U-47 Photograph Album
Introduction & Section A, Pre-war Period
The U-47 Photo Album
A Chronological Photographic History of U-47 during its pre-war and wartime career. Captions by Dougie Martindale, compiled and edited by Rick D. Joshua
The following collection of U 47 photographs was collated from a variety of sources. Each photograph has been assigned with a code. The letter at the beginning of the code specifies a period of time in which the photograph was taken. The letters correspond with the following dates or time periods specified in the introduction page; you also can jump to the first photograph in any particular section by using the tabs below.
Günther Prien
Two contrasting images of the skipper of the U-47, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien - "Der Stier von Scapa Flow". The first photograph, taken soon after his being awarded the Knight's Cross following the raid at Scapa Flow, is that of the dashing and clean-shaven young Kreigsmarine officer in dress uniform. The second photograph by contrast is archetypal image the one of the bearded, craggy war hero - a man who became a household name in Germany between 1939 and 1941.
View photograph: Günther Prien
View photograph: Der 'Kaleun'
A01. 11th June 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
A speech commemorating the launch of U-51 from another slipway is taking place in Slip 3, with U-47 on the right and U-46 on the left. The keel of U-47 had been laid down on the 27th February 1937, three days after that of U-46.
The horizontal lines that are visible on the stern casing of U-46 are doublers. These were steel strips added over the join between some panels on the hull casing in order to provide additional strength. Though they did not protrude far, they were quite noticeable on Type VII hulls. (Werften)
View Photograph: A01. 11th June 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
A02. 20th June 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
U-47 (left) and U-46 (right) during the production process at the Krupp shipyard. U-46 would be launched on the 10th September 1938, 49 days before U-47 was launched.
Engelbert Endrass, the First Watch Officer of U-47 who fired the torpedoes at the Royal Oak, would later command U-46. In August 1941 this VIIB boat was removed from operational duty; it then served until 1945 in training flotillas. No fewer than 9 men commanded U-46 during the boat’s career. (Werften)
View Photograph: A02. 20th June 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
A03. 29th October 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
The launching of U-47 from Slip 3. The fairlead and the white waterline indicators can be seen near the stern. The row of railings on either side of the deck slotted into the small circular holes at the edges of the deck. These railings were usually removed when at sea.
The division between the upper grey and the lower darker grey is clearly visible. It is apparent that no bootline/boot-topping (the horizontal stripe at the waterline of surface vessels) existed. (Werften)
View Photograph: A03. 29th October 1938, Slip 3, Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
A04. 1st December 1938, outside Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
U-47 was still in the process of being fitted out at this time. The U-boat would be commissioned into the Kriegsmarine 16 days later on the 17th December 1938.
The red and white emergency rescue buoy just aft of the capstan, and the plate inscribed with "U-47" near to the bow, were removed around the beginning of the war. Neither the spray deflector nor the breakwaters were fitted to U-47 at this stage. (Werften)
View Photograph: A04. 1st December 1938, outside Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft A.G., Kiel
A05. 17th December 1938, Kiel (commissioning day)
This clear shot of U-47's tower was taken on the day of her commissioning into the Kriegsmarine, known as the Indienststellung. Dressed in his dress uniform, Prien would be allowed to add the white commissioning pennant (see H05) to the commander's flagstaff on this day. Many of the pre-war features are evident. The U-boat number - 47 – is painted in large white numerals approximately 1.5 metres tall on both sides of the conning tower. The bronze eagle plaque can be seen fastened in place on the front face of the tower, just below the wind deflector.
One of the two red and white emergency rescue buoys can be seen behind the tower (the other can be seen in A04 and A06). Behind the white 47 is the starboard lifebelt. At this time "U-Flottille Wegener" and "U 47" were marked in white letters upon the red lifebelts.
These pre-war features were painted over or, in the case of the bronze eagle plaque and the bow number plates, removed on the afternoon of the 19th August 1939, hours before departing upon the first war patrol.
Another very noticeable aspect of this photo is the absence of the spray deflector, added sometime in 1939. The white-coloured vertical strip behind the starboard navigation light is a guard to prevent sailors’ boots from marking the pristine paintwork.
U-boats would always be spic and span for their Indienststellung, receiving an extra coat of paint especially for that important day. (Landser 891)
View Photograph: A05. 17th December 1938, Kiel (commissioning day)
A06. Pre-war period, 1939
This photo shows U-47 with the following pre-war features: a. The U-boat number painted in white numerals approximately 1.5m tall on both sides of the conning tower; b. A pair of small oval plates inscribed with the U-boat's number placed just under the small free flooding holes near to the bow; c. A bronze eagle plaque fastened in place on the front face of the tower, just below the wind deflector; d. Two red and white emergency rescue buoys. One was behind the tower and the other, visible in this photo, was on the forward deck.
These features were removed from U-boats just after the start of the hostilities. U-47's commander Günther Prien served alongside the 1.WO Engelbert Endrass and 2.WO Reinhard Suhren at this time. All three men would become famous U-boat commanders. (Lost Subs)
View Photograph: A06. Pre-war period, 1939
A07. Pre-war period, 1939
In this rare pre-war photo, U 47 – in the foreground – is sailing out from the harbour with U 45 and U 46. The numerous warships in the background would suggest that this was taken in Kiel. U 47 had yet to acquire the breakwaters or the spray deflector halfway up the front of the tower at this stage. Behind the tower is one of the red and white emergency rescue buoys. Aft of the buoy is the mount for the 20mm anti-aircraft gun; the barrel is stored in a deck hatch. (Ebay)
