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Topic: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold (Read 1746 times)

munga

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Offshore Tiger

Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Posted: 14 April 2010 at 10:21 AM »

I have recently found out there is a sunken U-Boat about 11 miles south east off lowestoft. I know that it was depth charged in WWII and that it went down without the loss of any hands. I believe the boat is U-13(unlucky for some, but not that crew) But little else. Does anyone local here have any further information regarding it at all. I have only found minimal details on U-Boats.com but that is it.

Thanks

Iain


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Ian53

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Shiver Me Timbers

Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #1 Posted: 16 April 2010 at 10:01 AM »

Munga,

Are you aware of this, copied from the Lowestoft Sub Aqua Club site.

Regards,

Ian

In 2005 Lowestoft Sub Aqua club was asked by the curator of the Lowestoft War Memorial museum (Mr Rob Jarvis) to look for a sunken U Boat off our coastline to gain some information and possibly artefacts for the museum.

U13 was a Type IIB coastal U Boat sunk by depth charge attack by HMS Weston in 1940 approximately 10 miles South East of Lowestoft. It is believed that the U13 suffered several attacks by the Weston before going to the bottom. There were no casualties and the entire crew of three Officers, eleven ratings and twelve junior ratings was picked up. Royal Navy divers managed to recover some Enigma roters and the operating manual. (Note. at this time in the war the Allies had been unable to break the code)

On the 17th June 2006, after a year of research and surveying potential wreck sites the U13 was once again found by divers Glynn Conolly, David G Whitlam, David W Whitlam and Alex Liddon.

The club has since made several dives on the wreck.

Technical information for type IIB

Displacement: (tons) 279 (sf) 328 (sm) 414 (total)

Length: (m) 42,70 oa 28,20 ph

Beam: (m) 4,08 oa 4,00 ph

Draught: (draft) 3,90 m

Height: 8,60 m

Power: (hp) 700 (sf) 360 (sm)

Speed: (knots) 13,0 (sf) 7,0 (sm)

Range: (miles / knots) 3100/8 (sf) 43/4 (sm)

Torpedoes: 5 (carried in total)

3 bow no stern tubes

Mines: 12 TMA

Deck gun: No deck gun

Crew: 22-24 men

Max depth: ca. 150 m (492 feet)

sm ="submerged," sf ="surfaced," ph ="pressure" hull,

U-13

Type IIB

Laid down 20 Jun, 1935 Deutsche Werke, Kiel

Commissioned 30 Nov, 1935 Oblt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen (Knights Cross)

Commanders 30 Nov, 1935 - 30 Sep, 1937

Kptlt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen (Knights Cross)

1 Oct, 1937 - 5 Nov, 1939

Karl Daublebsky von Eichhain

6 Nov, 1939 - 2 Jan, 1940

Heinz Scheringer

16 Dec, 1939 - 28 Dec, 1939

Oblt. Wolfgang Lüth (Knights Cross)

3 Jan, 1940 - 31 May, 1940

Max-Martin Schulte

Career 9 patrols 1 Nov, 1935 - 1 Aug, 1939 1. Flottille (front boat)

1 Sep, 1939 - 31 Dec, 1939 1. Flottille (front boat)

1 Jan, 1940 - 31 May, 1940 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes 9 ships sunk for a total of 28.056 GRT

3 ships damaged for a total of 26.218 GRT

Fate Sunk 31 May, 1940 in the North Sea 11 miles south-east of Lowestoft, in position 52.26N, 02.02E, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. 26 survivors (No casualties


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Yohoho!

Catchy

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Go the All Blacks

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Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #2 Posted: 24 May 2010 at 12:35 AM »

I am interested in this topic - my family were friendly with a Mrs Lena Summers (could have been Sommers?) who I think did Red Cross or similar work during the war. She showed us a photo of herself greeting some German submariners as they came ashore at Lowestoft. I can only presume it was the same occasion. I recall being puzzled by the fact the the Germans were smiling and Mrs S. saying that that was because they were so happy to have been landed in England and away from the terrible German navy. I guess I'd smile too to have survived rather thasn drowned. Maybe someone knows more about Mrs Summers? I know she had a son Olly and lived in Grand Avenue. I never heard any mention of a Mr Summers.


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If your parents never had any children the chances are you won't either.

bombtheb

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Posts: 110

"History with its flickering lamp"

Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #3 Posted: 25 May 2010 at 10:21 PM »

No U-Boat crewmen were ever brought ashore at Lowestoft in WW 2, only E-Boat (German MTB) crewmen. There is a photo of two such mariners being escorted ashore, blindfolded, on p35 of the late Ford Jenkins' excellent wartime picture album of Lowestoft, Port War. Not too sure about the details on this, as maritime history is not my strong point, but I think it was March 1942.

BC


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funkychick

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You may leave, but you'll return

Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #4 Posted: 25 May 2010 at 10:23 PM »

I should have that book somewhere I ll have a hunt


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Catchy

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Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #5 Posted: 27 May 2010 at 04:59 AM »

I have the book too. The photo you mention is definitely NOT the one I saw. The one I saw had quite a few men coming down a gangplank and they where definitely smiling. I do know from what Mrs S said, and from their uniforms, that they were German naval men but whether she said they were submariners I can't be sure. I have always thought that's what she said though.


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If your parents never had any children the chances are you won't either.

munga

Veteran Member

Posts: 520

Offshore Tiger

Re: Sunken U-Boat of Lowestoft/Southwold « Reply #6 Posted: 27 May 2010 at 01:52 PM »

Well they would certainly be unique because not many made it ashore alive thats for certain, hence the name "Iron Coffins"


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