemünde and she sank there.

Her sister-ship, SS NEW YORK, likewise died in March of 1945, but she was a victim of a USAAF bombing raid that set her ablaze and she burned to a total loss in Kiel harbor.

A - The answer to a question by DALLAS HAYES (3923-1994) was dug up by COB KEN HENRY (1468-1990). There are actually two of KEN's old shipmates who came in with an answer.

Mike Casey was Fire-Controlman on USS ARCHER-FISH (SS 311) and he writes: "First, keep in mind that the submarine was seldom if ever, pointed at the target. We told the torpedo to turn after leaving the tube and this turning angle could be up to 130 degrees. This was called the GYRO ANGLE.

This information was transmitted to the torpedo by servo motors. Servo motors consist of two motors connected together by five wires. When one motor is turning, the other follows.

The servo motor was physically engaged by a pin through the torpedo tube into the torpedo. This pin was constantly rotating back and forth, changing gyro angle until the moment of firing. The pin retracted automatically when the tube was fired. The depth spindle and the speed spindle were manually retracted by the Torpedoman after depth and speed were set and before the final firing solution was reached."

Dave Dimmick was XO on USS ARCHERFISH from early 1960 until late 1962. He was also an instructor in Officer's Basic Submarine School & he writes: "The TDC was a mechanical/analog computer used to 'solve the firing control problem'. The PC that you are using is an electronic/digital computer.

The 'fire control problem' was a relative motion problem. It was, simply put - 'If I know my course and speed, your course and speed, the distance and direction that you are from me and how fast my torpedo runs - then in what direction should I aim my torpedo to blow you out of the water?'

The TDC gets MY course and speed via electronic synchro motors. I would have to 'crank' your course and speed into the TDC as well as your range and your bearing from me. The TDC is also told the torpedo speed.

Most of the information sent to the torpedo could be given once, as it would unlikely be changed. Therefore, via telephone, the orders would be relayed for the torpedo running depth and speed (HI or LO). The torpedo's course input came from the TDC and was fed to the torpedo constantly until it was shot. The torpedo's course was fed via synchros to the tube and then set electro-mechanically into the fish's gyroscope by a pin that was withdrawn at time of firing. The torpedo course was received as a relative course (It was told to turn 'so many' degrees left or right RELATIVE to our boat.) I think there was a limit of 135 degrees that a torpedo could be directed to turn upon leaving the tube.

In summary, the TDC inputs were ship's own course and speed, target's course, speed, range and bearing, and torpedo speed and running depth. The output of the TDC, given all the inputs, was the relative direction from our boat's centerline to send our torpedo. In order to act on its orders, the torpedo had to have its gyroscope installed. The early TANG learned this. Without a gyroscope installed, the MK 13 torpedoes went FULL rudder, sending the fish in a dramatic turn into the forward engine room!"

KEN, many thanks for running with the ball on this. to get these great answers! Please pass along out thanks to your friends, Mike Casey and Dave Dimmick. Why aren't they Members of our SHARKHUNTERS yet? I hope you can sign them up.

Now to our German Torpedomechaniker veterans - how is this situation handled on a German U-Boat? Please let us know for this section. In advance, vielen dank.