http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXx1HUqk ... annel_pageDeutsche Wochenschau: Der U-Tanker
U-Tanker
Moderator: pzrwest
Re: U-Tanker
I will stick on something later today on the sinking of U-489 by Al.Bishop of 423 RCAF, they caught her on the surface SE of Iceland on 4th August 43.
Bishop after several attempts managed to get a run in but as met by heavy and accurate flak - his pattern of charges disabled the boat but the flak shot the Sunderland down and Al. forcelanded , bouncing on the sea, his wing tip dug in and she was done for.
U-489 had previously been attacked by a Hudson and a catalina - a hatch cover seal had been damaged and she could no longer dive - her batteries flat she was running on the surface.
The link below will bring you to some intell. info. on her.
All in all it seems to make no sense - the boat could not dive yet she was still heading out to sea .
The U-tankers were all "marked men" high priority targets the sinking of which caused major problems to U-Boat Command who were then left with boats scattered across the Atlantic far from home in need of fuel and supplies.
Although refuelling mostly took place on the surface , it was possible under certain conditions and with care to refuel submerged.
The entire refuelling process required a remote or safe area of sea - disturbance by Allied aircraft or surface vessels when the boats were connected to the "cow" spelt disaster.
With the advent of the small escort carriers , hunter killer groups and the vunerability of the enigma code it is little wonder that the net closed on these hard to dive boats which flak apart had no defensive armament.
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-489INT.htm
Interogation reports on the crew of U-489.
From John White's "U-Boat Tankers 1941-45" (Airlife).
The two photos below are from Buchiem's "U-Boat War" - I bought it back in 79 , which does date my reading this sort of stuff- approx. 30 odd years.
Consider the size of this submarine and the length of time it took to get under - hugely vunerable craft , compare her to the Type VII - these photos taken in St.Nazaire , one ion the pens and the other in the waterway leading to the lock gateto allow entery into the submarine basin.
Bishop after several attempts managed to get a run in but as met by heavy and accurate flak - his pattern of charges disabled the boat but the flak shot the Sunderland down and Al. forcelanded , bouncing on the sea, his wing tip dug in and she was done for.
U-489 had previously been attacked by a Hudson and a catalina - a hatch cover seal had been damaged and she could no longer dive - her batteries flat she was running on the surface.
The link below will bring you to some intell. info. on her.
All in all it seems to make no sense - the boat could not dive yet she was still heading out to sea .
The U-tankers were all "marked men" high priority targets the sinking of which caused major problems to U-Boat Command who were then left with boats scattered across the Atlantic far from home in need of fuel and supplies.
Although refuelling mostly took place on the surface , it was possible under certain conditions and with care to refuel submerged.
The entire refuelling process required a remote or safe area of sea - disturbance by Allied aircraft or surface vessels when the boats were connected to the "cow" spelt disaster.
With the advent of the small escort carriers , hunter killer groups and the vunerability of the enigma code it is little wonder that the net closed on these hard to dive boats which flak apart had no defensive armament.
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-489INT.htm
Interogation reports on the crew of U-489.
From John White's "U-Boat Tankers 1941-45" (Airlife).
The two photos below are from Buchiem's "U-Boat War" - I bought it back in 79 , which does date my reading this sort of stuff- approx. 30 odd years.
Consider the size of this submarine and the length of time it took to get under - hugely vunerable craft , compare her to the Type VII - these photos taken in St.Nazaire , one ion the pens and the other in the waterway leading to the lock gateto allow entery into the submarine basin.