from ERNST SCHMIDT (10-+-1983)

Did you know…..

• torpedoes were like miniature U-Boats? They were driven by combustion and compressed air – later models used batteries and electric motors.
• the compliment of U-Boats such as the medium Type VII-C had 4 officers and 44 men? Later this was up to 50 men.
• all during the war U-Boats were manned by volunteers?

  EDITOR NOTE – ALMOST all were volunteers. Some were not. For instance, Felix Ewald, the crewmember from U-505 who showed (then) Captain Gallery’s men how to operate the engines, pumps etc. on the boat to keep her afloat. There is a big story there – and Ewald was a conscript.

• Kapitänleutnant Schuhardt, commanding U-29, sunk the British aircraft carrier HMS COURAGEUOS west of the English Channel on 17 September 1939? It was the 1st major success of the U-Boats in World War II.
• Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien entered the Royal Navy harbor at Scapa Flow with U-47 on 14 October 1939, and sank the RN battleship HMS ROYAL OAK? The ship sank within 13 minutes with a loss of 24 officers and 809 men.

Little Known Submarine (and Naval) Historical Facts

This section is for your own information – please do not send the answers here.

316. Of the three aircraft carriers of the American Pacific Fleet, USS SARATOGA was en route to the U.S. mainland for repairs; USS LEXINGTON was en route to deliver 25 scout bombers to Midway; and USS ENTERPRISE was returning to Pearl Harbor after delivering planes to Wake Island.

317. Hostilities in the Philippines began when twenty-two aircraft from the aircraft carrier RYUJO attacked the American seaplane tender USS WILLIAM B. PRESTON in Davao Gulf, Mindanao on December 8 local date, December 7 on the American mainland.

318. The Flagship of the US Navy Pacific Fleet was the battleship USS PENNSYLVANIA, in drydock at the time across from Ford Island and Battleship Row.

319. In February 1942, GNEISENAU, PRINZ EUGEN and SCHARNHORST got away from the Norwegian coast. GNEISENAU made it to Germany where she was bombed by the RAF and was out of the war.

320. The first ship sunk at Pearl Harbor was a Japanese midget submarine. This little sub was sighted by a PBY CATALINA and sunk by depth charges from USS WARD at 0645, more than an hour before the Japanese planes arrived over the harbor.

Now, for KTB #178 next month, see if you know…..

321. Where did the U.S. Navy and the Japanese Navy first meet for a major engagement?

322. How successful was the American Submarine Service?

323. What German admiral was killed on Christmas of 1943 when SCHARNHORST was sunk?

324. What RN submarine sank the Italian troop transports OCEANIA and NEPTUNE in September 1941?

325. What was the largest amphibious assault of WW II in the Pacific?

Remember – do not send answers here. This is meant for your enjoyment, and the answers will be in KTB #177.