DESTRUCTION OF U-BOATS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 63, 16 March 1942, Page 3

DESTRUCTION OF U-BOATS

SUSTAINED ATTACK ON ALLIED CONVOY THREE NAZI UNDERSEA RAIDERS SUNK Rugby, March 13. In January the Admiralty announced that two Focke-Wulf longrange bombers and at least three Üboats had been destroyed in an exceptionally determined and sustained attack on an Allied convoy. The Admiralty now states that the U-boats, from which prisoners were taken, were the Ul3l. U 434, and U 574. The Ul3l was of 740 tons, was built at Deschigmag yard at Bremen, and commissioned for service about the middle of 1941. She had carried out only one operational war cruise prior 10 that during which she was sunk. This first war cruise had been in the North Atlantic and the U-boat succeeded in sinking only one ship. Prisoners said that during the ?ruise they were repeatedly forced to dive by air patrols. After this patrol in Northern Atlantic waters, the Ul3l sailed south. During the night of December 16-17 she located a convoy. The next morning the U-boat was seen on lhe surface by one of the air escort of the convoy. Warships proceeded at high speed to attack. Depth charges were dropped and some exploded very close to the hull of the U-boat. She took on a big list and angle. Her motors were damaged, vater was coming in. and she was 'orced so deep that the doors jammed and her steel plates buckled and cracked. The wonder was that the Ul3l ever reached the surface, but she just managed to do so, though she was unable to dive again. As she came to the surface, the convoy escort closed on her at high speed and apened fire. The crew opened the vents and abandoned ship, and the Üboat sank early that afternoon. The Ul3l had a complement of 48 officers and men, all of whom were saved and are prisoners. Most of them were very young, and included only three men who could be described as old hands at U-boat warfare. A Three-Weeks’ Patrol. The second U-boat from which prisoners were taken during this al tack on lhe convoy was the U 434, a 500-ton boat built at the Schichau yard, at; Danzig and was commissioned aoout the midsummer of 1941. Like the Ul3l, and U 434 had carried out a patrol in North Atlantic waters before being ordered south. This patrol lasted nearly three weeks, but the U 434 failed to make any attacks. On lhe morning of December 17. the U4-M came up with the convoy and early ihat afternoon she witnessed the sink-; ing at a distance of the Ul3l. The! following morning the U 434 was sighted liy destroyers, which closed a; high speed and attacked with depth charges. One of the first depth • charges caused water to stream into Lhe control room and succeeding depth charges rapidly increased the damage. Her steering gear and hydroplanes became useless instruments, and her gauges were shattered ind all lights put out. The U-boax ■ was sinking rapidly when the com-1 Tiander gave the order to blow tanks i m an attempt to reach the surface. The U 434 did reach the surface and | :he crew abandoned ship, but she sard; | immediately and two of her crew of i 14 were drowned. The remainder | were picked up and are prisoners. The third U-boat from which pr - i ioners were taken during this attack I Dii the convoy was the U 574, a 500-ton | boat built at the Blohm and Voss yard) it Hamburg, also commissioned about ! Lhe middle of 1941. She, too, had! aeen operating in Northern Atlanti - waters before being ordered south.! Dut had met with no success. The U 574 came up with a convoy on Ihe morning of December 17, and shortly :>fter noon witnessed the destruction of a Focke-Wulf by naval aircraft i'rom H. M.S. Audacity. It appears hat the U 574 lost touch with the concoy during the destruction of the U 131! md did not again come up with it un-i 11 the evening of December 18. The Stanley Sunk. In the early hours of the follow ing; no/iiing the U 574 attacked. One tor-1 icdo hit and sank the ex-American i jestroycr H.M.S. Stanley, which had; lakcn part in the destruction of the; J 434 on the previous day. H.M.S. I Stork al once attacked with depth .-hargeo. These put the main motors Df both U-boats out of action and caused short circuits and lires which shattered the compressed air bottles. Sven one of lhe main pressure hull Tames was fractured. Water was ■entering the U-boat and it was certain hat she Was sinking. Yet the commanding officer was reluctant to bring ier to lhe surface and abandon ship, .t is reported that a heated altercaion broke out between the officers jefore the commander was forced to .five the order to blow the tanks. The J 574 reached the surface and the crew abandoned ship, just as the Stork ammed the U-boat over, so that she sank. Of a total complement of six officers and 37 men two officers and 2b ratings ost their lives. Each of these three U-boats had Deen in commission for neatly si?, months, but the aggregate successes • chieved by ail three consisted of the Inking of H.M.S. Stanley and one nei chant ship. H.M.S. Audacity was sunk while .■scouting a convoy. She was described is an auxiliary vessel and was the ate German s.s. Hanover, which was ntercepted by a naval patrol in vlarch, 1940. ‘ 8.0.W.