U-47 Photograph Album
Section R (6th July 1940, Kiel - end of 6th patrol)
R01. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
Almost nothing can be yielded from this photo except that the 20mm Flak gun is on the rear of the conning tower rather than the aft deck. When an aircraft was sighted, a member of the crew had to climb over the tower railings, climb down the tower rungs, run over to the watertight hatch on the deck, open it, take out the 20mm barrel, mount the barrel on the mount, load the ammunition, take aim, then fire. By this time the Coastal Command pilot had dropped his depth charges, flown home, filled out his patrol report, celebrated his sinking by downing eight beers in the mess, then staggered home to fall asleep on top of his poor wife. The Kriegsmarine took a dim view of this scenario, so the 20mms were moved from the aft deck to the rear on the conning towers. (Unknown source)
View Photograph: R01. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R02. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
U-47 sails into Kiel at the end of this highly productive patrol. The U-boat sank the following ships - Balmoral Wood (5,834 grt), San Fernando (13,056 grt), Catherine (1,885 grt), Lenda (4,005 grt), Leticia (2,580 grt), Empire Toucan (4,127 grt), Georgios Kyriakides (4,201 grt) and Arandora Star (15,501 grt) – for a total of 51,189 grt.
When the batch of free-flooding holes on the forward hull casing is compared to those on the port side (see E05), it becomes obvious that four more holes were present at the rear of the bottom row on the port side than on the starboard side. (Int 3)
View Photograph: R02. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R03. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The most significant of U-47's victims during the 6th patrol was the cruise liner turned transport vessel Arandora Star. Approximately 35 minutes after the G7a torpedo fired by U 47 had struck the starboard side of the vessel, one of the boilers exploded. Shortly afterwards the ship split in two and sank. In total, 805 lives were lost in this tragedy: 243 Germans, 470 Italians, 55 crew and 37 military guard. The terrible loss of life from the Arandora Star ranks as the sixth highest of all the WWII U-boat victims. Had Prien and the High Command been aware of this when U-47 returned to Kiel, the reception would have been more muted. In the weeks that followed, the fact that a torpedo fired by a German U-boat had brought about the deaths of 713 German and Italian men was concealed from the German public. (Int 3)
View Photograph: R03. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R04. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
Just ahead of the UZO is a silver megaphone used to shout at people with. Around the edge of the tower bulwark is a rim which extends down to the tower floor. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R04. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R05. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The attack periscope housing is clearly different from the one included in the Amati U-47 kit. Amati may have used the detailed photos showing the inside of the conning tower of the late VIIB U-86 in the design of their kit. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R05. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R06. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The additional wires on the port aft jumping wire, which can also be seen in P02, were not in place on the starboard jumping wire. Behind this wire the circular handle for the 20mm Flak gun mount can be seen on the port side of U-47's mount. Most other Type VIIs had this wheel on the starboard side of the mount. The vertical stanchions of the tower railings go through the one-piece wooden seat. On some other boats there were three separate wooden seats positioned between the stanchions. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R06. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R07. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The sailor at the left is bending over the extended capstan. Farther forward, to the extreme left of the photo, can be seen the head of the KDB (Kristalldrehbasis Gerät). This rotating hydrophone array often had a thick canvas-type bag pulled over it for protection when in port. The bag can be seen in place over the KDB in E05 and I13.
The breakwaters that were located outboard of the 88mm appear to tilt upwards rather than being completely horizontal. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R07. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R08. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
U-47 has "66587to." painted on either side of its conning tower, above the snorting bulls. Though the true figure was later calculated to be 8 ships for 51,189 tons, Prien estimated they had sunk ten vessels for 66,587 tons. The visibility problems inherent in night-time attacks lead to a general overestimation of 30% by U-boat commanders. (Admiral, Ubootwaffe Part 1)
View Photograph: R08. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R09. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
A classic image of Günther Prien standing on the conning tower of the U-boat which made him famous. Not the tallest of men, he is standing on top of a step built on the inside of the tower bulwark. On his uniform can clearly be seen the insignia indicating the rank of Kapitänleutnant.
The ring beside his glove was one of several located along the top of the tower bulwark. Crewmembers could clip their leather harnesses onto these rings to prevent them being swept overboard in high seas. At the very bottom of the photo, on the outside of the tower wall, is a horizontal clip. A similar clip did not feature on the port side.
To the top right hand side of the photo is the housing for the direction-finding aerial, which is retracted at this time. None of the photos of U-47 show this circular aerial in the extended position. On the inside of the tower, the tower hatch is in the open position. (Battle, Stern)
View Photograph: R09. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R10. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
U-47's conning tower had been heavily weathered at this time. The large hole to the bottom left of the "66587to." was a hole in which a foghorn was located. (Ubootwaffe Part 1)
View Photograph: R10. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R11. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
This photo is virtually identical to R10, and must have been taken at the same time. The quality is such that upon close inspection of the bull insignia, it can be seen that the older bull was painted over with a patch of Dunkelgrau 51 paint. A fresh version of the snorting bull was then added on top of the patch. As the white paint looks very similar on both the bull and the 66587to., the application of the renewed bull probably occurred at the same time as the 66587to. was added. (Landser 891)
View Photograph: R11. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R12. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The channel ahead of the starboard navigation light allowed light to shine forward, thus enabling someone on a vessel ahead to see the light. Below is the spray deflector, which originally did not extend back as far as the navigation lights. (Int 3)
View Photograph: R12. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R13. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The rim around the top of the bulwark clearly extends all the way down to the tower floor. Next to where the rim meets the tower floor are a group of holes. An intake trunk was located behind these ventilation holes and the holes on the port side of the tower. These trunks provided the air required by the two Germaniawerft 6-cylinder 4-stroke F46 diesel engines. As the ventilation holes were susceptible to interruption in high seas, large external trunks were built up both sides of the tower, starting under the Flak platform and extending up the after edge of the conning tower. The fitting of these very noticeable trunks would be started soon after this photo was taken. (Int 3)
View Photograph: R13. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R14. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
A good view of the "66587to." painted on the starboard side of the conning tower and the ten tonnage pennant flags flying from the attack periscope can be seen in this photo. The tail in this photo is straight, as opposed to the curved tail in U02 and Z04. Both the bull and the "66587to." marking look freshly painted in this photo, unlike the leaves which are faded. (Trojca Hardback)
View Photograph: R14. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R15. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
This shot clearly shows the ten tonnage pennant flags flying from the attack periscope. What is very surprising is that the numbers painted on these total 66,597 tons rather than 66,587 tons, which is painted on the tower. The crew must have made a mistake in either writing the pennant flags or totalling up the tonnage they thought they had sunk.
Underwater attacks were made with the attack periscope rather than the UZO. This periscope - the aftermost of the two - was connected to a mechanical analogue attack computer located at the after end of the conning tower.
The attack periscopes of Type VIICs had five "anti-vibration" wires which spiralled around the top of the periscope, above the stainless steel shaft. These reduced the vibration of the periscope as it travelled through the water and reduced the wake that was left behind. There are no "anti-vibration" wires on U-47's attack periscope; presumably these wires had not yet been introduced on Kriegsmarine U-boats. (Weg)
View Photograph: R15. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R16. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
On the 6th June 1940, U-47 picked up the crew of a downed German aircraft in the Atlantic in grid square AN 2757. The aircrew - Oberfeldwebel Lippert, Feldwebel Klare and Unteroffizier Stöckinger - are sitting on the railings at the rear of the conning tower chatting to some of the crew who rescued them from the cold Atlantic. It is likely that they appreciated the assistance rendered by U-47 and her crew. (Weg)
View Photograph: R16. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R17. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
In this photo, the downed Luftwaffe aircrew are chatting to Prien beside the stainless steel shaft of the attack periscope and its housing below. Behind is the black azimuth ring on the UZO column. (Admiral, Landser 784, Grieft)
View Photograph: R17. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R18. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
As in R17, the Luftwaffe aircrew chat to Prien beside the attack periscope. In the foreground is the barrel of the 20mm Flak gun. (Landser 891)
View Photograph: R18. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R19. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
This close up shot reveals the U-shaped padded gunlayer’s harnesses, which were either artificial leather painted black or waxed canvas. These could be folded inward when not in use, and were adjustable in height. The adjustable stems below were stainless steel. The circular control wheels allowed the gun to be traversed or elevated; they were either painted black on the outside and grey on the inside, or black overall. The handles for the control wheels were wooden, and coated with black wood preservative. The gunsight is mounted above. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R19. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R20. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
There were two combined elevation and traverse gunsights, one for either side of the mount. Although they were waterproof, they were stored inside the U-boat so that they wouldn't get damaged during depth charge attacks. They were brought up on deck only when the gun was to be manned. Only the starboard gunsight is in place upon U-47 at this time. At the rear is the circular deflection setting handle for the lead sight.
The 88mm deck gun was manned by three men. The aimer, who stood behind the gunsight, was responsible for the horizontal deflection of the gun. The layer, who stood at a right angle to the aimer, was responsible for elevation, thus controlling the range of the shot. These two men could stand on either side of the gun depending on the weather conditions at the time. The loader, who stood behind the gun barrel, operated the breech, loaded the shells and ejected the spare casings. Three additional crew members would pass shells from the tower to the loader. The gun commander - usually the 2.WO - would supervise the proceedings. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R20. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R21. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The railings on the rebuilt Wintergarten ("winter garden") area clearly extend far wider than the old style railings. (U-Boat War DVD)
View Photograph: R21. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R22. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
The slight lip at the edge of the deck is visible behind Prien. This lip is a feature of Accurate Armour's 1/35th scale waterline Type VIIC model, but not on other commercial U-boat kits.
On the left is Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Werner Kraus, U-47's 1.WO at this time. It was he who replaced Engelbert Endrass as First Watch Officer on board U-47 in January 1940. He served aboard U-47 from the fourth until the eighth patrols, leaving on the 9th November 1940 to attend a Commanders' training course. He later commanded the Type VIIB U-83 and then the Type IXD U-199 before the boat was sunk on its first patrol off the Brazilian coast in July 1943. Kraus survived the war having spent three years in American captivity. (Landser 891)
View Photograph: R22. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R23. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
Someone has just told Prien that Endrass' true tally for his recent patrol was not 54,000 tons but 35,347 tons sunk.
Of particular interest is the area behind the commander's shoulders. During the January/February 1940 refit, when the 20mm was re-sited to the rear of the tower, a grill was added on the starboard side, beneath the front of the round wintergarten area. The addition of the wintergarten had blocked over some of the holes on the starboard side, so a grill with vertical bars was chosen as a replacement for the holes in this area. Presumably this allowed just as much, if not more, air to be accessed by the diesel intakes. (Landser 891)
View Photograph: R23. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940, Kiel
R24. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940 or shortly thereafter, Kiel
Prien is freshly shaven, and in his dress uniform, so this shot was taken after those in which he is bearded. The Pillkoppen pennant makes its first chronological appearance in photos of U-47. As it is not present in the preceding photos in this series, this photo must have been taken at a slightly later time.
The top bracket and cup holders, which could hold a horseshoe-shaped lifebelt, are above the port navigation light. The smaller lifebelt bracket is to the right of the cup holders. To the left is a railing which was fitted in the late October/early November 1939 refit. (Snyder)
View Photograph: R24. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940 or shortly thereafter, Kiel
R25. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940 or shortly thereafter, Kiel
A freshly shaven Prien in dress uniform talks to the downed Luftwaffe aircrew on the foredeck of U-47. On the left hand side of his jacket are displayed his Iron Cross (Eiserne Kreuze) and his U-boat War Badge (U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen 1939), while his Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz) adorns his neck.
Between the shoulders of the two Luftwaffe aircrew standing to Prien's left side is an access panel with protruding hinges. The breech of the 88mm is at the extreme left of the photo. (Trojca Hardback, Trojca Pictorial, Ubootwaffe Part 4)
View Photograph: R25. End of the 6th patrol, 6th July 1940 or shortly thereafter, Kiel
