The PFC SH3 Rolling Quiz (PFC = Post Forum Crash) | Forums

[VikingGrandad]

12 cases of submerged escapes is a surprisingly low number.

As you say, the escape equipment was more of a token gesture of hope - but that in itself probably made all a difference to many U-boat sailor's view of his chances.

One can only imagine the number of failed attempts from boats that sank too deep or too quickly for anyone to get out alive.

Another intriguing unknown is how many Kaleuns chose to go down with their stricken boat, rather than surrender... Quite a few, I'd suspect.


I'm digging through my books now for a new question. Won't be too long!

[Ant__.]

*cough*

[Kaleun1961]

Originally posted by Realjambo:
*cough*

Is that a bump, or are you inhaling the smoke from your new video card?

[Ant__.]

Originally posted by Kaleun1961:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Realjambo:
*cough*

Is that a bump, or are you inhaling the smoke from your new video card? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very funny K61! I can confirm it was definitely a bump! *Adds K61 to RJ's 'Wise Guys' list in his little black book*

@VG - If you want to open the floor to another question just shout, no worries

[Kaleun1961]

Sorry, I just couldn't resist an opening like that.

[VikingGrandad]

Sorry for my short hiatus...

I have a question!

Remember RJ's previous question about HMS Westcott? (the first Destroyer to be fitted with a hedgehog spigot mortar, and supposedly the first to actually use the weapon to attack a U-boat, U-581)

Here's a question relating to that event:

When U-581 sank, 37 surviving members of her crew were picked up by HMS Westcott. The survivors included the boat's captain, Kptlt. Werner Pfeifer. Once safely aboard the enemy destroyer, Pfeifer did something very unusual. What did he do?

[Goose_Green]

I have no idea...but I'm looking forward to knowing the answer

Edit

I have just looked this one up in Clay Blair's book Hitler's U Boat War - The Hunters.

But in a nutshell, Pfiefer filed formal, written charges against the British, asserting that while in distress, his boat was unlawfully sunk in neutral Portuguese waters. Bockett-Pugh, awarded the DSO for the sinking, rightly dismissed the charges as nonsense. The Admiralty concurred.

Here are scans of the account taken from Blair's book;

[VikingGrandad]

Well done Goose!

Pfiefer did indeed present HMS Westcott's CO with a formal "protest against capture", as detailed below:



(source: 'Destroyer: An Anthology of First-hand Accounts of the War at Sea 1939-1945'. Incidentally, the same publisher has a similar anthology about submarines in WW2)

Clearly, Pfiefer was indignant in his view of the attack on his boat (and also his bad luck). No doubt his crew felt the same. You can empathise with their frustration but in one way I think luck was actually on their side - at least they beat the odds of surviving a fatal encounter with a destroyer.

EDIT - interesting to read Blair's account of the incident. I must read that book one day!


Over to you for the next question Goose.

[Goose_Green]

Anyone who has a question can take my turn I have not had much time to sort out a question.

[The_Silent_O]

This 'Airwolf' served for 10 years in the Navy and on anti-submarine patrol in the Atlantic during WWII. Name this famous person???