Dear All,
First of all my apologies but I don't write German (can read it a bit), so I'll have to make do with English. Hopefully this isn't too much of an issue.
I'm searching for more information on the U-Jager 2216 based in Genoa in 1944 and was sunk close by on September 13 or 14, 1944.
Base of my questions is that I'm a technical diver, having dived a number of times on this wreck I'm interested in it's history and would like to find out more. She didn't look like the typical uboot chasers, but I found out that she was a yacht before the war.
This is what I know so far and would like confirmed.
-Ordered by Rotschild family, and laid down at Shuttleworth Chapman, GB in 1884 (finished 1885). Baptised MV Eros.
- Conviscated by French Navy 1915. Serving a a patrol boat during WW1. (mainly Tunesia).
- Returned to owner in 1919.
- Reconviscated by French Navy in 1939 as P140? According to eu wrecksite she was at Le Havre and renamed as AD1996 to serve in Mediterranean.
- Bought by French Navy and renamed Incomprise II in 1942, based in Toulon.
- 27.11.1942, captured by Germany and put into service as UJ 2216. Part of UJagdflotille 22 based in Toulon.
-13-14/9/1944, escorting 2 minelayers to La Spezia when attacked by British torpedoboats which hit her at the stern, causing an explosion of ammunition sinking her. Crew swam to shore, others were rescued by a vessel coming to assistance from Sestri.
The above just from scrounching the internet, and no sources found nor checked.
Do you have any further information on this ship:
- Can you confirm the above?
- Are there more details on her sinking and which forces were involved?
- Is anything known on her commanding officer or crew?
- Anything known on the missions she carried out both as part of the German and French forces?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Best regards,
UJ 2216 escorted the landing barges MFP 2865 and 2922.
At 03:35 they met another small convoy which seemed to be shadowed by enemy torpedo boats.
When both convoys met the torpedo boats attacked. UJ 2216 was hit aft and sank within 15 seconds.
I attach a detailed action report and a comment by the flotilla commander. Everything in german of course.
moin,
Zitat von: beester am 20 Juni 2016, 16:05:42
- Are there more details on her sinking and which forces were involved?
Ein wirklich "alliiertes" Team
https://books.google.de/books?id=IbdvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PR194&lpg=PR194&dq=uj+2216+sunk&source=bl&ots=DneL6IHjTQ&sig=R7glWozCAKG9vNtGKJVQoMRL3uU&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEiKfEmbfNAhXJEiwKHQSQCCMQ6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q=uj%202216%20sunk&f=false
Gruß, Urs
There were a number of Rothschild-yachts named "Eros", but this one was neither built in 1884/85 not served in WW I.
In fact she was built in 1926 by Ramage & Ferguson, Leith.
She was hired by the French Navy first as auxiliary minesweeper "AD. 196", then as patrouilleur "P 140.
The book U-Boot-Jagd im Mittelmeer has her story and several photos both during outfit and in service. :-)
Hello everybody,
Thank you for all the detailed answers so far. I wasn't expecting this, big hats off to you all.
Specifically for the after action report. What a source I'll attempt to get it translated.
I'll also check the book U-boot jagd in mittelmeer.
I've dived on her and she's an interesting wreck. In comparison to other UJ wrecks I've seen she seems much more agile. Also lying directly on her keel and the bow being intact makes for a very very nice dive. The front AA cannons are very nice (20mm), there are a lot of machinegun points on the sides of the ship, funnel is gone, back another AA gun and after destroyed with a lot of debris (gun shells, depth charges, etc).
After the transfer from the French Navy to the kriegsmarine any info on what changes were made? (looking at the pictures on the eu.wrecksite both not from same pov she must have been significantly altered).
Again much appreciated on what you've found. I'm very surprised I got such detailed and fast reaction.
Kudos
Beester
Main differences were the cutting down of the stern, the removing of the second mast and the addition of the weapons.
Here for comparison from my collection a picture taken at Toulon after the German occupation.
Hallo!
Berichte und Fotos betreffend UJ 2216 sind auch in einer von mir erstellten PDF-Datei (Größe ca. 4,5 MB) zu finden (für den in den Seiten integrierten störenden "Schutz" bitte ich um Verständnis, ich habe schon zu viele schlechte Erfahrungen gemacht...). Siehe
http://www.manfred-krellenberg.de/40742.html
(ganz unten, Foto von UJ 2216 anklicken)
Liebe Grüße
Manfred Krellenberg
Danke, Manfred, super.
Dear Manfred thank you very much for your information. Much appreciated. I'll include all sources of course and people who have helped in my report and will post a link on this forum to it.
I've bought the Ujagd in Mittelmeer book, some nice pictures in it and interesting story about Ujagd Flotilla 22 (although a bit tough reading for me in German).
"At Close Quarters, PT boats in the US Navy" by Capt. Robert J BULK, 1962, mentions in its sources the AAR report of RON29 (based in Bastia in 1944) on this attack.
Attack carried out by joined taskforce comprising of USN Elco PT 559, and RN MTB 423 and 375. Commanding officer RN LT. A.C. BLOMFIELD and USRN LT. ROBERT NAGLE.
Manfred could you let me know if I can use some of your pictures/research in my diving report? Of course with mentioning you as source and researcher?
Best regards,
Hello @beester
I have sent you a private message
Greetings
Manfred
Zitat von: beester am 06 Juli 2016, 19:38:26
Dear Manfred thank you very much for your information. Much appreciated. I'll include all sources of course and people who have helped in my report and will post a link on this forum to it.
I've bought the Ujagd in Mittelmeer book, some nice pictures in it and interesting story about Ujagd Flotilla 22 (although a bit tough reading for me in German).
"At Close Quarters, PT boats in the US Navy" by Capt. Robert J BULK, 1962, mentions in its sources the AAR report of RON29 (based in Bastia in 1944) on this attack.
Attack carried out by joined taskforce comprising of USN Elco PT 559, and RN MTB 423 and 375. Commanding officer RN LT. A.C. BLOMFIELD and USRN LT. ROBERT NAGLE.
Manfred could you let me know if I can use some of your pictures/research in my diving report? Of course with mentioning you as source and researcher?
Best regards,
Ganz unten auf der Seite
http://www.manfred-krellenberg.de/40742.html
habe ich eine PDF-Datei betreffend UJ 2216 eingestellt. Bei Interesse auf das Bild klicken zum Herunterladen der 12 MB großen Datei (Verwendung nur für private Zwecke, keine Wiedergabe - auch einzelner Fotos - in öffentlichen Medien zulässig)
Liebe Grüße und Euch allen ein schönes Wochenende
Gruß
Manfred Krellenberg
danke Manfred,
sehr interessant.
Gruß Hastei
Betreffend UJ 2216 ist im Gröner-Band 8/2 auf Seite 402 von ex L´Incomprise II die Rede. In den meisten anderen Publikationen im Web fehlt die Angabe "II" und steht nur L´Incomprise oder Incomprise. Was ist nun richtig, weiß das einer?
Ich habe hier etwas im Web gefunden, das ich allerdings nicht verstehe, da meine sprachlichen Franz.-Kenntnisse zwischenzeitlich wieder bei nahezu "null" sind.
http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pages1418/Forum-Pages-d-Histoire-aviation-marine/marine-1914-1918/yacht-eros-sujet_1060_1.htm
Manfred
moin, Manfred,
da steht es (wiewohl, da aus dem web, keine belastbare Quelle)
28.07.1942 : acheté par la Marine qui le renomme Incomprise II
28.07.1942 : von der Marine (an)gekauft, die sie [das Schiff] umbenennt in Incomprise II
Gruß, Urs
Danke, Urs :MG: