U - Boat to FAr East in World War II

[Silent_Hunter]

Unterseeboot 537
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Unterseeboot 537 (U-537) was a Type IXC/40 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down on 10 April 1942 by Deutsche Werft AG in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 27 January 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Peter Schrewe in command. Schrewe commanded the boat for nearly two years, until her loss.

U-537 conducted three patrols, but other than surviving to reach the Far East, she had no success whatsoever. On 9 November 1944 in the Java Sea east of Surabaya, U-537 was sunk with all hands -- 58 officers and men -- by torpedoes from USS Flounder (SS-251)".

[Lurps]

Yes, the monsuun boats. Some of them actually moved to Japan after the armistace in Europe. There were Italians also, interestingly the last US plane to be shot down in the pacific was by Italians in a Japanese port.

[CRAZY MERC]

Could you name a source? I'd like to read more about it.

[Lurps]

Ive lost the link telling about the boat, wich i think was named Comandant Capellini. It was an interwiew with one crew member that had stayed in Japan after the war and was still living there. Hope someone will find it.

[Silent_Hunter]

http://uboat.net/ops/monsun3.htm (http://uboat.net/ops/monsun3.htm)


The idea of stationing German U-boats in Penang or Sabang for operations in the Indian Ocean was first proposed by the Japanese in December 1942. As no supplies were available at either location the idea was turned down (although a number of U-cruisers from the first wave operated around the Cape at the time).

The idea was raised again in the spring 1943. Additionally, the Japanese requested 2 U-boats to be handed over for copying. Although Doenitz saw no point in such a handover, it was decided to give a type IXC boat.

As long as targets were available in the Atlantic, Doenitz considered sending U-boats on a large scale to the Far East as unprofitable. However, on 5 April, 1943 it was decided to send U-178 to Penang to establish the naval base there. U-511 sailed soon after to be eventually given to the Japanese in return for rubber:

boat: U-511
commander: Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind
sailed: France 10/05/43
returned: Kure 7/08/43

It is also reported that U-511 arrived at Penang around 17 July, 1943 as the first German U-boat to enter the base (before U-178).

U-511 scored some success while on the passage to Japan. The boat carried Vice-Admiral Nomura (the Japanese Naval Attache) and in September 1943 was recommissioned as RO-500. U-511's crew was to be a spare crew for the boats which were later to operate from the Japanese-held bases.

After the May 1943 crisis it was decided to look for less strongly defended areas and the idea of sending boats to the Far East was finally approved. Indian Ocean was the only region with almost peace-time shipping arrangement and still with U-boats radius of action.

As the result arrangements were made to replenish U-cruisers still operating around the Cape and to send a new wave of boats for the attack in the Arabian Sea. The latter was scheduled for the end of September 1943 - right after the monsoon period. Because of this the group was named Monsun. The group was to sail in June 1943 at the latest.

3.2 The first wave of Monsun boats

9 type IXC and 2 type IXD/2 boats were scheduled for the attack in the Arabian Sea and sailed as group Monsun:

(boat; commander; sailed; returned)
U-200; Kptlt. Heinrich Schoder; Norway 11/06/43; sunk 24/06/43
U-188; Kptlt. Siegfried Ludden; France 30/06/43; Penang 31/10/43
U-168; Kptlt. Helmuth Pich; France 3/07/43; Penang 11/11/43
U-509; Kptlt. Werner Witte; France 3/07/43; sunk 15/07/43
U-514; Kptlt. Hans-Jurgen Auffermann; France 3/07/43; sunk 8/07/43
U-532; Frgkpt. Ottoheinrich Junker; France 3/07/43; Penang 31/10/43
U-183; Krvkpt. Heinrich Schafer; France 07/43; Penang 27/10/43
U-506; Kptlt. Erich Wurdemann; France 6/07/43; sunk 12/07/43
U-533;; Kptlt. Helmut Hennig; France 6/07/43; sunk 16/10/43
U-516 Kptlt. Hans-Rutger Tillessen; France 8/07/43; France 23/08/43
U-847; Kptlt. Herbert Kuppish; Norway 29/07/43 sunk 27/08/43

Initially U-462 was assigned to the group for refuelling some 300 miles east of St Paul's Rock. A second replenishment was scheduled south of Mauritius from a surface tanker. However, U-462 did not break through the Bay of Biscay in 2 attempts being damaged by aircraft and returned for long repairs on 6/07/43. As most of the Monsun boats were already on the way another tanker, U-487 was assigned but she was sunk on 13 July, 1943 without refuelling Monsun boats.
U-200 was sunk south-west of Iceland while on the outward passage on 24 June, 1943. While in transit U-514 was sunk on 8/07/43, U-506 was sunk on 12/07/43 and U-509 on 15/07/43 - all by aircraft.

After the massacre of U-tankers in the summer 1943 emergency fuelling arrangements were needed for U-boats concentrated around the Azores (including Monsun boats).

It was decided to replenish Monsun boats by employing type IXC boats: U-155 and U-160. U-160 was initially diverted to transfer fuel to U-487 (which was short on fuel after numerous refuelling) but arrived too late and was sunk on 14/07/43 - a day after U-487. Eventually U-516 of the Monsun boats was diverted on emergency refuelling duties. The refuelling of the remaining Monsun boats took place 600 miles WNW of Cape Verde Islands between 21/07 and 27/07/43. U-155 transferred fuel to U-183, U-188 and U-168 while U-516 refuelled U-532 and U-533. Both boats came back to France in August 1943.

U-847 was damaged by ice in the Denmark Strait headed for France but it was decided to use her as a tanker. Between 12/08 and 24/08/43 she refuelled the following boats: U-66, U-415, U-230, U-653, U-257, U-172 and U-508. U-847 was a rather inexperienced boat on her first was cruise (having only sailed from Germany to Norway 6/07 - 20/07/43). An excessive use of radio was reported by commanders of refuelled boats. U-847 was sunk by aircraft on 27 Aug, 1943.

Of the initial 11 Monsun U-boats 4 were destroyed in transit and 2 diverted on emergency refuelling duties (1 of which sunk) so effectively only 5 boats managed to break through: U-168, U-183, U-188, U-532 and U-533. They reached the Indian Ocean without further trouble. Between 11/09 and 13/09/43 they took on fuel from the surface tanker Brake, sent from Penang. The rendezvous took place 450 miles south of Mauritius without incident. Meanwhile the Japanese already started operating in the Arabian Sea (August 1943) and certain arrangements were made to avoid incidents between U-boats and Japanese submarines (attacks on other submarines strictly forbidden). Eventually the Monsun boats were allocated as follows:

U-168 off Bombay (sank 1 ship)
U-183 between Seychelles and the African Coast
U-188 Gulf of Oman (sank 3 ships, also convoy attack)
U-532 south and west coast of India (sank 5 ships)
U-533 Gulf of Aden (lost there)

U-188 experienced torpedo failures due to the hot climate affecting torpedo batteries. All the remaining 4 Monsun boats (after the loss of U-533) entered Penang by the beginning of November 1943. The commanders of U-168 and U-183 had been affected by the strain of the long voyage and the commander of U-183 was later replaced by Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind of U-511.


3.3 Further Monsun operations

After sending the first wave of Monsun boats it was decided to send further boats to make up for the loses of the first wave:

U-219; Krvkpt. Walter Burghagen; Norway 22/10/43; France 1/01/44
U-510; Kptlt. Alfred Eick France; 3/11/43; Penang 5/04/44
U-848; Krvkpt. Wilhelm Rollman; Germany 18/09/43; sunk 5/11/43
U-849; Kptlt. Heinz-Otto Schultze; Germany 2/10/43; sunk 25/11/43
U-850; Krvkpt. Klaus Ewerth; Germany 18/11/43; sunk 20/12/43

U-219 was due to lay mines off Cape Town and Colombo but was recalled as a tanker. U-848 and U-849 were destroyed off Ascension while U-850 off the Azores - all by aircraft. U-510 refuelled from U-219 and reached the Indian Ocean where in February and March 1944 she scored hits.
While in the Indian Ocean U-510 joined the boats operating from Penang:

U-178; Kptlt. Wilhelm Spahr; Penang 27/11/43; France 24/05/44
U-532; Frgkpt. Ottoheinrich Junker; Penang 4/01/44; Penang 19/04/44
U-188; Kptlt. Siegfried Ludden; Penang 9/01/44; France 19/06/44
U-168; Kptlt. Helmuth Pich; Penang 7/02/44; Jakarta 24/03/44
U-183; Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind; Penang 10/02/44; Penang 21/03/44

The first boat to operate from Penang was U-178, later joined by 4 Monsun boats and U-510 coming from France. U-178 and U-510 refuelled from the surface tanker Charlotte Schliemann on 28 Jan, 1944 stationed 100 miles south-east of Mauritius. U-510 achieved some success in the Indian Ocean. She attacked convoy PA-69 on 23 Feb, 1944 in the Gulf of Aden and scored hits.

The size of Penang flotilla was limited to 5 U-boats due to the dockyard capacity. The Monsun boats were so short of torpedoes that U-532, U-188 and U-183 were ordered to embark strategic materials and come home via the patrol areas in the Indian Ocean.

U-532 was also to refuel from Charlotte Schliemann but bad weather prevented that on 11 Feb, 1944 when 950 miles east of Madagascar. The tanker was then detected by the Allied while refueling U-532 and forced to scuttle. 41 survivors were captured by the British destroyer HMS Relentless and others rescued by U-532. She later was under depth-charge attacks for 3 days.

U-178 transferred some fuel to U-532 on 26 Feb, 1944 and left for France. U-178 was later attacked by aircraft on 8 March, 1944 off the Cape of Good Hope but survived. She was later to meet the eastbound transport UIT-22 but the latter was sunk by aircraft on 11 March, 1944. She arrived at Bordeaux, France with engines almost out of order.

The remaining 5 boats (4 Monsun from Penang and U-510) carried on operations. Another refuelling was scheduled from the tanker Brake in March 1944. This time U-532, U-188 and U-168 searched the area for some time before. On 12/03/44 U-188 and U-532 refuelled but bad weather again interrupted the operation. Later during the day Brake was detected and forced to scuttle. The survivors were rescued by U-168. The boats had to share fuel among themselves. Eventually U-168, U-532 and U-183 were forced to stay in the Far East due to the fuel shortage. Only U-188 could proceed back to Europe where she was paid off.

3.4 More boats sent to the Far East

One of the reasons for disappointing results was the quality and quantity of torpedoes available at Penang. They were derived from German armed merchant cruisers and blockade-runners and suffered badly from the long storage in the tropics. To make up for this special torpedo transports of type VIIF were sent with torpedoes and spares. Also further operational boats were systematically sent to the Far East:

U-177; Kptlt. Heinz Buchholz; France 2/01/44; sunk 6/02/44
U-1062; Oblt. Karl Albrecht; Bergen 3/01/44; Penang 19/04/44
U-852; Kptlt. Heinz-Wilhelm Eck; Kiel 18/01/44; sunk 3/04/44
U-1059; Oblt. Güter Leupold; Norway 12/02/44; sunk 19/03/44
U-843; Kptlt. Oskar Herwartz; France 19/02/44; Jakarta 11/06/44
U-801; Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Brans; France 26/02/44; sunk 16/03/44
U-851; Krvkpt. Hannes Weingärtner; France 26/02/44; sunk 03/44
U-181; Frgkpt. Kurt Freiwald; France 16/03/44; Penang 8/08/44
U-196; Krvkpt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat; France 16/03/44; Penang 10/08/44
U-537; Kptlt. Peter Schrewe; France 25/03/44; Jakarta 2/08/44
U-859; Kptlt. Johann Jebsen; Kiel 4/04/44; sunk 23/09/44
U-860; Frgkpt. Paul Buchel; Kiel 11/04/44; sunk 15/06/44
U-198; Oblt. Burkhard Heusinger v. Waldegg; France 20/04/44; sunk 12/08/44
U-861; Kptlt. Jürgen Oesten; Kiel 20/04/44; Penang 22/09/44
U-490; Oblt. Wilhelm Gerlach; Norway 6/05/44; sunk 12/06/44
U-862; Kptlt. Heinrich Timm; Norway 3/06/44; Penang 9/09/44
U-863; Kptlt. Dietrich von der Esch; Norway 26/07/44; sunk 29/09/44
U-180; Oblt. Rolf Riesen; France 20/08/44 sunk; 22/08/44
U-195; Oblt. Friedrich Steinfeldt; France 20/08/44; Jakarta 28/12/44
U-219; Krvkpt. Walter Burghagen; France 23/08/44; Jakarta 11/12/44
U-871; Kptlt. Erwin Ganzer ;Norway 31/08/44; sunk 26/09/44
U-864; Krvkpt. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram ;Bergen 5/02/45; sunk 9/02/45
U-234; Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler; 1/04/45; surrendered

U-852 sank the Greek ship Peleus on 13/03/44 and survivors were machine-gunned in the water. The commander and officers of U-852 were later captured and after a trial sentenced to death. This was the only proven case of machine-gunning survivors by a German U-boat.
Not all the boats were equipped with schnorkel. Those equipped include: U-180, U-195, U-219, U-863, U-864, U-234.

U-198 reached the Indian Ocean, scored some hits but was sunk by A/S vessels with aircraft assistance. U-859 also survived the Atlantic passage and the Indian Ocean patrol where she scored hits but was sunk by a British submarine off Penang.

U-843 was damaged by aircraft in the Atlantic but reached Penang.

U-859 was torpedoed by an Allied submarine off Penang after a 6 month patrol when she scored hits.

U-180 and U-195 were the only type IXD/1 boats with unreliable experimental fast-running diesel engines. They were completely converted to transports with new diesels. Together with U-219, a minelayer also adapted as a transport, they sailed as a part of the evacuation from French ports. They were bound for the Far East. U-180 was mined but the others reached Jakarta.

U-490 was sent to the Far East to make up for the loss of supply ships in the Indian Ocean.

U-861 initially operated off the Brazilian coast.

U-537 was refuelled by U-183 around 25/06/44.

Of the boats listed above U-852, U-198, U-181, U-537, U-196, U-862, U-861 and U-859 scored hits. The sinkings in the Indian Ocean started on 1/04/44 and ceased in September 1944 when all the boats were either in port or destroyed. The peak moment came in July and August 1944.

It can be seen that the effort was gradually shifted from combat missions to transport missions. Some of the boats were even permanently converted to transports like U-180, U-195, U-219, U-234 and others. How important the transport missions were can be judged from the fact that even in the spring 1945 U-boats were still sailing to the Far East. Some of them with interesting cargoes indeed - like well-known U-234. U-874 and U-875 were loading some 170 tons of mercury, lead and optical glass but never left European waters.

3.5 Operations from Penang

Very few patrols with the intention to return back to the Far East bases were attempted by the Monsun boats. U-168, U-183 and U-532 all made a patrol early in 1944 but in fact U-183 and U-532 were intended to sail to Europe. Further actions include:

U-183; Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind; Penang 17/05/44; Penang 7/07/44
U-181; Frgkpt. Kurt Freiwald; Penang 19/10/44; Jakarta 5/01/45
U-862;Krvkpt. Heinrich Timm; Jakarta 18/11/44; Jakarta 15/02/45

U-183 operated off the south coast of India. Around 25 June, 1944 she refuelled eastbound U-537. She sank just 1 ship. U-181 sank 1 ship (and arrived at Penang according to the evacuation orders given meanwhile to the Far East U-boat flotilla.

U-862 operated in the Pacific off Australia and actually penetrated Sydney harbour and sank the 7180-ton American steamer Robert J. Walker of 160-miles of the Australian coast on 24 Dec, 1944. U-862 was the only U-boat to operate in the Pacific.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=19476&highlight=java (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=19476&highlight=java)

[Silent_Hunter]

What U-bOat to Far East during World War II carry the New German Technology to Japan

[Silent_Hunter]

Unterseeboot 859
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

U-859 was a long range type IXD2 U-boat belonging to the third Monsun Gruppe. She sailed from Kiel in April 1944 under the command of Korvetten Kapitan J Jebsen. En route she sank three ships in the Indian Ocean including the Liberty Ship, John Barry in the Arabian Sea. John Barry was allegedly involved with shipment of lend lease to Russia via Persia.

Nearing Penang Island in the Straits of Malacca, she was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Trenchant. Her cargo included mercury and may have also involved Uranium-oxide bound for Japan. Between 1969 and 1974 the West German Government used the "Flex LD" deep sea recovery vessel to recover her wreck and ship the U-859 back to Germany. Flex LD had a shaddowy association with CIA activity. 11 of U-859's crew managed to escape from her on the seabed and swim to the surface after her sinking in September 1944.

[Silent_Hunter]

Do you have information about U-Boat Operation in Indonesian Water during World War II

[Kilgor]

You should post more about U-234

[Silent_Hunter]

Kehadiran Nazi di Indonesia yang Terlupakan BERKECAMUKNYA Perang Dunia II Teater Asia-Pasifik, yang terjadi di Indonesia, diwarnai kehadiran pasukan Nazi Jerman. Aksi mereka dilakukan usai menyerahnya Belanda kepada Jepang di Kalijati, Subang, 8 Maret tahun 1942, atau 64 tahun silam. Namun, kehadiran Nazi Jerman ke Indonesia seakan terlupakan dalam sejarah perjuangan bangsa Indonesia.
Kehadiran pasukan Nazi Jerman di Indonesia, secara umum melalui aksi sejumlah kapal selam (u-boat/u-boote) di Samudra Hindia, Laut Jawa, Selat Sunda, Selat Malaka, pada kurun waktu tahun 1943-1945. Sebanyak 23 u-boat mondar-mandir di perairan Indonesia, Malaysia, dan Australia, dengan pangkalan bersama Jepang, di Jakarta, Sabang, dan Penang, yang diberangkatkan dari daerah pendudukan di Brest dan Bordeaux (Prancis) Januari-Juni 1943.
Beroperasinya sejumlah u-boat di kawasan Timur Jauh, merupakan perintah Fuehrer Adolf Hitler kepada Panglima Angkatan Laut Jerman (Kriegsmarine), Admiral Karl Doenitz. Tujuannya, membuka blokade lawan, juga membawa mesin presisi, mesin pesawat terbang, serta berbagai peralatan industri lainnya, yang dibutuhkan ”kawan sejawatnya”, Jepang yang sedang menduduki Indonesia dan Malaysia. Sepulangnya dari sana, berbagai kapal selam itu bertugas mengawal kapal yang membawa ”oleh-oleh” dari Indonesia dan Malaysia, hasil perkebunan berupa karet alam, kina, serat-seratan, dll., untuk keperluan industri perang Jerman di Eropa.
Pada awalnya, kapal selam Jerman yang ditugaskan ke Samudra Hindia dengan tujuan awal ke Penang berjumlah 15 buah, terdiri U-177, U-196, U-198, U-852, U-859, U-860, U-861, U-863, dan U-871 (semuanya dari Type IXD2), U-510, U-537, U-843 (Type IXC), U-1059 dan U-1062 (Type VIIF). Jumlahnya kemudian bertambah dengan kehadiran U-862 (Type IXD2), yang pindah pangkalan ke Jakarta.
Ini disusul U-195 (Type IXD1) dan U-219 (Type XB), yang mulai menggunakan Jakarta sebagai pangkalan pada Januari 1945. Sejak itu, berduyun-duyun kapal selam Jerman lainnya yang masih berpangkalan di Penang dan Sabang ikut pindah pangkalan ke Jakarta, sehingga Jepang kemudian memindahkan kapal selamnya ke Surabaya.
Adalah U-862 yang dikomandani Heinrich Timm, yang tercatat paling sukses beraksi di wilayah Indonesia. Berangkat dari Jakarta dan kemudian selamat pulang ke tempat asal, untuk menenggelamkan kapal Sekutu di Samudra Hindia, Laut Jawa, sampai Pantai Australia.
Nasib sial nyaris dialami U-862 saat bertugas di permukaan wilayah Samudra Hindia. Gara-gara melakukan manuver yang salah, kapal selam itu nyaris mengalami ”senjata makan tuan”, dari sebuah torpedo jenis homming akustik T5/G7 Zaunkving yang diluncurkannya. Untungnya, U-862 buru-buru menyelam secara darurat, sehingga torpedo itu kemudian meleset.
Usai Jerman menyerah kepada pasukan Sekutu, 6 Mei 1945, U-862 pindah pangkalan dari Jakarta ke Singapura. Pada Juli 1945, U-862 dihibahkan kepada AL Jepang, dan berganti kode menjadi I-502. Jepang kemudian menyerah kepada Sekutu, Agustus tahun yang sama. Riwayat U-862 berakhir 13 Februari 1946 karena dihancurkan pasukan Sekutu di Singapura. Para awak U-862 sendiri semuanya selamat dan kembali ke tanah air mereka beberapa tahun usai perang.
Dilindungi pribumi
Usai Jerman menyerah kepada Sekutu di Eropa pada 8 Mei 1945, berbagai kapal selam yang masih berfungsi, kemudian dihibahkan kepada AL Jepang untuk kemudian dipergunakan lagi, sampai akhirnya Jepang takluk pada 15 Agustus 1945 usai dibom nuklir oleh Amerika.
Setelah peristiwa itu, sejumlah tentara Jerman yang ada di Indonesia menjadi luntang-lantung tidak punya kerjaan. Orang-orang Jerman mengambil inisiatif agar dapat dikenali pejuang Indonesia dan tidak keliru disangka orang Belanda. Caranya, mereka membuat tanda atribut yang diambil dari seragamnya dengan menggunakan lambang Elang Negara Jerman pada bagian lengan baju mereka.
Para tentara Jerman yang tadinya berpangkalan di Jakarta dan Surabaya, pindah bermukim ke Perkebunan Cikopo, Kec. Megamendung, Kab. Bogor. Mereka semua kemudian menanggalkan seragam mereka dan hidup sebagai ”warga sipil” di sana.
Pengamat sejarah militer Jerman di Indonesia, Herwig Zahorka, mengisahkan, pada awal September 1945 sebuah Resimen Ghurka-Inggris di bawah komandan perwira asal Skotlandia datang ke Pulau Jawa. Mereka kaget menemukan tentara Jerman di Perkebunan Cikopo.
Sang komandan bertanya kepada Mayor Angkatan Laut Jerman, Burghagen yang menjadi kokolot di sana, untuk mencari tempat penampungan di Bogor.
Menggunakan 50 truk eks pasukan Jepang, orang-orang Jerman di Perkebunan Cikopo itu dipindahkan ke tempat penampungan di Bogor. Namun mereka harus kembali mengenakan seragam mereka, memegang senjata yang disediakan pasukan Inggris, untuk melindungi tempat penampungan yang semula ditempati orang-orang Belanda.
Saat itu, menurut dia, di tempat penampungan banyak orang Belanda yang mengeluh, karena mereka ”dijaga” oleh orang Jerman. ”Pada malam hari pertama menginap, langsung terjadi saling tembak namun tak ada korban. Ternyata, orang-orang Indonesia menyangka orang Jerman telah tertangkap oleh pasukan Sekutu, dan mereka berusaha membebaskan orang-orang Jerman itu,” kata Zahorka.
Setelah peristiwa itu, Inggris menyerahkan sekira 260 tentara Jerman kepada Belanda yang kemudian ditawan di Pulau Onrust, Kepulauan Seribu.
Tercatat pula, beberapa tentara Jerman melarikan diri dari Pulau Onrust, dengan berenang menyeberang ke pulau lain. Di antaranya, pilot pesawat angkatan laut bernama Werner dan sahabatnya Lvsche dari U-219.
Selama pelarian, mereka bergabung dengan pejuang kemerdekaan Indonesia di Pulau Jawa, bekerja sama melawan Belanda yang ingin kembali menjajah. Lvsche kemudian meninggal, konon akibat kecelakaan saat merakit pelontar api. (Kodar Solihat/”PR”)***

[Silent_Hunter]

Do yo have information about Operation Monsun