ANSWERS

U-Boats off America in WW I

NORMAN FIELD (4642-1996) writes:

“I have been able to track down the exploits of U-151 under the command of und Janckendorf von Nostitz. she sailed from Kiel and was on station from 15 May to 1 July, 1918; off the American coast. According to German Admiralty records, seven of the largest submarines were ordered to cross the Atlantic to lay mines and attack shipping from Cape Cod to Key West. the seven boats were U-117, U-139, U-140, U-151, U-152, U-155 and U-156.

U-117 commanded by Dröscher sailed from Germany in July 1918 and returned in company with U-140 that October.

U-139 commanded by von Arnaud sailed for the American coast in September 1918 but was recalled due to the impending armistice negotiations.

(HARRY’S NOTE - was this Lothar von Arnaud de la Perrier?)

U-140 commanded by Kophamel sailed from Germany on 22 June 1918 arriving in American waters from 14 July to 1 September and she returned to Germany in company with U-117, arriving in October 1918.

U-152 commanded by Franz sailed from Germany in August 1918 and remained in American waters from 29 September until 20 October 1918. She arrived back in Germany after the armistice.

U-155 commanded by Eckelmann (the former merchant submarine DEUTSCHLAND) left Germany in August 1918 and arrived off the American coast on 7 September until 20 October 1918, then returned to Germany a few days after the armistice.

U-156 commanded by Richard Feldt left Germany about 15 June and operated along the American coast from 5 July to 1 September 1918 but whilst on the way home, she struck a mine in the North Sea Barrage and was lost with all hands.

U-151 was originally known as the OLDENBURG, sister ship to the DEUTSCHLAND. during her period of patrols off the eastern seaboard, I have been able to trace a few merchantmen that she sank. All the vessels that U-151 sank were ordered to heave to and abandon ship. The crews were then ordered into the lifeboats, given food and water, and then taken in tow by the U-Boat. At one time, she had four lifeboats in tow with 23 survivors which she towed to the nearest landfall. One ship, the VINDEGGEN (Norwegian) was escorted by U-151 to 150 miles out into the Atlantic, away from the shipping lanes and her cargo of 2,000 tons of copper was unloaded onto the submarine and the boats ballast was put over the side so the copper could be stored in its place. This operation took more than 2 days and everyone was turned to! When this was completed, the crew was put into lifeboats and towed back to the nearest landfall.

In all, U-151 was away for 94 days and during that time, had sailed exactly 10,915 miles; had sunk 23 ships of 61,000 tons plus 4 other ships sunk by the mines which she had laid in the beginning for another 10,000 to 12,000 tons making a total of 27 ships and 73,000 tons. she arrived back in Kiel and made fast to the jetty at 0930 on 20 July 1918.”

HARRY’S NOTE - Many thanks for this great update NORMAN.

Torpedo Directional Control

MARK SCHROYERS (4845-1996) has this answer. He writes:

“I see that JOE McCARTHY (3853-1994) asks to which degree torpedoes could be set for courses other than straight from the tubes. Being a brand-new Member I do of course not know in which way reactions are invited to any of the problems listed. I therefore hope that I am not behaving impolitely by summing up what my small library tells me about this matter;

The German VORHALTRECHNER provided a running solution to the torpedo angle problem and kept the gyro compasses of each torpedo in its tube set to this continually changing course. Immediately after being launched a torpedo would thus take up the set course, which meant that aiming the submarine along the firing track was no longer necessary. Settings could be up to 90 degrees and later during the war, to 135 degrees and when hostilities ceased, research was in progress to attain a 180 degree shot.

Whereas American boats had a more or less similar TDC (Torpedo Data Computer), the British still had to fire by pointing their whole submarine in the direction they wanted their torpedoes to go. Yet angling 90 degrees either way, but only 90 degrees, was possible but proved so unreliable that it was soon banned.

Just as the British Fruit Machine, the Japanese system gave solutions which were valid for the instant of observation only. However, the Japanese enjoyed the benefit of an angled firing solution which was expressed relative to the submarine’s heading up to 120 degrees left or right. Setting the gyro compasses in the individual torpedoes had to be done manually.”

(HARRY’S NOTE - MARK, brand new Member or old timer, answers from any Members are most welcome! Many thanks!)

GENERAL STACK

This is a hot topic at this time, but we cannot go into details because it is so hot. We need to know EVERYTHING about Brig. General Robert Stack during the time of 1 May through 16 May, 1945.

GREEN BERET MAJOR LOU MARI (SH 536-1988 and EH 49-1994 ) sent some great stuff, but there are still gaps in Stack’s movements for this time and we need anyone who has knowledge to contact us. Thanks in advance - this is HOT!

QUESTIONS

ROGER BESAW (4229-1995) wants to know how many men left the E-Boats to transfer to the U-Boats; or how many officers left the U-BootWaffe to command E-Boats.

MIKE TESKE (4507-1995) is looking for information on a man he thinks was a U-Boat officer named Sigmond Bock, now living in Canada. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks.

GERARDO PINERO (4811-1996) wants to know if Germany made any plans to attack Puerto Rico at any time during the war.