WesWorld

Kieler Nachrichten, Thursday, 1 January 1942

The holiday spirit of the city was tempered today with the formalities of commencement of construction of three great warships in the city’s naval shipyard. The keel of the new aircraft carrier Wallenstein, named for the great general of the Thirty Years War, was laid down in the morning while in the afternoon the keels of two destroyers of the Improved-Paderborn type followed in the afternoon. The tempo of renewal for the Deutsches Kriegsmarine continues, and with it the employment security of thousands of Kiel’s citizens.


Sächsische Zeitung, Saturday, 3 January 1942

The Defence Ministry announced yesterday that it had declined to order the privately-funded BFW Bf109Z twin engine heavy fighter, citing changing defence priorities and doubts about the aircraft’s ground handling difficulties. The Ministry did however approve the continued funding of the Bf262 fighter aircraft project, authorising the construction of three further prototypes as well as increasing funding for the Junkers 003 reaction-jet engine intended to power the BFW aircraft.


Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Sunday, 4 January 1942

Officials of the Defence Ministry have discounted press reports of the possibility of the French Armee de l’Air ordering the Heinkel He177 heavy bomber.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 5 January 1942

The Steyr firm has submitted a revised prototype Trosskarren light utility vehicle for consideration by the Army Armaments Office. The new design features a number of improvements requested as a result of the testing of the initial prototype; it was shown to officials of the Defence Ministry and the Heer – and, in a surprise move, the French military attaché – at the firm’s proving ground at Steyr. The French Government has expressed interest in the Trosskarren design, as has Iberia; but the attendance of a French representative has sparked some speculation as to the level of French interest.



Lübecker Nachrichten, Wednesday, 7 January 1942

The fleet submarine U-122 was launched today in Kiel, and will commence trials in the Baltic next week

Wehrgedanken des Auslandes, January 1942

Karl Schmidt, recently promoted to the rank of Kapitän zur See, participated in this summer’s fleet exercises in the Atlantic, leading a division of the First Scouting Group, during which he visited Ireland. In the second of two parts he completes his report on the state of the Irish Naval Service and its future.

Report of Fregattenkapitän Karl Schmidt, Kriegsmarine

The INS inherited a number of naval stations from Great Britain, some of which continue in use by the Royal Navy under treaty arrangements. Its principal base is Haulbowline, Cobh, near Cork, in the southeast of Ireland. This facility boasts dry docks and slipways for construction and refitting of major and minor warships, supply magazines, a naval barracks and other installations expected of a major naval base. The service’s principal submarine base is located at Berehaven, west of Cork, also in southern Ireland. There are smaller naval stations at Galway in the west of Ireland, at Dun Laoghaire, south of Dublin, the capital, and at Letterkenny on Lough Swilly, the site of the aforementioned antisubmarine school. Galway features importantly in Irish naval operations as the base of the Irish Fisheries Service, which performs an invaluable service in supporting the Irish fishing fleet and in rescuing ships in distress of any nations.


While it is true that the Irish Naval Service is a recent creation, it is heir to the great tradition of seamanship developed over centuries by the British Navy. Its officer corps has been drawn from three principal sources – Irish-born officers who had served in the Royal Navy and who joined the INS upon its creation; serving officers of the Royal Navy who have been seconded to the INS (though these are more commonly found in the technical branches); and officers who have risen in the ranks of the INS since its creation.

The commander of the INS, Commodore Seamus O'Muiris, was an officer in the Royal Navy during the Great War, with a distinguished combat record, who found himself ‘on the beach’ at the conclusion of hostilities. After a number of years in retirement he joined the INS upon its creation and has done much to mould it into its current state. Many of the Royal Navy officers who have been seconded to the INS have Irish roots, or, in some cases, have found their careers sidetracked in their own service – and have sought a posting in the INS to return to active duty. The young Irish-born officers now filling the lower tier are the product of accelerated training programmes and arduous service at sea, where they have been given great responsibility and shown their ability to handle it. Senior officials of both the Government and INS have acknowledged that training and expansion of the officer corps – particularly its native element – is the greatest challenge facing the INS; for many in Government circles there are far too many seconded officers in senior INS positions – thus far the INS has resisted pressure to over-promote Irish officers to positions that they are not yet qualified for. In sharp contrast to the question of officers, the INS has no shortage of petty officers and ratings, many of whom have experience in civilian service. The INS often appoints petty officers to posts that elsewhere might be filled with a junior officer – recognising their technical competence.

The Irish Naval Service does not have its own aviation force; what aviation assets is possesses are provided by the Irish Air Corps. While these are under the operational control of the INS, they are administratively a part of the Air Corps – much as was the situation in Germany before establishment of the Marineflieger. The air contingent operates a small force of Sunderland flying boats, obtained from Britain, and a number of American-built Grumman J2F amphibious scout planes, which are usually based aboard the flagship Granuaile.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Friday, 9 January 1942

The cruiser Kiel has completed its post-refit trials and has returned to operational status

Berliner Morgenpost, Sunday, 11 January 1942

Ambassador Hans Thomsen has returned to Hyderabad in the hopes of improving relations with Bharat under the leadership of the new Samraja.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 12 January 1942

The Ministry of Defence announced that Erprobungskommando 300, a trials demonstration and training unit for the new Heinkel He219 twin-engine fighter aircraft, has been stood up at Fassberg.


Sächsische Zeitung, Wednesday, 14 January 1942

Workers at the Junkers works celebrated the delivery today of the eighth Ju252 twin-engine civil airliner delivered to Lufthansa, who has now placed the type in service on routes to Paris, Rome and Madrid. Their celebration was buoyed by receipt of a request from LAN-Chile airlines for the lease of a demonstrator aircraft, suggesting that the Chilean airline might be the first Ju252 operator in South America.

Eisenbahn Kurier, Thursday, 15 January 1942



Bremer Nachrichten, Friday, 16 January 1942

The Defence Ministry has announced that it has selected the Focke Wulf Fw190D interceptor to replace the Heinkel He100 in Luftwaffe service. While no numbers have been announced, it is expected that the first operational Fw190D aircraft will be delivered before the close of the year.


Kieler Nachrichten, Sunday, 18 January 1942

The cruisers Rostock and Stralsund completed their post-construction trials and working up, and were declared operational as part of the Fourth Cruiser Squadron.

Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 19 January 1942

The heavy destroyers Leberecht Maas, Georg Thiele and Max Schultz completed their refit today and began to run trials in the Baltic. They will be followed by the remainder of their sister vessels and the ships of the Erick Koeller class, all of which are scheduled to be brought up to modern fleet standards during this course of the year. The addition of Seetakt to these powerful vessels significantly increases the capability of the Scouting Forces.


The Blohm und Voss Works, Tuesday, 20 January 1942

Wilhelm Klink hurried to answer the summons to Herr Burkhalter’s office. Upon entering he noted that the manager was not alone.

“Ah, Klink, How good of you to drop by,” said Burkhalter with irony in his voice. “I want you to meet Herr Hogan, from the American Civil Aeronautics Administration. He is here to inspect the factory, as part of the certification programme of the Bv144. You will be his guide.”

“But Herr Burkhalter,” Klink stammered, “The deliveries for the Irish, the Bulgarians…”

“Yes, I have every confidence in your ability to manage those too… You will give Herr Hogan every facility to complete his inspection.”

At this point Hogan rose from the armchair in which he was seated and vigorously shook Klink’s hand. “Klink,” he said, “I think we’ll get along just fine!”

“Wonderful,” concluded Klink with a sour look on his face.

Berliner Abendpost, Friday, 23 January 1942

Government officials confirmed today that the Rheinmetall firm has been given a contract to develop a sounding rocket designed for obtaining aerodynamic data at trans-sonic speeds. Work will proceed under the direction of Doctor Adolf Busemann. Flight testing of a prototype is expected to commence sometime in the spring.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Saturday, 31 January 1942

The preceding days have seen much activity in the shipyards of northern Germany, and the destroyer force of the Kriegsmarine is far stronger because of it. On Tuesday the destroyers Koblenz and Wetzlar completed their trials and became operational, while on Thursday four similar ships – the Tubingen, the Weilheim, the Marburg and the Konstanz were completed in their builders’ yards in Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven and commenced their trials. And today saw the destroyers Cuxhaven, Duren, Flensburg and Volkingen slide down the building ways. Ten fine ships passing through the stages construction within but a span of days. Every German can take pride in the strength of a navy that is dedicated to peace and maintaining the freedom of the seas.

Elbinger Volksstimme, Sunday, 1 February 1942

The submarine U-124 was laid down today in the naval shipyards in Memel; she is the fourth boat of the ocean-going Type IX.


Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monday, 2 February 1942

Blast furnace No.4 of the Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb at Salzgitter was ‘blown in’ and placed in service today. It is the last of the four units planned for the works, which now is running at full capacity utilising domestic low-grade iron ore. The Salzgitter works have allowed the nation to reduce its dependence on imported iron ore, principally from Nordmark, by an estimated twelve percent.


Wehrgedanken des Auslandes, February 1942

The Wehrgedanken des Auslandes staff looks at the light forces of the French Marine Nationale, which in recent years have undergone a renaissance after a long period of neglect. In this, the first of two parts, examines the French destroyer force.


The light forces of the Marine Nationale are an integral part of the French naval structure, and under the current French naval leadership have undergone significant strengthening and modernisation. While the overall numbers of vessels in service may have declined those which remain are quite potent in their capabilities and the new construction coming out of the shipyards are far more powerful than any of the older vessels now broken up.

In the latter portion of the 1930s the Marine Nationale was faced with the situation of block obsolescence of the bulk of its destroyer force – more than half of the hulls available were of Great War vintage, and of these, only the Aventurier class had seen any significant modernisation. Postwar destroyer construction, which had begun with the Audacieux class in 1921, was continued with the Gallant class of 1926 and the Le Terrible class of 1929, but thereafter languished for many years.

This hiatus was occasioned by the French decision to develop the heavy destroyer (contre-torpillieur ) compared with the smaller torpedo boat destroyer (torpillieur ). The first such vessels were the four units of the Le Fantasque class of 1933, followed by four similar units of the Mogador class in 1934. Of nearly three thousand tons standard displacement, the Marine Nationale classifies such vessels as small light cruisers. The Jaguar class of 1936, of which a total of sixteen units were constructed, was of smaller size and classed as destroyers. French officials are quick to explain that the division of the contre-torpilleurs between the two categories is a legacy of the now-defunct Cleito Treaty.

The tactical roles of the contre-torpillieur are much the same as the heavy destroyer in our own service – independent surface action against naval or mercantile targets – particularly by night, and long-range scouting in advance of the fleet. This is contrasted with the torpillieur , which is best employed as an escort to fleet units.

At the end of the 1930s the French naval leadership squarely faced the problem of the obsolescence of the destroyer force and took the difficult decision to scrap not only the twelve units of the Bisson class and the twenty-four units of the wartime Arabe class, but the twenty-four units of the Aventurier class – a total of sixty units representing half of the existing force. This decision aroused some adverse comment in the popular press but was fully supported by serving officers who recognised that the ships in question no longer had a place in a modern battle fleet.

To replace the vessels scrapped, the Marine Nationale at first continued the construction of the contre-torpillieur type, represented by the four units of the Surcouf class, laid down in 1941. These 2,800-ton vessels represent the epitome of the heavy destroyer type – armed with six 13.8cm rapid fire guns, a powerful antiaircraft battery and an extremely strong torpedo broadside, designed for 36 knots (which, according to press reports, were exceeded on trials), and reported to be fitted with the French equivalent of Seetakt for fire control of the main and secondary armament at night. These ships are now entering service with the Marine Nationale and are a formidable addition to its capabilities.

However, the cost of these fine vessels militated against their large scale construction. As follow-on to the Surcouf class the Marine Nationale had drawn up plans for the Escorteur d'Escadre Type 42 , the first of which was to be known as the Chasseur . This design was based on the Surcouf hull form, and would have been nearly 2,800 tons standard displacement – as large as the Surcouf design. Intended to work with the fleet the design called for eight 10cm dual purpose guns in four twin mounts, an antiaircraft battery featuring the latest version of the 4cm gun and, again, a very powerful torpedo broadside. These would have been very fast ships, designed for 36 knots, but the design was abandoned due to their cost.

Instead the Marine Nationale developed the slightly smaller and more affordable Escorteur d’Escadre Type 41 , which has become known as the Weapon class. Reverting to the hull form of the earlier Jaguar class contre-torpilleur the first of these ships was laid down in 1941, and features a more than adequate armament of six 12cm dual purpose guns, matched with the 4cm light antiaircraft gun, and a slightly smaller torpedo broadside; the maximum design speed has been reduced to 35 knots, which is more than adequate for a vessel intended to operate principally with the larger units of the French fleet. Eight vessels of the Weapon class were laid down during 1941, the first four of which are presently running sea trials and working up. They represent an excellent balance of the qualities required by the destroyer and can be seen in no way inferior to the Paderborn class in our own service, or to the latest designs of the Royal Navy.

The confidence shown by the French naval authorities in the Escorteur d’Escadre Type 1941 design is shown by its decision to construct a further sixteen vessels of this type under the 1942 Estimates. Known as the Type 41B or Cimeterre class, these vessels are armed with the 10cm dual purpose gun originally envisaged for the Chasseur , and now seen as the preferred anti-air weapon of the Marine Nationale. The Type 41B also introduces a mixed CODAS powerplant to the French destroyer force, as these sixteen ships will have diesel engines for cruising while retaining steam turbines for high speed operations. Eight vessels are presently under construction and a further eight are expected to be laid down later in the year, with all of them being completed by May 1943. Their entry into service will go far to replenish the strength of the French destroyer force, which will be obligated to screen the many new aircraft carriers and other capital warships soon to be commissioned.

According to foreign intelligence reports however, the Marine Nationale did consider other alternatives to the Escorteur d’Escadre Type 1941 design. One such design posited in 1941 called for a vessel of approximately 1,700 tons, capable of 34 knots, armed with a quartet of the new 10cm dual purpose gun and sixteen 4cm automatic guns, carrying a broadside of eight torpedo tubes. While adequate and certainly less costly than the new Cimeterre class, this design appears to have been abandoned due to its rather lack-luster performance and perceived ‘weakness’ of its armament. In the event of war the design might be revived as a war emergency type to make good deficiencies in the number of destroyers

Excellent article, Bruce.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Excellent article, Bruce.

I hope that you will find the second part, due for publicatio in March 1942, to be equally of interest.

No doubt I shall.

I'm just baffled by the article on the KNIL's formation popping up in German news.

In Wesworld the KNIL is similar. Officers and NCOs from the Netherlands rotate through, and DEI Officers & NCOs wind up in the Netherlands for tours. There are African recruits, and there are some all-indigenous units which are typically armed as reserve elements.

Two of the 3 Dutch Marine brigades are posted there, one of which serves as the Kommando & Jungle Warfare brigade, running a training facility on Sulawesi. Units train there and return "home", while Kommandos from the Brigade are used in training exercises which test local defenses.

Edit : I suppose I should observe that the last fighting occurred in the mid 1930s, putting down both communists and the 'Sons of India' rebels. India has since cut financing.

Soldatenfreund is the Heer's version of "Stars and Stripes", written for the enlisted personnel. This item is the first of a series on the "Armies of Asia".

I'm sorry if I offended... if you wish I'll delete it.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
Soldatenfreund is the Heer's version of "Stars and Stripes", written for the enlisted personnel. This item is the first of a series on the "Armies of Asia".

I'm sorry if I offended... if you wish I'll delete it.

Not in the least. Just seemed a bit out of context, and lacks some WW-specific info.

Frankfurter Zeitung, Wednesday, 4 February 1942

The Defence Ministry has confirmed press reports that it has awarded the Dornier firm a contract to develop a new twin-engine land-based maritime reconnaissance aircraft to meet the requirements of the Marineflieger. Work will progress under the designation Do330, and funding has been made available for two prototypes.


Göttinger Tageblatt, Friday, 6 February 1942

At its meeting last week in Berlin the German Oriental Society announced that it would continue its support of an archaeological excavation programme in Turkey, voting the expenditure of up to 60,000 Reichsmarks for the purpose.


Militär-Wochenblatt, Monday, 9 February 1942

The first unit slated to re-equip with the new G5 semi-automatic rifle, Gebirgsjaeger Regiment 4 at Innsbruck, received its weapons yesterday in a special ceremony. Trials with the Swiss-Bulgarian designed weapon have shown its strength, accuracy and hitting power, and the troops receiving the new rifle were happy to show off its capabilities in a shooting competition between the companies of the regiment – which was won by the Seventh Company, Gebirgsjaeger Regiment 4, with a score of 184 out of a possible 200 – a testament to the skill of the marksmen and the accuracy of the weapon.

The Baltic Sea, off Rügen, Thursday, 12 February 1942

Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien had taken his Unterseeboot 47 to sea again to continue testing the new torpedo design developed by the Bodenseewerke; the last set of tests had been less than successful, with one of the dummy test torpedoes running wild and ‘sinking’ the U-47. The engineers and technicians had worked long and hard to eliminate the problem of discerning the proper signature of the target from all the ambient noise – including the U-boat’s own motors; Prien knew this but still harboured doubts about the so-called acoustic torpedo.

He again had the target ship Zahringen in the cross-hairs of his periscope and he had double-checked his firing solution.

“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!”

In the torpedo room forward compressed air surged into the torpedo tubes and launched the test torpedoes. Prien kept the Zahringen in view and soon saw the tracks of the torpedo wakes heading straight toward the target ship. The Zahringen turned hard to starboard to comb the torpedo tracks and they passed ahead of her.

“Torpedoes tracking,” came the voice of the hydrophone operator.

Prien kept his eyes glued to the Zahringen and saw two spouts of dye-coloured water erupt at her stern. Aboard the target ship the crew raised signals exclaiming “Struck and disabled”.

Turning to the Bodenseewerke engineers who were monitoring the tests Prien exclaimed. “Both torpedoes struck the target. Whether it is a fluke or you are on to something I don’t know, but it is certainly better than the last set of tests.”


Elbinger Volksstimme, Friday, 13 February 1942

The shipyards of Memel have again seen festivities and the visit of dignitaries with the completion of the new netlayers Halligen and Amrun, which now begin their trials. Only two days ago the netlayers Juist and Memmert completed their sea trials today and were declared operational. These small vessels, seemingly insignificant, perform a vital task in defence of the harbours of the nation.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Monday, 16 February 1942

The minesweepers Dummersee and Edersee were completed in the naval shipyards here, and commenced their sea trials. Only two days ago their sister ships Amersee and Wendsee finished trials and entered operational service.

Lübecker Nachrichten, Wednesday, 18 February 1942

Work was completed today on the first four of the Z214-class destroyers to be refitted under the 1942 Naval Programme, and they embarked on their post-refit trials.


Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Thursday, 19 February 1942

The first pre-production examples of the Auto Union Type 166 amphibious reconnaissance car were delivered to the Second Panzer Division in ceremonies at the Vienna Arsenal.


Frankfurter Zeitung, Friday, 20 February 1942

The Defence Ministry has confirmed the order for six pre-production examples of the Flettner Fl285 vertical take-off aircraft. These will be evaluated by the Kriegsmarine as potential replacements of its existing Flettner Fl282 gyrocopters.


Transradio Press Service, Saturday, 21 February 1942

The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin expressed its concern with the rising level of violence in Palestine and indicated that it would cooperate with the British mandatory authorities to check rumoured activities of Zionist agents operating from German soil.