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Flotten der Welt => Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine => Deutsche Kriegsmarine - Geschichte und Einsätze => Thema gestartet von: cam am 01 August 2019, 21:23:45

Titel: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: cam am 01 August 2019, 21:23:45
Hi,

Colleagues,
Please help me find out the details of the sinking of the Schnellboats S-178, -179 and -189, as well as R-97, on June 13, 1944 at Boulogne. I read that they were sunk by bombs or rockets by British planes. How did this happen?

cam
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: Richard Aigner am 02 August 2019, 06:49:52
rough translation from Hümmelchen "Schnellboote":the boats were returning from a mission. "Just outside the harbor at first one and 6 minutes later 6 more planes attacked. S 178 sank after taking hits. Commander and 16 sailors died...Constant attacks with bombs and rockets during rescue operations. All boats sustained hits. S 179 lost all engines, the aft part of the boat began to burn. The engines on S 189 could not be stopped, the burning boat tried to reach the coast. Another attack finished it off.... S 181 could save only 8 men.
S 179 managed to restart some engines at 5:30; they broke down again 30 minutes later. The engine room burned. S 181 towed S 179 under constant attacks by Beaufighters of RAF Squadron 143 and 236 to within 2 miles of Boulogne. .. in a renewed attack a bomb fell between S 179 and R 97 that was alongside, sinking the latter. Soon after the drifting, holed and burning S boat sank. 13 dead.
In sum 42 dead and 20 wounded from the S Boote.
hTH, Richard
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: cam am 02 August 2019, 20:19:34
Thanks Richard!!!  :TU:) :TU:) :TU:)

Is the start and end time of aircraft attacks known, and how far from Boulogne did they start?

cam
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: Richard Aigner am 03 August 2019, 08:49:09
Hümmelchen op cit p.174:
first attack: "..outside the harbor at 04:40 (13 June) an airplane attacked in BF3356 (=50° 26' N, 01° 25' O), followed by 6 more planes six minutes later......"
other coordinates and times given:
"S 189 sank in BF 3361 (= 50° 40' N, 01° 30' O)"
boats of 8. R-Flotille reached S 179 at 05:40
Richard
Would a scan be of use?
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: cam am 03 August 2019, 14:50:48
Zitat von: Richard Aigner am 03 August 2019, 08:49:09
Would a scan be of use?
Richard, thank you very much!  top top top top top top top top top top :TU:) :TU:) :TU:)
Is this information enough!

cam
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: Urs Heßling am 04 August 2019, 15:44:44
moin,

siehe KTB FdS 1.- 15. Juni 1944 (Auszug)

Gruß, Urs
Titel: Re: The tragedy of June 13, 1944 at Boulogne.
Beitrag von: cam am 04 August 2019, 19:43:12
Urs, very very thank you!  :MG: :MG: :MG: :MG: :MG: :MG:

cam