Friday began with another great breakfast. Check out these shots of our normal daily breakfast buffet. Great food and plenty of it!

We took a leisurely ride to Wilhelmshaven and visited a 205 Class submarine of the new German Navy, minesweeper etc. We had lunch at the same great little German roadhouse where we had such a great time last year - sorry CRAIG, Corrina is no longer there. She sold the place to a nice young German couple. The food and friendship was just as great and the waitresses just as pretty.

We were joined here by several more U-boat veterans including two more Captains, but I cannot remember their names. My apologies, but it was a really busy and loud luncheon. Everyone had a great meal, met more men of history, and got lots of autographs. On this trip, we met dozens of U-boat veterans, ten Skippers, two winners of the KNIGHTS CROSS, the Youngest combat submarine skipper of the war, the last Skipper to make it through Gibraltar, one of a rare few Skippers to go through Gibraltar twice and many more. At SHARKHUNTERS, we actually MEET and live history!

Wilhelmshaven

We toured the naval base at Wilhelmshaven where we saw naval tugs, minesweepers, ASW ships like the one above, support ships like the one below as well as the ffigates including the German Navy's newest frigate NIEDERSAXONY No photos of that ship.

The German Navy is phasing out destroyers in favor of the frigates which are less expensive to build, to maintain, to supply and they take less men to crew. Where once there were between four to six destroyers in this harbor, we now saw none.

All in all - a great day in Wilhelmshaven. But then there was the farewell dinner tonight read on.

Farewell Dinner

Friday evening was the fantastic Farewell Dinner at the Meierei, a magnificent country club totally reserved for SHARKHUNTERS. In addition to a superb meal and a great time, we celebrated the birthdays of three SHARKHUNTERS Members on the 17th.

BILL LEHMBECK (295-1990)
HANNES ESKEN (1601-1990) and (EH 67-1994) Luftwaffe Major
AL RICHERT (3744-1994)

Again, autographs were signed by all and in addition to the many Skippers and veterans who had joined us along the way, we also had the pleasure of Captain 'HAI' MASSMANN (4522-1995) and his wife with us this evening as well as former Abwehr agent PETER HANSEN (251-LIFE-1987) who writes the 'Through Peter's Periscope for our KTB Magazine.

It was a tired but happy group that headed back for Peter's bus that evening. We had another full day ahead of us tomorrow.

1999 Patrol in Germany U-Boat Tour

Introduction
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday