Facebook find: Surrendering U-Boat officer hits head on Royal Sailing Frigate

[Lord_Slayer]

In 1945, the HMS Unicorn, was the HQ ship for a Submarine base in Dundee. The Unicorn was a frigate built for the Napoleonic wars, but was launched when the wars ended, and laid up in ordinary.

On May 14th, 1945, the officers of U-2326 surrendered onboard the Unicorn. Afterwards when disembarking, one of the Officers smacked his head on part of the gangplank.

 

[Wolfswetpaws]

At least they survived the war.

Edited June 9 by Wolfswetpaws

[Efros]

Out of 41,000 German submariners, 30,000 were killed 5,000 were captured and 6,000 survived the war without capture. Highest casualty rates of any of the German services.

[Project45_Opytny]

42 minutes ago, Efros said:

Out of 41,000 German submariners, 30,000 were killed 5,000 were captured and 6,000 survived the war without capture. Highest casualty rates of any of the German services.

I recall that I've read from an E-book about German U-boats. Despite considerable time was used to teach the submariners about underwater escaping technique in their training courses, in reality it has little use anyway: a submarine stricken when submerged is very likely going to be lost with all of her crew, and even if a submarine is sailing on the surface, for German submariners, other than in coastal European waters, chances for rescue from friendly forces was also minimal due to both adverse environment of the seas and Allied control of the sea.

There were battle reports that stated allied patrol aircraft or surface escort ship witnessed German crew evacuating from their stricken U-boat onto life rafts, only to succumb to starvation and thirst before Allied or German search-rescue effort could locate them again. I feel that for those perished in this fashion, they would prefer being killed instantly than slowly dying in false hope.

3 hours ago, Lord_Slayer said:

In 1945, the HMS Unicorn, was the HQ ship for a Submarine base in Dundee. The Unicorn was a frigate built for the Napoleonic wars, but was launched when the wars ended, and laid up in ordinary.

This ship museum was interviewed a few years ago as a part of the "Longest Night of Museum" programme of that year (I forget about the exact year though). It is claimed that this HMS Unicorn is the only wooden sailing ship to accept a surrender from an enemy submarine.