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 U-977 information?
Author: Patrick O'Connor (---.bay.webtv.net)
Date:   12-03-05 10:43

I just finished reading "U-Boat 977" by Heinz Shaeffer, the captain of that U-Boat.

The book is annoyingly vague in places (written in 1950, it covered materiual still then considered confidential). ut some of the information has raised some questions.

Shaeffer merrily mixes units of measurement (meters, yards, fathoms), but mentions at least twice that his earlier boat ( a Type VIIc) often operated at a depth of 100 fathoms- thats 600 feet! Was a Type VIIC U-Boat capable of this? Our fleet boats rarely went below 400 feet, IIRC [BTW, does anyone know the greatest depth a US fleet sub achieved during the war, and being able to return to reoport it?]

Along the same line Schaeffer says the record depth for a VIIC was 160 fathoms- that's 960 feet! I find this...debatable.

He mentions refueling U-977 from a "milch cow" tanker submarine, and that after the hoses had been passed and atached, both boats submerged and refueling went on underwater. Again, I have my doubts.

Parts of his story ring true- the 66-day underwater voyage using the "Snorter" as they tried to evade British antisubmarine forces after Germany surendured. They voyaged from Norway to Argentina after the end of the War...allegedly on 80 tons of fuel.

Any info woule be appreciated.
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 Topics Author  Date
 U-977 information?  new
Patrick O'Connor 12-03-05 10:43 
 Re: U-977 information?  new
Webmaster 12-03-05 11:26 
 Re: U-977 information?  new
Dan Odenweller 12-03-05 23:47 
 Re: U-977 information?  new
Dan Odenweller 12-03-05 23:49 
 Re: U-977 information?  new
Dan Odenweller 12-04-05 09:58 


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