Removal of 37mm Flak

[mylo]

Hey all,

In researching photos of some VIIc/41s, I found this one of U-1004. It looks to me as though this boat is preparing for an operational wartime patrol, yet, the 37mm Flak seems to be absent/removed. Is this the case ? If so, was it common to have the Flak guns removed.....maybe to increase underwater performance ?

The pic I'm referring to is #17 in this series of 20.

http://www.uboatnet.de/Fotoalbum/Fotoal ... _U1004.htm


Regards,

Mylo

[JWLaRue]

Mylo,

That looks to be a

Mylo,

That looks to be a photo of the commissioning ceremony for the U-1004. The caption translates (literally) to "the begin crew of he U-1004". It's quite reasonable to assume that the yard had not yet installed the gun(s). In fact, a later photo (#19) does show the gun place.

-Jeff

[mylo]

Jeff,

That raises a question

Jeff,

That raises a question for me:

Was it common to commission the boats BEFORE they were complete ? Why would they do that ? Does this boat (and crew) now sit around until some crew comes by to install the 37mm Flak ? , ...or did it happen that they would go on patrol without all their equipment on occasion ? This is the first photo I've seen with a Flak gun absent on a boat that appears operational. Why no Flak ? ....shortage ? ....they couldn't justify holding the U-boat up for the sake of it missing the 37mm Flak ?? Did it go on patrol without it ?

Thoughts ?

Mylo

[JWLaRue]

Mylo,

I think it *is* unusual

Mylo,

I think it *is* unusual for a boat to have been commissioned without everything in place. However.....

Photo #18 clearly shows the boat with a yellow (training school boat) stripe across the conning tower.....this ties into the start of her service career as part of the 31st (training) Flottille from 16 Dec 16, 1943 until July 31, 1944. I haven't seen much written specifically about Schuleboote (school boats), but perhaps deck guns were not installed on all boats?

-Jeff

[dougie995]

Hi guys,

As Jeff says, the

Hi guys,

As Jeff says, the photo shows U 1004 during the commissioning ceremony on the 16th December 1944. The 37mms began to be installed on U-boats around November and December 1943. Due to supply issues, the frontline boats were fitted first and it took some time before all boats received the 37mms. U 1004 was in training until July 1944 so there was plenty of time before the boat beame operational.

I've only seen one or two photos of commissioning ceremonies where the guns weren't in place. One example is U 1056 which didn't have a gun in the lower platform during its commissioning in late April 1944. Possibly this boat was still waiting for a 37mm too.

Schnorchels were another piece of equipment that took time to appear on U-boat due to supply issues. The fitting of them started in the winter of 1943/1944 but some boats had to wait a while before they received them. I can imagine that the commanders were desperate for them given the dangers they were facing on patrols.

Cheers,

Dougie

[JWLaRue]

..and I think this is

..and I think this is the first and only commissioning ceremony photo that I've seen where there was not a flag flying from the aft end of the Wintergarten....

-Jeff

[essayonsǃ]

The ensign was flown from

The ensign was flown from the higher platform with the 20mm's; this is the lower 37mm platform..