Sank Ships in Both World Wars?

EDWARD HSIAO (5779-1999) asks this question:

Hermann Rigele was in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, commanding four U-Boats…. U-10 (ex-UB1), U-17, U-20 and U-31. Rigele must have done a good job, as he was decorated with the Military Maria Theresa Order – so how many ships were sunk by Rigele?

In World War II, Rigele was a Fregattenkapitän z.V. (special services) and he commanded UD-1 and UD-3. Rigele, with UD-3, sank the 5,041 ton Norwegian steamer INDRA and so, is probably the only German U-Boat Skipper to sink ships in both World Wars. Who can shed some more light on this for EDWARD?

Fighter Pilot Hilbig

GREG DORTCH (3041-LIFE-1993) was surprised to learn that so many U-Boat Skippers were once fighter pilots. He asks:

What Luftwaffe unit was Captain HANS HILBIG (186-1986) in?

Captain HILBIG – please give us that answer – Vielen Dank.

von Scherb’s Frock Coat

BOB SEVIER (2346-1996) has a frock coat of a Kriegsmarine officer named von Scherb. It appears this officer was decorated with the Iron Cross First Class and the U-Boat Badge in World War I. During World War II, this man’s rank was Kapitänleutnant. Who can help BOB with this information?

Submarine Line drawings

BRUCE CAMERON (1128-2002) wants to know where he can get good books with line drawings of American and also I.J.N. submarines. Anyone help?

BRUCE – we suggest you contact RICK SAVEL (3423-1994) on his e-mail, which is books@sonic.net RICK is a rare book dealer and can get just about any book you want.

Big Model Needed

JAMES MECCA (6471-2001) would like to buy a large model of a German U-Boat (any Type) in either wood or plastic. He wants one already put together, something between a foot and 18 inches long, with the stand to support it. Help for JIMMY please.

Friends of SubVet Jim

BILL MICHAELIS (6025-2000) had a neighbor named Jim Manning, an American submarine veteran. Jim’s widow would like to hear from any of his friends. You may write the letters to Jim Manning here, care of SHARKHUNTERS and we’ll pass them on to BILL. Jim Manning rode USS GATO, USS TUNA and USS MACABI.

Niemöller of World War I

WALTER JUCKER (6515-2002) & his wife would like to know all they can about the World War I U-Boat Skipper, Niemöller. This Skipper became a minister after the war. Who can tell us about Niemöller? Thanks in advance.

S- Gear Systems for BOB

We have a question from ROBERT JOHNSON – but we can’t give you his Membership Number. BOB didn’t include it on his question, and we have many Members named ROBERT JOHNSON, but the answer will be here soon for all Members, including all our BOB JOHNSONs.

He would like to get as much as he can on the S-Gear system used on the World War II U-Boats…..information, photos, diagrams etc. Who can help BOB with this topic? Thanks.

Another Big Model

RICH WEISS (5676-1996) is working on a large 1/72nd scale model of U-47, the boat of Günther Prien. He mentions the secondary AA gun mounted on the rear deck (wintergarten) and he would like to know if this was the actual configuration for the boat at the time Prien entered Scapa Flow and sank the battleship HMS ARK ROYAL. Drop us a note and we will put it into our Q & A for all model building Members to see.