U-47 Photograph Album
Section H (Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939 - Kiel harbour)
H01. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
The photos in the H series were all taken on the same day. Prien is wearing the grey jacket and white cap which he wore when U-47 sailed past the battleships on the 23rd. As the water is much calmer in these photos than the waters near to the battleships, these photos were either taken at a more secluded and sheltered location on the 23rd, or at another time. They cannot have been taken too long after U-47 returned from Scapa Flow because the spray deflector has not been extended, which it was at the Germaniawerft shipyards in late October and early November 1939. In this photograph the railings to the rear of the port side of the conning tower can be seen. Unlike the starboard side, the seat does not extend between these vertical stanchions. The coil of rope at the right hand side belongs to the red Kriegsmarine ensign flag. (Weg)
View Photograph: H01. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H02. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
The spray deflector can be seen before it was extended around the tower. Also visible in this photo are the several holes of differing sizes that were at the front of the tower.
An excellent example is provided here of how some of the wires go through the middle of the porcelain insulators. In later VIIs all the wires extending fully around the insulators. Close inspection of Z02 confirms that the insulators did not change during U-47's career. (Weg, Trojca Hardback)
View Photograph: H02. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H03. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
Two images of Günther Prien, the first naval Knight of the Iron Cross, as he stands in front of the Kriegsmarine flag of U-47. He would become the fourth most successful U-boat commander of World War II in terms of tonnage sunk. The water behind the stern is much calmer than in I10 and I11. (Weg, Trojca Hardback, Snyder, Landser 784, Admiral)
View Photograph: H03. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H04. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
Günther Prien stands between the starboard bulwark and the rear of the attack periscope housing. Having embarrassed the Royal Navy by penetrating their main anchorage, sunk one of their battleships, then escaped unharmed to receive the adoration of the German people, it's no wonder he appears pleased with himself. (Snyder, Commander)
View Photograph: H04. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H05. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
The two half-cup shaped parts, together with the bracket above, would hold a horseshoe-shaped lifebelt when required. The lifebelt, and the corresponding one on the other side of the tower, were always present on U-boats involved in training. However, they were only occasionally seen on operational U-boats, and even then only when in port.
No lifebelts are present in any of the wartime photos of U-47. U-47's famous insignia - The Bull Of Scapa Flow - can clearly be seen in this photo. The bulls, which were painted on either side of the tower, both faced to the left at this time. (Snyder)
View Photograph: H05. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H06. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
The photo which adorns the cover of this edition of Prien's book shows that the long starboard railing seat on U-47 did not protrude outward of the railing.
Early in 1940, an author called Paul Weymar was asked by the publisher Deutscher Verlag to ghost-write Prien's autobiography. The resultant book - Mein Weg Nach Scapa Flow – was littered with inaccuracies. Prien's widow Ingeborg stated that Günther was "very angry" when he received the manuscript, and had "kept crossing things out". The changes her husband made were, she believes, never incorporated into the published book. (Weg cover)
View Photograph: H06. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
H07. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
Prien is resting his arms on the sky periscope housing. Since the sky periscope is not in use, a lid with a handle is in place over the top of the housing. Forward of the periscope housing is the cylindrical housing that can also be seen in K03.
Beyond the tower is the forward jumping wire, with porcelain insulators and tension adjusters, leading to the net cutter at the bow. On the starboard side of the deck is a mooring pole. In the middle of the deck is the canvas-type bag over the KDB; a side-profile view of this can be seen in I13. In front of this piece of equipment, slightly offset to port from the centreline, is the capstan. (Trojca Hardback)
View Photograph: H07. Post-Scapa sailing, October 1939, Kiel harbour
