Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has a pic of U-47 when she was in Dry-Dock. I need a pic of it's lower hull.  I beleive she went into dry-dock at least once or maybe twice during her career.

Thanks,

Hi There!

Any type VIIB would be ok. But a pic of U-47 would be super!

Thanks,

Hi Dan

   I've had absolutely no luck trying to find a dry-docked Type VIIB let alone U-47. Will keep my eyes open though.

 Hi Again,

Thanks for looking!  When was U-47 dry-docked? I beleive it was after her Patrol to the "Flow" . I am not sure?!?? It was at one time when she was being re-fit I beleive? 

Thanks,

Hi Dan,

Yes, the boat was in dry-dock after the Scapa raid (01/11/39 to 08/11/39). The port side of the boat had scraped an anchor chain so any damage to the lower hull would have been repaired then. Also, the spray deflector was extended all the way around the front of the tower during this refit too.

The U 47 KTBs (war diaries) show the following for shipyard visits -

21/10/39 to 23/10/39  Germaniawerft

24/10/39 to 13/11/39 Germaniawerft (dry-docked between 01/11/39 and 08/11/39)

12/39 to 02/40 Germaniawerft (dry-docked in DWK Dock XI in January and February 1940)

08/03/40 and 09/03/40 Wilhelmshaven

30/03/40 to 01/04/40 Dry-docked in dock II of Wilhelmshaven’s Westwerft shipyards

29/04/40 to 31/05/40 Germaniawerft (dry-docked between 09/05/40 and 15/05/40)

08/07/40 to 20/08/40 Germaniawerft (dry-docked between 26/07/40 and 08/08/40)

27/09/40 to 14/10/40 Marinewerft (dry-docked between 04/10/40 and 09/10/40)

Late October 1940   Marinewerft

07/12/40 to 19/02/41 Marinewerft

Although the last two entries do not specify a dry-dock period, given that the boat was dry-docked after every other patrol it is a good bet that the boat went into dry-dock during those refits too. When I first saw the KTBs I was surprised to find that the boat went into dry-dock so often.

As yet I haven't found a photo showing the lower hull of U 47 during a dry-dock period.  Wouldn't mind finding one!

Cheers mate,

Dougie

Hi Dougie,

Wow ! That is alot of Dry-dock time! I can't beleive there is not at least 1 photo of U-47 in dry-dock. I know that every U-Boat after a patrol gave the Yard Officer a document with all needed repairs. In the early years(1939-1942) every U-Boat was given a needed inspection, cleaning and repainting before going out on the next  Patrol.  So where are the photos!??!!

Regards, Mein Kamerad !