Posted: 03 February 2007 at 01:56 | IP Logged
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During WW1, on several occasions, the FdU (Fuhrer der Unterseeboote) tried to slip U-boats into the Scapa Flow to attack the British Fleet.
The first attempt was on 6 August 1914 when FdU sent the boats U-5, U-7 to U-9, U-13 to U-18 in a bold move to attack the British Fleet at Scapa Flow. It didn't go well U-5 and U-9 had to turn back due to engine trouble, U-13 was lost without a trace and U-15 was sunk by the light cruiser HMS Birmingham, when trying to move into attack. The rest of the boats that left port achieved nothing.
On 23 November however U-18 (Kptlt) Hans von Hennig) did manage to penetrate Scapa Flow but was sighted and sunk.
Then towards the end of hostilities in 1918 UB-116, (Oblt.z.S. Emsmann) with a volunteer crew of 34 officers penetrated Hoxa Sound at Scapa Flow. UB-116 was however detected by hydrophones and sunk by mines with the loss of all hands.
As we know it would be 21 years later before the U-boat arm would be able to slip Gunter Prien in U-47 into Scapa Flow and conduct a successful attack on the British Fleet.
Anyone else interested in WW1 U-boats and their operations?
Source Uboat.net
Edited by Panther44 on 03 February 2007 at 01:57
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