WesWorld

Damn, must add Grmany to gift list!

Transradio Press Service, Tuesday, 16 September 1941

Speaking to reporters at the weekly Ministry press briefing, Foreign Minister Heinrich Bruning commented on the recently concluded elections in Indochina.

“The Government is pleased at the result of the democratic process. France’s willingness to allow the people of Indochina to express their will on who shall govern them is a sign of the trust it has in its Indochinese citizens, and the results suggest that the people of Indochina also trust the democratic process. Herr Truong Van Bao is an ardent proponent of independence for Indochina; yet the majority of members elected to the governing council represent the party of continued relations with France. The Government hopes that all parties will continue to work together for the future and that the planned plebiscite to decide Indochina’s future will not be marred by the attacks of those radicals who would subvert the electoral process in favor of the gun.”

“France should be commended for its enlightened colonial policy. In the Levant, it has allowed the populace there to unite with France or to join an independent Syria, which moves forward day-by-day within the community of nations, and serves as an example of what can be done in fulfillment of League of Nation mandates over former colonial territories. The Government hopes that France will continue to be guided by the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, and will work with the nations of Europe to assure peace and prosperity for all the world.”

Berliner Morgenpost, Thursday, 18 September 1941

Lufthansa has announced that it has placed an order for twelve examples of the Junkers Ju390A four-engine long-range airliner. The airline plans to introduce the new aircraft on new trans-Atlantic services from Berlin to New York with technical stops in Shannon, Ireland, and St. Johans, Vinland, to be followed by its introduction on other long-range routes.


Rheinische Post, Friday, 19 September 1941

The Defence Ministry confirmed yesterday that the Luftwaffe has withdrawn from service several of its older training types, including the Arado Ar68, the Dornier Do23, the Heinkel He51 and the Henschel Hs123. These former operational types had been kept in service for training new generations of pilots; however, they are now surplus to requirements and are to be scrapped.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Saturday, 20 September 1941

A prototype of the Focke Wulf Fw190F ground-attack fighter has been delivered to the Luftwaffe testing station at Rechlin-Lärz aerodrome.


Kieler Nachrichten, Sunday, 21 September 1941

The cruiser Breslau has completed its refit and departed for trials in the Baltic. Her sister-ship Kiel is expected to begin refitting next month. The advanced base ship Moon-Sund has also completed its conversion and is beginning trials.

Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 22 September 1941

The Army Armaments Office has issued a contract to the Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Neuhausen for the purchase of its SK-42 infantry carbine for issue to the Heer’s mountain troops. In Heer service the new weapon will be designated the G5 rifle. It is expected that a licence for the weapon will be acquired but a spokesman indicated that, in view of the Heer’s immediate requirements, an initial twenty-thousand rifles will be procured directly from SIG, with deliveries commencing next year.


Nürnberger Nachrichten, Tuesday, 23 September 1941

The prototype Bf109Z twin-engine fighter aircraft made its first flight today at the Bayerischen Flugzeugwerke Augsburg-Haunstetten works. The privately-funded aircraft features the fuselages of two Bf109 fighters joined by a common wing and tailplane. Representatives of the Luftwaffe were present for the first flights, which were carried out satisfactorily; however, there was no indication that the type would be officially adopted. Company spokesmen did indicate BFW’s confidence in the design and stated that two additional prototypes would be funded by the company.


Oberösterreichische Rundschau, Wednesday, 24 September 1941

Süddeutsche Zuckerfabriken AG has reported that it has acquired a minority position in the Czechoslovak firm Rafinerie cukru v Krasnem Brezno to support the firm’s entry into the Czech market.


Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Thursday, 25 September 1941

The staff of the Intervention Force Division (Division Eingreifkräfte) has been activated at the Prinz Eugen Kaserne, München. Formerly the divisional staff of the Sixth Mountain Division the Intervention Force Division will control a variety of force elements intended for quick deployment abroad if so required. Generalmajor Max Sümmermann has been named to command the new formation.

The Baltic Sea, off Rügen, Saturday, 27 September 1941

Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien looked through the periscope of Unterseeboot 47 one last time to check the range and bearing to their target; the target ship Zahringen had not changed course and their firing solution was correct.

“Prepare to launch torpedoes… Three, two, one… Launch torpedo!” he ordered. The sound of the first tube firing echoed through the submarine. “Tube two – Launch torpedo!”

Through the periscope Prien watched the tracks of the torpedoes head toward the target ship… all appeared well, but suddenly the second torpedo’s track veered to starboard, and Prien lost sight of it. He turned to the men from the Bodenseewerke and cursed, “One of your toys has malfunctioned!”

The hydrophone officer reported that their first torpedo had locked on its proper target, the Zahringen; the other was circling, seeking a target.

“We have no idea Herr Kapitänleutnant,” said the one engineer. “We never had a malfunction in tests before.”

The hydrophone officer reported that the second torpedo had acquired a target – and was homing on the sound of the U-boat’s own engines.

“Emergency surface!” Prien ordered. “If we have to take damage I want to take it on the surface.”

The ballast tanks of the U-boat were blown and the boat shot towards the surface. Seconds later the misdirected torpedo struck them with a dull thunk, releasing a bright red marker dye. Prien noted the fact that his outer hull had been dented, but thankfully the practice torpedo had done no real damage.

With their boat now surfaced the crew tended to the damage inflicted on the U-47. The signals officer passed along a message from the Zahringen that it had taken a direct hit – red marker dye was being churned up in her wake. Prien turned to the men from the Bodenseewerke.

“Two torpedoes fired, and one malfunctioned,” he began.

“A fifty-percent success rate,” said the youngest of the three. “That is very good for the first operational test.”

Prien was unhappy that he had not been able to finish his comment. “Yes, and thankfully it was a test. You do realize that if that had been a real warhead we would likely be dead?”

To this the engineers had no answer; obviously, they needed to examine the torpedoes to see what had gone wrong. Much work would need to be done before their project was operational.

It ignores the steam or Diesel engine on the target, but picks up U-47's electric motor.

Royal Oak has little to worry about, wherever she is.

Quoted

Originally posted by AdmKuznetsov
It ignores the steam or Diesel engine on the target, but picks up U-47's electric motor.

Royal Oak has little to worry about, wherever she is.

For a while at least.

Better to discover such problems in test than in operational service.

Quoted

Originally posted by AdmKuznetsov
Royal Oak has little to worry about, wherever she is.

She's in Bulgarian service now as Sofia.