U-18, The Black Sea Boat with the Soviet Star

 

In the course of the Russian campaign the Wehrmacht conquered large areas of southern Russia including the Crimea and the Taman Peninsula. The Soviet Black Sea fleet subsequently withdrew to ports in the Caucasus. The OKW was then faced with the problem of powerful Soviet naval forces intervening in land battles and posing a constant threat to supply lines and flanks. On the German side, however, there were no naval units with which to guard the Black Sea, which is greater in area than the Baltic. The OKW bad anticipated this threat before the attack on Russia. At a Fübrer conference on 18 March 1941, consideration was given to sending small submarines to Rumania, however nothing was done. The idea was revived by the naval command in December 1941 and, after a further delay, was made reality in spring 1942. Three Type II B boats (U-19, U-24 and U-9) were initially selected for service in the Black Sea. To conceal what was happening, the boats were taken out of training service and decommissioned. They were then partially disassembled and transported down the Kaiser-Wilbelm Canal to Hamburg and then on to Dresden. From there the boats were transported overland on large flatbed trailers to the port of Ingolstadt on the Danube. From Ingolstadt they were shipped on pontoons down the Danube to Galati, Rumania, where the boats were reassembled and placed back in service. The submarines made the last part of trip down the Danube to its mouth on the Black Sea near Sulina, and from there along the coast to their new base in Constanza, under their own power.

After the success of this first transport, Hitler authorized the transfer of three more Lype II B boats. One of these was the U-18. Taken out of service on 18 August 1942 and shipped, on 11 May 1943 it sailed into Constanza, becoming the 30th Submarine Flotilla’s fourth boat. The boat's captain was 38-year-old Oberleutnant zur See Karl Fleige. Having joined the navy in 1924, it was Fleige’s first command. In 1940-41 Fleige bad served on U-20 and U-123, both commanded by Kapitänleutnant Moeble, as senior helmsman. In August 1941, again under Moeble’s command, he assumed the position of flotilla helmsman with the 5th Submarine Flotilla in Kiel. Then in August 1942 he began commander training and finally on 6 May he commissioned the U-18. The veteran “canoe” now began its period of operations in the Black Sea. Like the other boats of the 30th Flotilla, the U-18 also received the typical Black Sea camouflage finish. This began at the base of the conning tower with a dark gray ring, extending upwards in ever lighter rings. Fleige adopted as the submarine’s emblem a Red Star struck by a TO, which was applied on the front of the conning tower.

U-18 began its first sortie (7th in total) in its new area of operations on 26 May 1943, however no success was achieved. A torpedo was fired at a steamer on 30 May, but it missed. Pursued by a minesweeper, the U-18 did not get another opportunity to shoot. The next day the submarine was fortunate to escape an attack by a Soviet SB bomber just as it rendezvoused with U-9. The Russian aircraft circled twice, but it apparently identified the U-19 as a Russian boat because of the red star on its conning tower. The bomber instead attacked U-9. The only “sinking” achieved on this patrol was a drift mine, which was exploded by machine-gun fire on 7 June. The U-18 achieved success on its 8th patrol (16 June — 22 July 1943). While it missed an opportunity to attack a Soviet submarine on 18 June, according to its war diary it subsequently sank two steamers and a lighter. Available records do not confirm the sinking of either steamer. The Leningrad (1,783 GRT), claimed sunk on 23 June 1943, bad been damaged by a German aircraft in October 1941 and during the period in question was in drydock in Batumi undergoing repair. The second ship claimed by U-18, the steamer Vorosbilov (3.906 GRT), had also been damaged by a German aircraft in May 1942, and in June 1943 was in dock in Suchimi.

Given what we know today, however, these sinkings appear doubtful. The first confirmed success came on the boat's 9th patrol (21 August - 24 September 1943), when it sank the 400-ton minesweeper trawler Dzhalita (1SC-11) on 29 August. The next evening U-18 shot up the small sub chaser SKA-0132 (56 GRIT) with its 20-mm anti-aircraft gun. However the attack had to be broken off when the boat was illuminated from ashore by a searchlight. After the 10th patrol (27 October — 24 November 1943), Oblt. Fleige claimed a 1,500-GRT steamer as sunk, but in fact the motor tanker Josif Stalin (7,745 GRT) was only damaged on 18 November. The submarine’s 5th patrol in the Black Sea (29 January - 29 February 1942) saw it make a night attack on the port of Batum on 16 February, however just one steamer was damaged.

On 25 April 1944 during its 12th patrol, U-18's red star was almost its undoing. After attacking a Soviet submarine, a BV 138 flying boat opened fire on the “suspected Russian” despite the 18 recognition flares fired by U-18. U-18 was bit by gunfire and finally dove to safety. In the eyes of the flying boat crew the red star had too clearly identified the submarine as Russian!

Earlier on this patrol on 7 April the U-18 had sunk a small cargo ship with its deck gun. Two more operations followed in the summer of 1944 off the coast of the Caucasus. Both produced no results. On 18 July 1944 Oblt.z.S Fleige was decorated with the Knight's Cross for his success as commander of the U-18. He was the only Black Sea submarine commander to be so decorated.

The Red Army's advance and Rumania’s declaration of war on Germany ended German submarine operations in the Black Sea. The bases had to be evacuated. This also meant the end of U-18. Heavily damaged in an air raid on Constanza immediately after its 14th patrol, on 25 August 1944 it was scuttled by its crew off Constanza at position 43°47’ N/28°45 E.

Filmed by war Kriegsberichter Gerhard Garms while balanced on the railing of the Wintergarten platform, U-18 returns to Constanza from its 3rd Black Sea patrol on 21 September 1943. The boat sank two enemy ships on this patrol. Note the new pedestal mount for the forward 20-mm anti-aircraft gun. Of particular interest is the camera housing on the starboard side of the conning tower for shooting newsreels.

An Oberfeldwebel and petty officers in front of U-18's conning tower, which bears the unusual emblem which confused friend and foe alike! In the foreground is the 20-mm anti-aircraft gun’s “pressure cooker”, which was later replaced with a standard pedestal mount.

 On 22 July 1943 U-18 returned to base from its 2nd Black Sea patrol flying three sinking pennants. Note the multicolor banded camouflage on the conning tower. After this patrol the “Big Wintergarten” platform was installed on the boat.

Rough seas, not unusual in the Black Sea. Well bundled up, the bridge watch and captain Oblt.z.5. Fleige scan the horizon. Note the empty Naxos pedestal on the port side and war correspondent Garm's pressure-tight camera bousing on the starboard side.

Group photo with gladiolas in front of the police station in Constanza. After a safe return home, the captain of the U-18, Oblt.z.8. Fleige, poses with his Ist Watch Officer Lt.z.S. Rudolf Arendt (left) and his leading engineer Oblt. (Ing.) Fritz Deutschmann. Interestingly, Fleige is wearing a white neckerchief bearing the boat's emblem.

Source :
U-Boot im Focus - ediiton no.2 (2007)

U-995 Crew Now and Then

Surviving U-995 crew, now and then. German submarine U-995 is a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was laid down on 25 November 1942 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany, and commissioned on 16 September 1943. During the war U-995's commanders were: Kapitänleutnant Walter Köhntopp (16 September 1943 to 9 October 1944) and Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Georg Hess (10 October 1944 to 8 May 1945). At the end of the war, on 8 May 1945, U-995 was stricken at Trondheim, Norway. She was surrendered to the British and then transferred to Norwegian ownership in October 1948. In December 1952 U-995 became the Norwegian submarine Kaura and in 1965 she was stricken from service by the Royal Norwegian Navy. She then was offered to the German government for the ceremonial price of one Deutsche Mark. The offer was refused; however, the boat was saved by the German Navy League, DMB. U-995 became a museum ship at Laboe Naval Memorial in October 1971.

Source :
"After the Battle Nr.36 - Walcheren"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-995

U-128 on its Fourth Patrol

U-128, a Type IX C u-boat, was an extremely successful submarine attached to the 2. Unterseebootsflottille (2nd Submarine Flotilla) in Lorient. Built by Deschimag AG of Bremen, the boat was commissioned by Kapitänleutnant Ullrich Heyse on 12 May 1941. Heyse went on to achieve great success with this submarine in 1942 and early 1943. In the course of six patrols - of which the first was merely a transfer to Norway and the fifth is a seven-day radar trial - Ullrich Heyse and U-128 sank 12 ships totaling 83,639 GRT and damaged another! No wonder that the crew swore by their commander. The 35-year-old Berliner, a member of Crew 1933, knew how to lead his men. Once, on the boat, he pulled a knife from his pocket and sat down to help several of his men peel potatoes. Then, as he peeled, he discussed all the popular topics with this small circle. On land the captain often joined his men for a beer, which further strengthened the bonds with his crew. Before the war Heyse had served on merchant vessels, and as a submarine commander it was difficult for him to now have to sink such ships. In several cases he provided survivors with food, cigarettes and rum and expressed regret for having sunk their ship! Under Heyse, the boat wore a slightly modified version of the emblem of Ulm, U-128's sponsor city on the front of the conning tower, plus a white horse emblem on both sides. Encircling the horse were the words "HÜAHOH HÜAHOH ALTER SCHIMMEL" (secara harfiah berarti: "Hieh Hieh Kuda Tua"). As our drawing depicts, in the summer of 1942 the boat was camouflaged pale gray with dark grey longitudinal stripes. One of the stripes ran from the turret mantle aft to beneath the Wintergarten platform. All of the upwards-facing parts of the boat were painted black as per directives. Six days after completing his sixth patrol, on 21 January 1943, Heyse was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses). In March 1943 he handed the boat over to Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Steinert. Luck deserted him on his very first patrol, however. On 17 May 1943 US Naval aircraft bombed the submarine near a convoy and forced it to surface. The boat sustained heavy damage in further attacks and was unable to dive. With the destroyers USS Jouett and USS Mofett closing in, Steinert ordered his crew to abandon ship. The leading engineer initiated the scuttling procedure, but the submarine was sunk by gunfire from the destroyers. The USS Mofett rescued 51 members of U-128's crew, four of whom died aboard the destroyer.

 This photo (and the first photo above) depicts U-128, probably as it departed Lorient on its fourth patrol on 25 April 1942. The boat emblem and the coat of arms of the sponsor city of Ulm my be seen on the conning tower. Under Kapitänleutnant Hermann Steinert the boat also wore the Olympic rings of Crew 1936 on the conning tower.

Source :
"U-Boot im Focus" magazine - edition no.2 (2007)

U-Boat Commander Hans Hellmann

Oberleutnant zur See Hans Hellmann was born on 8 March 1921 near the Polsih border, became a U-boat commander, and was murdered in Bremen just before the end of the war by an irate husband, who felt he had become too intimate with his wife! Naval authorities took a strong stand against men having affairs with married women, and before the war the punishment was instant dismissal. However, other authorities within the Third Reich did not consider such conduct too bad. Indeed, one such disgraced naval officer, Reinhard Heydrich, took a commission in the SS and became one of their powerful figure!

Source :

Book "Wolfpacks At War: The U-Boat Experience In WWII" by Jak Mallmann Showell

“Hallo, wie geht’s?” Emblem of U-93

This photo of U-93 was taken in December 1940 shortly before the “Hallo, wie geht’s?” (Hello, how’s it going?) emblem was replaced by the new “Devil” emblem. Both the submarine’s paint and the emblem are heavily weathered, and the emblem has even been partly overpainted. Parts of the black and white hand and the word “Hallo” have disappeared. If one speaks of the “Red Devil” emblem to submarine enthusiasts, most automatically think of U-552, the boat in which Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp made a name for himself from 1941 to 1943. But there were many other boats whose commanders selected a “Teufel” (Devil) emblem for their vessels. One of these was the U-93, but prior to this the boat wore another, no less striking emblem. Commissioned by Kapitänleutnant Claus Korth at Krupp’s Germania Shipyard in Kiel on 30 July 1940, after acceptance trials the type VII C joined the 7. U-Flotille (7th Submarine Flotilla) in St. Nazaire. Korth had previously commanded the U-57, a type II C, from December 1938 until May 1940 with the 5th and later the 1st Submarine Flotillas. During that time he completed 11 patrols and his submarine wore an eye-catching “Fackelschwingenden Teufel” (Torch-Swinging Devil) emblem. His new boat would also carry an unusual emblem. And it wasn’t long before a suitable design was on the table. It consisted of a large smiling sun rising behind a black and white wavy band, and beneath this were the words “Hallo, wie geht’s?”. The design was inspired by the Number 1 of the tender Lech, once the mother ship of Korth’s first boat, the U-57. Whenever the U-57 docked, this senior boatswain would greet the crew with “Hello, how’s it going?”. As Kapitänleutnant Korth brought most of U-57’s crew with him to the U-93, the majority of his new boat’s crew was familiar with this hail which now formed part of the boat’s emblem. As well, to the submariners the rising sun of course meant return and survival, following the motto: “Uns geht die Sonne nicht unter” (The sun doesn’t set on us). The “Hallo, wie geht’s?” emblem was worn by U-93 on its first three patrols in autumn 1940. In the weeks following the end of the third patrol on 29 November 1940, however, Kapitänleutnant Korth began to miss his “Roten Teufel” (Red Devil) emblem from the early days. He therefore gave Oberleutnant zur See Götz von Hartmann, assigned to the crew as 1st Watch Officer (1. Wachtsoffizier) in December 1940 and a skilled artist, the task of designing a new devil emblem for U-93. Hartmann’s design depicted a devil with a dip net catching a steamer in which Churchill, the British First Sea Lord, sits smoking a cigarette. Accepted by the captain, in January 1941 this equally striking design replaced the “Hallo, wie geht’s?” emblem on the front of U-93’s conning tower. The boat completed three patrols while wearing this emblem in the spring and summer of 1941. After his sixth patrol Kapitänleutnant Korth stood down and in autumn 1941 transferred command to Oberleutnant zur See Horst Elfe. It is not known if this captain, who had previously commanded U-139, allowed the “Devil” emblem to remain on U-93. It is, however, to be assumed that the new captain was conscious of crews’ sensibilities with regard to the “glücksbringer” (good luck) emblems on their boats. If Oberleutnant zur See Elfe did retain the emblem, it certainly did not have the desired effect for commander or crew. After departing on its second patrol under its new captain the day before Christmas 1941, on 15 January 1942 it was depth-charged and sunk by the British destroyer HMS Hesperus in the North Atlantic north of Madeira at position 36º40’N/15º52’W. Part of the “Gruppe Seydlitz” with U-71 and U-571, it attempted to attack convoy HG 78 between Gibraltar and the Azores but was located and destroyed by the escort. Most of the crew was saved, just six men losing their lives. Concerning the famous “Roten Teufel” emblem of Erich Topp’s U-552, it should be stated here that the devil was no new idea by Topp or a member of his crew. Instead Topp first encountered this devil when he succeeded Kapitänleutnant Claus Korth as captain of U-57, which was wearing the above-described “Torch-Swinging Devil” as boat emblem. In December 1940 Topp adopted the devil for his new boat, the U-552.

 This photo provides a very detailed view of U-93’s second emblem. If one believes the existing literature, a version of the emblem with two men in the boat was also used. Only Churchill is represented in our photo. The above photo shows U-93 leaving Lorient on its 4th patrol, the first with the new emblem, on 11 January 1941.

Source :
"U-Boot im Focus" magazine, edition no.2 - 2007

The Steering Position Inside the Conning Tower of U-124

U-124, a Type IXB, showing the steering position inside the conning tower with voice pipe by the man's mouth. He has his hand on the button for moving the rudder to the right - there was an identical button for going in the other direction. Since it was difficult to maintain position during rough weather, operators were provided with handles to grip and thus support their bodies. One of these is visible above the man's right hand. Rudder and hydroplanes were usually electrically controlled by pressing buttons, but wheels were provided in case of a power failure. Turning these was hard work and sometimes demanded that men stood up to use both hands. If this manual mechanism broke as well, then it was also possible to operate aft hydroplanes and rudder from the rear compartment and there were duplicate forward hydroplane controls in the bow torpedo room.

Kriegsberichter Interviewed U-Boat Crew

The navigation, or sky, periscope terminated inside the central control room of a U-boat - here of a small, coastal Type II. This photograph shows a war correspondent on the left, holding a microphone. The man on the right wears a leather coat with large lapels, suggesting that he is a member of seamen's division

The Central Control Room and Nerve Centre of a Type IIB U-boat

The central control room and nerve centre of a Type IIB submarine, probably U-18 under Hans Pauckstadt, shortly after having been commissioned in 1936. On the man's left, and partly hidden by him, is the main steering wheel, while the other wheel operated the forward hydroplanes. The aft hydroplane controls were slightly to the right. This is not an idle shot in port but a photograph taken when the submarine was submerged - as can be seen from the hand of the large, shallow depth gauge on which the man's eyes are fixed. Fractions of metres became less critical once deeper than 25 metres, and a couple of smaller dials were provided for deeper depths. The two identical dials above the man's head, are the engine telegraphs showing both diesel engines on stop. Towards the right is a repeater from the gyro compass with a wire running down to the deck. Near the ceiling there would also be an illuminated periscope for viewing the magnetic compass, situated inside a bulge at the base of the conning tower. Obviously, a magnetic compass would not work inside a steel submarine and so the conning tower was made from non-magnetic bronze, making it one of the most expensive parts of a submarine!

A Type II Coastal U-Boat

This shows a small Type II coastal submarine. The main conning tower hatch can be seen open behind the periscope support, between the two men who are leaning over and peering down at the upper deck. The sailor is using the galley hatch. Much to the annoyance of the cook, this was the main way in and out of the submarine while in port. In the foreground is a red and white rescue buoy with a light on the top. This was released from a submerged boat in times of an emergency. These conspicuous objects were later accomodated inside containers with almost flush-fitting lids, to be less obstructive for men working on the upper deck. Towards the end of the war they became a superfluous luxury and some boats went to the sea without them.

Lookouts Aboard U-178

Lookouts aboard the long-range U-178 under Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Dommes, shortly after having left the Gironde Estuary in France to follow a small convoy through the coastal minefield. The head lens of the attack periscope is visible on the right and the raised rod aerial on the left. In later years, these aerials could be operated electrically from the inside the boat, but initially they were hand-cranked from the top of the conning tower and would not run down on their own without breaking the mechanism's sprockets. As a result, early boats were 'unfit for diving' as long as the aerial was raised. The grid by the base of the aerial was the top of a ventilation shaft leading down to the engine room. Usually there were four lookouts and a watch officer on duty on the conning tower.

A Type II Coastal U-Boat

Although this shows the small conning tower of a Type II coastal boat, it does drive home the lookouts' vulnerability, especially during hard weather when water constantly washed over the top of the tower. Larger boats had more space, but the towers weren't very much higher. The lapel-less collar of the person leaning on the hatch cover indicates that he is an engineer. The pressure-resistant hatch leading into the U-boat was almost a meter below his feet, and this raised grating merely prevented men falling down the opening in the upper deck. At sea, only the conning tower hatch would have been used, but in port it was more convenient to use the lower entrances. Trees in the background and the presence of a civilian suggests that this is close to harbour.

U-Boat AA Guns in Action

U-415 was commissioned by Kapitänleutnant Kurt Neide and commanded by him until the end of June 1943. This was when the anti-aircraft guns were strengthened and Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Warner, author of the book 'Iron Coffins', took over. This picture shows how the 20mm anti-aircraft guns were aimed and shot. Although these guns were ineffective against large, fast-flying and armoured aircraft, their operation was relatively easy, but the gunners were not provided with protection against bullets from the aircraft.

U-31 with 88mm Deck Gun in Action

U-31, a Type VIIA, with the 88mm quick-firing deck gun in action. Cartridges were stored in a magazine beneath the radio room. They had to be passed up by a chain of men through several very small hatches and along a complicated route. Shells were stored either in waxed cardboard tubes or sealed individually inside pressure and water-resistant containers, almost as if each shell was places inside a tin. These metal containers were so well made that shells found in wrecks more than fifty years after the war were still in perfect condition! Although this picture is not terribly clear, the optical aiming devices can be seen on both sides of the weapon.

U-Boat Type IXD2 Back to the Port from a Successful Mission

A large, long-distance boat of Type IXD2, probably U-178 or U-181, coming into port with the attack periscope raised to act as a flagpole for a mass of success pennants. The unusual patterns on the side of the hull are shadows from the reception party on the pier.