U534

[andybarton]

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Here's the conning tower of my U-Boat, U534

 

Well, it's not really mine, but it's not far from here.

 

She keeps getting moved around, awaiting a final place where they are going to restore her properly. I did hear that she may be off to Barrow-in-Furness, where the Trident fleet are built and maintained, but I am not sure.

 

She is now lying on the quayside, and, if it hadn't been so darned cold this lunchtime, I might have stayed a bit longer. When we have a fine day, with real clouds, and better light, I shall see if I can get a proper "portrait".

 

Considering what she might have done (thanks M@rcu$) during the Battle of the Atlantic, she's very been well received round here. It will be a shame to see her go.

 

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[andybarton]

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[elansprint72]

I took the tour through this wreck before the H&S folks kicked off; unbelievably small living spaces, must have been awful.

I hope an indoor display site can be arranged, das boot has probably corroded more since being raised than it did during all those years of submersion.

[macos]

Hi Andy,

 

a very interesting picture from a technical point of view. Although I am no fan of war history at all an additional explanation (as extract from what I found on the net) which potentially let you feel better about this rusty thing in your neighbourhood:

 

U-534 has never sunk any ship. As it was attacked, it shot down one RAF bomber in mission and a second one during its tranfer trip to Norway. The companion of the second one sunk U-534 itself. All seamen managed to escape the sinking vessel, however, 3 died on exhaustion swimming in the water. Therefore it was possible to raise it.

 

However, the best thing is that these times are over

[andybarton]

Amen to that, M@rcu$

 

I have edited my first post accordingly.

[stunsworth]

A quick recommendation for the film "Das Boot". Possible the best war film I've ever seen. Get the extended version - and please watch it with subtitles rather than dubbed.

[elansprint72]

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There was a very interesting documentary which investigated why one of these sank very close to the East Coast of the US, can't remember the name of it; fascinating story.

 

If anyone is near La Pallice (La Rochelle) France, on holiday, it is worth looking at the massive Kreigsmarine pens where some of these things sailed from. The structures appeared in a James Bond film and also in Das Boot; btw, the Das Boot submarine was "borrowed" for use in the Raiders of the Lost Ark film and at some point was accidentally sunk!

 

Historians may be interested in this site (it takes ages to load even on broadband, but is worth the wait):

 

Wolves 2

[andit]

Hi Andy,

 

The U-Boat that you have shown here is actually quite a large boat. Being of the type IX-C, it was quite a bit larger that the type VII-C "Atlantic Class". The film Das Boot, depicted life aboard one of these Atlantic Class boats. If memory serves me right, there is a completely restored type IX-C (like the one you have in the photo) in the shipping museum in Bremerhafen. Of the Atlantic Class, as far as I know, only two boats are still in existance - one in Kiel in Germany and the other in Chicago. Both of these boats have been restored and can be visited.

 

I just hope and pray that the world never has to endure such horror again. I don't know if I'm allowed to do this here, but there is an internet site at uboat.net - The U-boat War 1939-1945 which gives a lot of information about u-boats that were used on all sides (not just Germany) during the first and second world war.

 

Andreas

 

Thanks for posting.

[farnz]

Andy,

 

I prefer your b&w rendition because its wartime 'feel' adds authenticity to an already interesting image. The texture in the sky subtly adds atmosphere but, for me, overall it's the stark sculpture of the handrails against the clouds that makes it special.

 

Pete.