Volume 9, Issue 6 December 2020

Editorial By Shipmate Norrie Millen Hi! Shipmates, As this will be the last newsletter of the year, may I begin by wishing all shipmates, your wives, families and friends. The Rum Tub or Norrie’s Nocturnal and Nautical Peace, Happiness and Joy for Christmas and Natter a Prosperous & Covid Free New Year This had been a terrible year for us all in one way and In this issue Editorial ...... 1 another. Being locked down, having to social distance, Peter Shepperd’s Protector Piece ...... 2-3 wearing masks and worse of all the possibility that you may HMCS Robert Hampton Gray ...... 4 Two casks of Sherry ...... 5-7 have lost a loved one to Covid-19. This on top of all other St Adjutor’s Church ...... 8-9 serous personal health issues. Loss of HM S/M Vandal ...... 10-11 How did WWII U-Boats surrender? ...... 13-14 Let’s all hope and pray that 2021 will see a massive improvement for us all. The first of the promised Covid vaccines is now arriving and LEXOPHILIA - WHO ON EARTH these deliveries will increase as they become available and DREAM THESE UP? more importantly tested for safety and side effects. I believe Why, a lexophile of course! as I write – December 7th - that the first people will be How does Moses make tea? Hebrews it. vaccinated tomorrow. As a vulnerable, person I should be Venison for dinner again? able to get mine in January, hopefully. Oh deer What I find hard to understand is those people that are I used to be a banker, but then I lost refusing to accept an injection of the vaccine and still more interest. people who still insist that Covid is all fake news. Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes I am sure you have your personal views on this and these, I tried to catch some fog, dare I say it? Foolish persons. Them not you! but I mist. I still try and go down to Teignmouth sea front on a daily When chemists die, they barium. basis. Yesterday, brilliant weather, the cruise ships Arcadia, Broken pencils are pointless. Velcro - what a rip off! Azura, QM2, and Marella Discovery, were joined by Queen I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. Elizabeth. In addition the Ro-Ro Vesperine is off start point It's syncing now Let’s us all hope and pray that 2021 will see us on the right Jokes about German sausage are the side of Covid-19 and leading normal lives again. wurst Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last. The way I see it anyway!

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILES A HEALTHY AND HAPPY 2021 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

Peter Shepperd’s Protector Piece With some additional material; added by Norrie Millen

By Shipmate Protector was 338 feet (103 m) Peter Shepperd long overall and 310 feet (94 m) between perpendiculars, with a I served on HMS beam of 53 feet (16 m) and a Protector, a draught of 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 m) converted at deep load. Displacement was netlayer; one 2,820 long tons (2,870 t) of the first ones to be standard and 3,610 guard ship for our long tons (3,670 t) claimed islands deep load. in the Antarctic. Modifications Flat bow, Protector was stopped dead in modified in 1955 heavy seas every for service as a time a wave hit Guardship for the us; she also had a Falkland Islands bloody great hanger on Dependencies and a the stern with 2 survey vessel for Antarctic helicopters. This acted like a huge waters. The twin 4-inch gun mount sail and made steering extremely was moved to a forward position, difficult. allowing a flight deck and hangar for a helicopter to be fitted aft, while the Protector was laid down as a fast close-in armament was reduced to net layer by Yarrow Shipbuilders at four 20 mm cannon (with four 3- their Scotstoun, Glasgow shipyard pounder saluting guns also carried). on 15 August 1935, launched on 20 The ship's bridge was enclosed and August 1936 and was the hull ice strengthened. A completed in further refit in 1957 saw December 1936. Protector's bridge She was remodelled, while in commissioned on 1958 a tripod mainmast 30 December was mounted on the 1936. Her design ship's hangar, and a was based on that crane was fitted. We had to use up to 30 degrees of HMS Guardian, of wheel and 1 engine built in 1932, but with slowed down to try and steer a more powerful machinery and straight course in any improved equipment for handling nets.

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gale. One time a fire sitting on the rudder head as the developed in a orders came down by runner to the compartment under the hatch. We turned port or starboard port side avgas tank; until the correct angle was read off the during a huge gale, in rudder head all the time the roaring 40s. We rolling 20 plus degrees were ready to slip the each side. Happy tank over the side; but days? NOT the fire was put Further to this out in the story we compartment below it. had to Both tanks, in typical rescue naval fashion could the be slipped overboard explorer by releasing a strop Edmund surrounding them. Hilary and a Dr Fuchs from At the same time, during being trapped in the ice on their the middle watch, a huge ship MV Theron. One of our lathe broke adrift in the machine shop helicopters had to show them a and punched a hole in the rear route out through leads in the ice. quarter. I had to go in as damage What surprised me was when we control party to secure it and eventually got them out, was the other heavy items; with steel on the waterline of the freezing water up to Theron was burnished like our waists and chrome amazing from the extremely worried constant rubbing of the about what was under ice. the water rolling Both Sir Edmund and Dr around to squash our Vivian Fuchs came onboard legs. We secured the and during their time onboard lathe with ropes, splinter signed many autographs for the boxes and collision mats used in crew. anger for the first time. Protector made her first Antarctic patrol in It was the worst ship I have ever the winter of 1955/56, serving the sailed in, and handled really badly in Falkland Islands and the British Antarctic Survey bases. She returned to the heavy sea conditions. The donkey Antarctic 13 more times in her career. engine that powered the steering gear During her patrols the ship rescued not failed, so watch by watch, for a week only the passengers and crew of the we had to use icebound MV Theron, emergency hand but also Protector steering. (See image rescued the passengers below middle)This in of the RRS Shackleton, a hell hole with six which had struck an guys on three joined iceberg and had to together steering perform emergency wheels, similar to a repairs to keep from sailing ship. One guy sinking. Rum Tub Page - 3 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

Sixth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship named after Canadian Navy hero: Robert Hampton Gray. From the Internet, written by Julie Lennips

Editor’s Note: In a previous issue I gave He was awarded the an account of last RN VC. Since Victoria Cross then I have received news that posthumously, for Canada have named a ship courage and after Robert Hampton Gray. determination in The first Arctic and carrying out Offshore Patrol Ship daring air strikes (AOPS), HMCS Harry on the Japanese DeWolf, was delivered to the destroyer, HIJMS Government of Canada on My Amakusa. 31 2020 in Halifax. Designated the Harry DeWolf-class in honour of On August 9, 1945, he Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a led two flights of Corsair Canadian naval hero, the delivery this new aircraft to attack naval vessels in class of ship represents an historic milestone Onagawa Bay. He opened the attack run for the RCN, marking the delivery of the first flying straight into concentrated anti- ship in the largest fleet recapitalization aircraft fire, and was hit almost Canada's peacetime history. immediately. With his aircraft on fire and The other five AOPS are named Harry DeWolf, one bomb lost, he used his remaining Margaret Brooke, Max Bernays, William Hall, and bomb to sink escort vessel, HIJMS Frederick Rolette. Amakusa. The RCN named this class of ships after prominent Canadian naval figures for the Moments after the attack, his first time in its 110-year history, proudly aircraft crashed into the sea, honouring their leadership, and his body was never achievements, and heroism recovered. He was the only The Royal Canadian Navy s RCN member to be awarded (RCN) sixth Arctic and the Victoria Cross during Offshore Patrol Ship the Second World War. (AOPS) was named in honour of Lieutenant (Lt) Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Robert Hampton Gray, a Commander Royal Canadian Canadian naval hero of the Navy, says, “Lt Gray was Second World War, on August known to his fellow-military 10. members as a courageous leader, with a brilliant flying In 1940, Lt Robert Hampton spirit, who continued to inspire Gray joined the Royal and motivate his crew after his Canadian Naval Volunteer unfortunate passing. By Reserve and served as a naming the sixth Arctic and pilot in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Offshore Patrol Ship after Lt Gray, we Lt Gray embarked on HMS Formidable honour him as a Canadian naval hero, with 1841 Squadron, which joined the and celebrate his outstanding leadership war in the Pacific as part of Operation and heroism." ICEBERG in April 1945.

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The Spanish Navy Is Sailing Two Casks of Sherry around the Globe From the Internet by Isabelle Kliger, Submitted by Shipmate Gord McLennan The current expedition commemorates It revives a centuries-old tradition. the 500th anniversary of the first-ever ON AUGUST 24, THE crossing of the Pacific Ocean by a European, and the first circumnavigation SPANISH naval training vessel of the globe, by Portuguese and Spanish Juan Sebastián de Elcano set off explorers Ferdinand Magellan and on an epic voyage that Juan Sebastián Elcano. will take it across the In addition to paying Atlantic to homage to Spain’s Argentina, then seafaring past, through the Straits the Elcano is of Magellan and recreating another across the Pacific great Spanish tradition: aging wine at Ocean, passing sea. The ancient practice Guam and the dates back to the Philippines on its way Phoenicians; in Ancient back to the Spanish port Rome, Pliny the Elder of Cádiz. On board are 197 men wrote that in “wines shipped over sea … and women, all the necessary it is observed that the effect of the motion on vintages that can stand it is merely to provisions for a year at sea, and double their previous maturity.” It also two half butts of Amontillado inspired the nickname of the González Viña AB sherry from the Byass sherry aboard the Elcano: González Byass winery Estrella de los Mares, or “Star of in Jerez, Spain. the Seas.” The Elcano, which sailed Founded in 1835, González its maiden voyage in 1928, Byass is a holds great cultural and historic historic value for the winery in Spanish Navy and many southern generations of officers. At Spain’s so- 371 feet long, this four-masted called “Sherry topsail, steel-hulled schooner Triangle.” Upon barque is the third-largest tall hearing of the ship in the world and has Navy’s sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical intention to recreate the miles. The ship’s primary mission is to first circumnavigation of provide insight into life at sea—naval the globe, Global officers in training typically spend six Marketing Manager months to a year on board. José Argudo says he and his team were But this year’s voyage is different. moved “to revive this beautiful tradition” of The two half butts of sending sherry to age at sherry Courtesy Of González Byass Rum Tub Page - 5 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

sea. They wrote a letter to an admiral at sea, Flores adds, reduces its water detailing the plan, and the content, concentrating the other response was positive. components. “It seemed to be an “This increases the interesting project, since intensity of the aromas, it’s remarkable to analyse such as the spice and the how the movement and vanilla from the wood,” list of a sailing ship can says Flores. “All these dramatically improve the factors make the wine quality of shipped wine,” more powerful and says Santiago de Colsa balanced on the palate and Trueba, Commander of the more intense on the nose.” Juan Sebastián De Elcano. Other spirits with high alcohol It helps that Jerez is situated content, such as Madeira or close to the Bay of Cádiz, Aquavit, can also be aged in one of the main centres of activity for the this manner, whereas wines Spanish Navy. This has formed links with a lower alcohol content would between the Navy, civil society, and the deteriorate. business sphere, including the renowned During the days of the original Elcano Jerez de la Frontera wineries. and Magellan expeditions, Spanish Commander Santiago de Colsa Trueba sherry makers recognized the benefits of explains that the Navy should not aging their wine at sea, and sending and cannot receive any it across the waves soon tangible or economic became a lucrative benefit from the commercial practice. collaboration, “beyond While the shipper was the satisfaction of paid handsomely for the supporting a quality, service, the winery was exclusive Spanish able to charge up to five product such as Jerez times more for a vintage wine.” that had been on a so-called According to Antonio Flores, “round trip.” oenologist and master blender at Sherry was on board for the Magellan- González Byass, conditions aboard Elcano circumnavigation of 1519, and it the Elcano, including temperature, also played a part in major maritime pressure, and the continuous movement expeditions, including Christopher of the waves, are subjecting the Columbus’s second voyage and the winery’s two half butts of Anglo-Spanish War, the latter sherry to an intense of which was instrumental micro-oxygenation in establishing sherry as process. the drink of choice for Accelerating its thirsty Brits. In 1587, oxidation, which English sea captain often happens on Sir Francis Drake land, gradually, famously raided the through barrel aging, port of Cádiz and positively impacts the pillaged some 2,900 aging of the wine and butts of sherry, which were improves its quality. Aging wine brought back to the Court of Elizabeth I. The sherry made a huge splash in England, wending its way into Rum Tub Page - 6 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

the country’s taverns and, from there, into the works of William Shakespeare. But from the height of its trendiness in Elizabethan London, the popularity of sherry waned. By the late 1900s, the drink had become grandma’s favourite tipple. However, with fortified wines currently undergoing a major revival, sherry is once again a fashionable cocktail ingredient in bars around the world. For winemakers at González Byass, this renaissance has inspired them to raise the profile of its brand while paying homage to a long-lost tradition. “These days, we have the technical means to optimize the quality of the wine without sending it on a round trip,” says Antonio Flores wistfully, “but this project is all about reviving the romanticism of the old practices.” As we talk, his two half butts of Amontillado Viña AB slowly roll across the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

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ST. ADJUTOR'S CHURCH- HMS VERNON Copied from Facebook By Lt. Cdr R.JU. Hoole & Submitted by Shipmate Norrie Millen

St. Adjutor's Church was perhaps Extract from the Royal Navy Diving the smallest, shortest lived and Magazine of 1968 most exclusive church ever built "On Sunday 22nd September, 1968, on Portsea Island. It was erected the church of H.M.S. Vernon was at the Vernon Shore dedicated to St. Adjutor by the Establishment after World War 2 Chaplain of the Fleet. Why St. Adjutor? and was lost in the redevelopment And who was he anyway? of Gunwharf at the end of the The church in Vernon had never been century. dedicated to any saint, and exhaustive Lt. Cmdr. R.J. Hoole MBA MCMI research showed that there was no MIExpE MNI RN, of the Minewarfare & Patron Saint of Divers. The most Clearance Diving Officers' Association appropriate was a St. Adjutor who was has kindly provided some snippets of invoked by swimmers in danger of information about the church drowning, and by sailors and prisoners. The fact that he was born in Vernon- "St Adjutor's was a tiny wooden chapel sur-Seine added interest and further behind the administration building (now research was made into details about the Old Customs House pub) in HMS him. He turned out to be a Vernon, and Vernon. I believe it was built in 1955 on a member of the same family as the site of Dido building where 100 Admiral Edward Vernon (Old Grog), people were killed on the night of 10/11 1684-1757, of Portobello fame, Admiral March 1941 during the Blitz. It replaced Sir Edward Vernon, 1723-1794, and the the temporary chapel located on the Hon. George Vernon. 1803-1866, ground floor of the administration whose figurehead is [was] outside the building which had been in use since Administration Block in H.M.S. Vernon. 1941. The genealogy is in the Chaplain's Apart from departmental and general Office, in case anyone is interested! Sunday morning services, St Adjutor's St. Adjutor was born in Vernon-sur- was also used for the occasional Seine, about 1070, the son of John, wedding, christening and carol service Seigneur of Vernon, and Rosamonde at Christmas. It was demolished along de Blairv. He joined the First Crusade, with much of the rest of HMS Vernon to and left with 200 Knights, for the Holy make way for Gunwharf Quays. land in 1096. The next year, they All three of my children were captured Nicaea, and advanced to christened in a bowl of water placed in Antioch in Asia Minor. It was near here an inverted diving helmet used as a that St. Adjutor's army fell into an font. The diving helmet currently ambush, and all seemed lost. He resides in St Barbara's at HMS invoked St. Mary Magdalene, and Excellent on Whale Island. It sits promised to build a chapel to her upright on a tubular brass stand on honour in Vernon, if only his army which are mounted brass tallies listing could escape. A violent thunder-storm all the divers' children ever christened came up at once, which threw the in it. Sadly, years of polishing by enemy into such confusion that victory enthusiastic vergers has worn away was achieved. most of the inscriptions." On 15th July 1099, St. Adjutor took part in the capitulation of Jerusalem, Rum Tub Page - 8 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020 and he took the opportunity of visiting and sprinkled holy water. St. Adjutor different Holy Places. On one visit he called on Mary Magdalene and St. was captured by the Saracens and put Bernard, and threw the chains of his with heavy chains into a cell. He spent captivity into the whirlpool. Front that many weary years there, till one night moment, the whirlpool disappeared. he had a dream. Mary Magdalene and His reputation as a wonder worker St. Bernard appeared and snapped his increased, but he felt his power ebbing, chains off the wall; they carried him, and on 30th April 1131, he died after with his chains, to his hunting lodge receiving the Last Sacraments from outside Vernon, and told him to build Archbishop Hugo. his chapel there. When he awoke, he was actually back in Vernon. (For a Last month, two statues were given to similar story, read the 12th Chapter of our church, one of St. Adjutor about to the Acts of the Apostles in the New cast his chains into the Seine, and the Testament.) other of Mary Magdalene granting his request. Both are in bronze, and were The news spread of his sudden return, made by Miss Ann Hughes of Twyford. in circumstances attested by numerous The statues seem almost alive, and Knights, and people started to ask for Adjutor in his hermit's shirt and Mary his help. He was by now living the strict Magdalene in a 'mini-skirt' look real life of a hermit, wearing a hair shirt and people, instead of plaster saints. living on bread and water. He was supposed to have worked many Last month, too, for the first time miracles of healing, but his most in Vernon's history, the Church of famous was in the Seine opposite his St. Adjutor was licensed for Banns cell. and Marriages. At the end of June, it is hoped that three of Vernon's The river narrowed here, and there was ships will visit Rouen and Vernon-sur- a notorious whirlpool which drowned Seine to cement the relations started the unworthy and engulfed their boats. by that Vernon who has become our St. Adjutor saw this happen, and common patron saint. The Diving determined with the assistance of his Section is well and truly represented friend, Archbishop Hugo of Rouen to rid by H.M.S. Laleston, which will remain the Seine of this danger. at Rouen for the visit." They set out in a small boat, and as  they were sucked into the pool, the l Archbishop made the sign of the Cross,

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THE LOSS OF HM SUBMARINE VANDAL (P 64) OFF THE ISLE OF ARRAN IN 1943 From the Internet by Angus MacKinnon Kilbrannan Sound where the depth was of the order of 70-80 metres, well within the capacity of her pressure hull. The location of her wreck remained

unknown for over fifty years until discovered in Despite the lessons of WW I, Great Britain the summer of 1994. Lying deep in the and the corridors of power within the Kilbrannan Sound, HMS VANDAL was to Admiralty paid scant attention to the real become a permanent tomb to those who danger posed by Germany in respect to its sailed her out of Lochranza in the early submarine building programme. Much the morning of 24 February 1943. These were same could be claimed in respect to the young men, the average age of crewmembers surface fleet being rushed through by was only 24 years, and all but two were Germany in the build-up to WW II, however, it Englishmen, destined to die a horrific death in was always the U-Boat threat that presented Scottish waters far from home. the greatest danger, a point driven home The lonely and high-risk life of the submariner relentlessly by Winston Churchill. cannot be overstated. Yet there was no At the outbreak of hostilities, Britain had about shortage of recruitment candidates for this 57 serviceable submarines including 12 used dangerous arm of the Royal Navy. Although for training purposes and many of this number Britain’s submarine effort was at a totally dated from the 1914-1918 war and were different level than that of her enemy, effectively obsolete. Consequently an Germany, and based on a very different emergency submarine building programme strategy, nevertheless its achievements were had to be implemented shortly after Winston quite remarkable. A true comparison cannot Churchill came to power, resulting in around a be practicably made but, for indicative total of 168 submarines being built by each purposes, British submarines accounted for and every shipyard capable of this class of 134 enemy surface warships, 34 enemy work, working flat out. submarines, and 493 enemy merchantmen Some 78 of these were subsequently lost, and, for every British submarine lost, almost 8 many under unknown circumstances, such as German ships were destroyed, whereas one HMS VANDAL, a U-Class Coastal German U-Boat was lost for every 4 Submarine built by Vickers- British ships destroyed. Armstrong of Barrow, a prolific The precise number of non- builder of all forms of naval combatant losses of British vessels and one of the largest submarines will never be producers of submarines. known, i.e. those lost in HMS VANDAL disappeared mysterious circumstances during testing trials off the unrelated to a specific enemy Island of Arran in February 1943, action. HMS VANDAL is such a only a few days after her case. It is more than likely that the commissioning and hand-over to the mystery will remain unsolved and that Royal Navy. this unfortunate boat and the 37 young men Carrying a new crew totalling 37 men, who perished within her confines will be including her Commanding Officer, HMS afforded the dignity of her official classification VANDAL was inexplicably lost in the - a war grave.

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THE LOSS OF HMS VANDAL unknown. The last (known) sighting of the boat had been on the morning of the 24th HMS VANDAL was a Class U-Group II February when she left Lochranza. After that, Coastal Submarine, Pennant No. 64, built by there was no trace or clue to what became of the world-famous naval vessel Builder, the boat, and this remained the position for Vickers-Armstrong’s of Barrow in Furness. the next 51 years. With a displacement of approximately 545 tons, her principal dimensions were 204 feet In June 1994, the wreck of HMS VANDAL in length, 10 feet in diameter, and under was discovered lying in about 69 metres normal trimming she would draw around 12’ depth in the Kilbrannan Sound (37 fathoms / 6” of water. 224 feet) in position 55 degrees 43.8 minutes North, 5 degrees 22.4 minutes West. This HMS VANDAL was laid down by Vickers- places the wreck approximately midway Armstrongs on 17 March 1942, launched on between Lochranza and Claonaig and almost 23 November 1942, and completed / handed in line with the navigational track of the small over on 20 February 1943. vehicular ferry, which crosses between these On that day, 20 February 1943, HMS two points. VANDAL sailed out of Barrow Island for trials The cause of her loss, however, remains a and passage to Holy Loch where she was mystery to date. Underwater photography has planned to join the 3rd Flotilla based there. shown no obvious reason for her loss, e.g. She arrived at Holy Loch later on the same open to the sea, collision or other damage, day and was scheduled to carry out etc. It is assumed therefore that all of her crew conventional test manoeuvres in the remain on board the boat and that she is Kilbrannan Sound on 22nd and 23rd effectively a war grave. February, culminating in deep diving tests on 24 February in the Upper Inchmarnock North The records do not show whether there were designated deep-water area. During these representatives of her Builders on board at ‘shakedown’ tests, and given that the tests the time of her loss. It would, however, be were to be carried out under wartime unusual if this was not the case. Her Royal conditions, communications by wireless Navy on-board crew at the time of her loss telegraphy were neither obligatory nor consisted of her Commanding Officer, Lt. encouraged. The final deep dive tests John S. Bridger and his Officers and Men as scheduled for the 24th February would detailed on the attached sheet. Any proceed only providing the Commanding speculation as to the cause of the loss is just Officer was satisfied with the water-tightness that – speculation. The only manner in which of the boat and the training standard of the the cause of loss could be possibly identified boat’s complement, which would be after this time lapse would be a full recovery determined during the two day exercises in and painstaking survey of the boat to search the Kilbrannan Sound on 22nd and 23rd for clues. February.

It was expected that HMS VANDAL would return to her base in the Holy Loch at about 19:00 hours on the evening of the 24th February. In the event, she was never seen again and despite searches being implemented her fate and location remained

The Diesel Submariners Prayer

Our Captain, who art in the control room, Give us this day our daily tot For thine is the ocean Hallowed be thy aim. And forgive us our defaults, The power in the batteries Thy targets come, As we forgive those who default against us. Until we have to charge them again They will be done, Lead us into calm waters, Pipe down On the surface and as in Neptune's kingdom And deliver us from roughers. Rum Tub Page - 11 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

How did German U-boats surrender at end of WWII? Submitted by Shipmate Norrie Millen

Many U-boats were at sea or in port when the mass-assembly techniques and many were “Regenbogen” order was given to surrender on the stocks when the war ended. But only on May 3, 1945. two achieved operational This was not as Was it done at a particular time? Did status, U-2511 and U- easy as it might they go to specific locations? How 3008. The commander of sound since a were they informed? the 2511 was able to submarine infiltrate a fleet of British suddenly appearing out of the water was ships undetected and was about to a target, even if it meant to commence a torpedo attack surrender. Many when the surrender German submarine order came in. He commanders made a mock chose not to attack instead, surrender and to prove to scuttled their himself the subs in place. value of the As all this was class of going on, combat submarine, operations and and then he logistics were still made his escape, taking place. The German still undetected and Navy was in far better shape surrendered. If it had been built than the German Air Force or land armies. earlier the Type 21 could have had an Their fuel bunkers still possessed sufficient impact on the war. The Russians completed quantities of quality fuel; many, if not most of many of them and used them till 1973. Both their barracks were still intact and not the Americans and the Russians used the bombed; their foodstuffs were design as the basis for an plentiful and varied. Surface entirely new direction in ships like the “Prinz submarines. Eugen” and many, Some sub crews many others were refused to conducting combat surrender right operations up till away. One sub, the last day of the the U-977 Type war. E-boats, the VIIC made an German unprecedented equivalent of the underwater trip to British MTB or the Argentina to American PT boat surrender and spent were conducting combat 66 days underwater operation up till the very during the 99 day end, the E-boats trip. Another U- sinking 50,000 tons on boat, the U-530 the last day alone from also refused to bases in Holland. surrender. The U-530 also made a dash to The Germans had been frantically trying to Argentina. The 530 was a Type IX, larger and complete the revolutionary Type XXI better equipped than the Type VII and had submarine program, using revolutionary survived seven war patrols, which was an Rum Tub Page - 12 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

extraordinary event by that time of the war. It killed. There was almost an 90 percent surrendered in Argentina on July 10, about chance of dying on every patrol by the end of two months after the war ended and creating the war. About 28,000 men died, the highest many controversies since the logs were of any service in the German military. Note destroyed, identification destroyed and that a German soldier fighting from the equipment destroyed. It was said to have beginning of the war had about a 70 percent landed Hitler before surrendering, although chance of surviving the war while the average the obviously white-washed reports from the U-boat sailor had a 10 percent chance of Argentinian government denied such things. surviving a single three month patrol by the Both subs were in bad shape when they closing months of the war. The subs that did arrived in Argentina and were eventually sunk not surrender were scuttled by the crews or by the Americans. captured by Allied elements. Of those 156 subs, 116 were sunk by the British off Ireland The U-234 was a Type X minelaying in an operation called “Operation Deadlight” in submarine carrying uranium oxide and plans Nov, 1945. Until then, they had been sitting at and engineers and diplomats to Japan, makeshift docks, exposed to the elements including two high ranking Japanese officers and being stripped for souvenirs. Some sunk when the surrender order came. The while be towed to the scuttling area, others commander, instead of trying to reach Japan, had to be blown up because they refused to decided to surrender to the Americans at sink. Efforts have been made to raise a Portsmouth, NH. In a dashing trip with much couple of them from time to time. excitement, he finally surrendered, and as he did, the two Japanese Right before the surrender officers shot themselves the U-534, a training rather than submit to sub, was sunk by capture. the British and was raised in Many other 1993 by a team submarines were who believed captured in place. she was filled The Type 21 sub with gold. U-2540, the most Instead, they advanced of its found a large class, was scuttled in quantities of relatively shallow water potatoes. and later raised by the post-war German Today, there are government and re-fit four German U- as a research vessel named “William Bauer” boats remaining as museums, as well as parts for the pioneering German sub inventor who of U-boats scattered around. The U-505 was developed a sub to attack Denmark in the captured by the Americans off Bermuda and 1800s. The sub is a museum ship now in Kiel now sits outside at the Museum of Science and tourists are still impressed by its and Industry in Chicago. One of the motors complexity and advanced design. Many of the was actually started in 2000. The U-995 sits techniques and designs were used by the US as a memorial and tourist attraction in Kiel in the development of the “Albacore” and while the U-2540, “William Bauer” is eventually the first nuclear sub “Nautilus” permanently moored at Bremerhaven and the U-534 is a rusting tourist attraction in About 156 U-boats surrendered to the Allies Birkenhead, England. The bow and torpedo after the war, almost 100 less than still existed tubes of a U-boat are used as a traffic guide - there were 236 U-boats operational or near- and memorial in L’Orient, France, where the operational at the time of surrender. Over 770 massive German sub pens still sit. had been sunk throughout the course of the war, meaning 75 percent of the crews were Rum Tub Page - 13 Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2020

Have a wonderful Festive Season Shipmates

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