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Operation Drumbeat

Page 57

by Michael Gannon


  GSF: Gulf Sea Frontier (U.S. Navy).

  guerre de course: French term meaning a war on seaborne trade or commerce.

  Handbuch der Ostküste der Vereinigten Staaten: German sailing directions,

  abstracted from U.S. and British publications, for the East Coast of the

  United States.

  hatch: circular opening on the deck or in interior bulkheads of a U-boat through which crewmen and cargo pass.

  HE (hydrophone effect): underwater sound, for example, propeller cavitation of a surface ship or the path of a torpedo, detected by hydrophone and shown on instruments as having a certain bearing and range. (See hydrophone.)

  head: toilet (WC).

  HF/DF (“Huff-Duff’): high-frequency/direction finding.

  Hilfskreuzer. German term for an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal Navy.

  Huff-Duff: nickname for HF/DF (q.v.).

  hull: the primary, hollow, flotable structure of a boat or ship.

  hull down: the appearance of a ship at great distance when only its masts and smokestack can be seen over the horizon.

  HYDRA: the cipher used by operational U-boats in establishing the daily setting of the Schliissel-M cipher machine.

  hydrophone: underwater sound detection device employed by both U-boats and surface warships. In German, Horchgerät.

  hydroplanes: extended surfaces fore and aft on a U-boat’s outboard hull that directed the pitch of the boat underwater.

  in ballast: a ship steaming “in ballast” has empty holds, having discharged its cargo, hence rides high in the water.

  Kaleu: diminutive form of the rank Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Commander).

  Kapitänleutnant: Lieutenant Commander.

  Kapitän zur See: Captain.

  keel: the central structural member of a boat’s or ship’s hull that runs fore and aft along the bottom of the hull for the full distance from stem to sternpost.

  keep: see “seakeeping.”

  Keroman: protective U-boat bunkers, or pens, at Pointe de Keroman near the harbor entrance at Lorient, France.

  Kleines Boot: a small U-boat used primarily for training, such as the Type IID. knot: A unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour. See nautical mile.

  Konteradmiral: Rear Admiral. Korvettenkapitän: Commander.

  Kriegsmarine: the World War II German Navy, so named from 1935 to 1945. Kriegstagebuch

  (KTB): German war diary kept by ships and boats at sea, also by shore-based headquarters staffs.

  KTB: see Kriegstagebuch.

  Kurzsignale: a U-boat’s short-signal position report by radio (wireless).

  Leutnant zur See: Lieutenant junior grade.

  LI: Leitender Ingenieur, “Chief engineering officer.”

  Lotapparat: a U-boat’s equipment for determining depth in fathoms or in meters.

  Luftwaffe: German Air Force.

  Main Navy: Navy Department main headquarters building at Seventeenth St. and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

  MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG): manufacturer of the diesel engines on both Type VII and IX U-boats.

  maneuvering room: electric motor room on a U-boat, aft of the diesel engines, which housed the battery-powered dynamotors (E motors), used to propel the boat when submerged.

  Mahnequadrat: naval square, an arbitrarily drawn rectangular region of the ocean drafted to Mercator’s projection permitting the organization of the ocean surface into a grid chart where the many individual naval squares were identified by letter digraphs and numbered zones.

  Mehrfach: a multiple, though not simultaneous, launch of torpedoes.

  meter: 39.37 inches.

  “mixers”: torpedo mates on a U-boat.

  MOMP: mid-ocean meeting point south of Iceland, where U.S. and British naval escorts exchanged responsibility for guarding Atlantic convoys. Also called “chopline” (change of operational control).

  monkey island: the flying bridge on the top of a ship’s enclosed pilot house, or wheelhouse.

  Morse code: a message system of dots and dashes, clicks and spaces, or flashes of light that represent letters of the alphabet.

  NAS: (U.S.) Naval Air Station.

  nautical mile: 1.1516 statute miles.

  NOB: (U.S.) Naval Operating Base.

  Oberfähnrich zur See: Ensign.

  Oberleutnant zur See: Lieutenant senior grade.

  O KM (Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine): German Naval High Command.

  OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht): German Army High Command, also Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.

  ONI: (U.S.) Office of Naval Intelligence.

  painter: a line, usually at the bow, for attaching a boat to a ship.

  Papenberg column: a shallow depth-pressure gauge for close-to-the-surface periscope work. PC: patrol craft, 173-foot submarine chaser, steel hull (U.S. Navy).

  periscope: an extendable tubelike optical device containing an arrangement or prisms, mirrors, and lenses that permitted a U-boat to view the surface of a sea from a submerged position.

  PG: gunboat (U.S. Navy).

  Plimsoll mark: the load line marked on the hulls of British cargo vessels to indicate the safe limit to which the vessel could be immersed.

  port: the left-hand side of a vessel as one faces forward.

  pressure hull: the U-boat cylinder containing personnel and essential operating systems that was designed to withstand many atmospheres of water pressure when submerged.

  Puster. German Navy nickname (“blower”) for a radioman (wireless operator) (see Funker).

  Q-ship: a decoy merchant ship with flotation cargo and hidden deck armament designed to lure a surfaced U-boat to close-in destruction.

  quarter: the arc of 45 degrees to either side horizontally from the stern of a vessel.

  R-boat:Räumboot, motor minesweeper.

  Rade de Lorient, La: roadstead (protected anchorage) at Lorient, France.

  RAF: (British) Royal Air Force.

  rake: a patrol line across the path of a convoy formed by several or many U-boats. (See Rudeltaktik.)

  Räumboot: motor minesweeper.

  red: port (Backbord), that is, left (U-boat usage).

  Reichsmarine: the German Navy in the period 1919-35.

  Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes: Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

  road(s): a protected anchorage less enclosed than a harbor.

  Rohr, torpedo tube.

  RPM: revolutions per minute.

  Rudeltaktik: the nighttime “wolf pack” technique of massing U-boats in a patrol line across a convoy’s course and of engaging the convoy’s formations in a radio-coordinated attack.

  Samson posts: posts at the stern or bow of a vessel for supporting cargo booms.

  SC: 110-foot submarine chaser, wooden hull (U.S. Navy).

  Schlüssel M (Marine-Funkschlüssel-Machine M): Kriegsmarine version of the electromechanical cipher machine used by the German armed forces for telex and wireless (radio) traffic. See Enigma.

  Schnorchel: a valved air pipe that protruded above the surface and allowed a U-boat to proceed underwater on diesel power.

  Schussmeldung: a U-boat’s required “shooting report” on each torpedo action.

  sea force (sea state): Seas were recorded in a U-boat’s KTB on an ascending scale from zero to ten.

  seakeeping: ability to stay at sea safely.

  sea state: see sea force.

  700-tonner: Type IX U-boat.

  Sonar: an acronym standing for Sound Navigation, Ranging, the U.S. Navy echo-ranging sound apparatus equivalent to the British ASDIC (q.v.).

  Spargel: literally, “asparagus”; U-boat nickname for the periscope.

  Special Intelligence: decrypted German wireless (radio) traffic from Bletchley Park. Also called “Z” and, when transmitted to open ional commanders, “Ultra.”

  splinter camouflage: a paint scheme characterized by long, thin, sharp-edged bands of various colors that obfuscate the form of
a warship at sea.

  Standzielsehrohr, the attack-periscope sight in a U-boat conning tower.

  starboard: the right-hand side of a vessel as one faces forward.

  stem: the forward bladelike end of a vessel to which the bows, or side plates, are joined.

  stern: the after (rear) part of a vessel.

  T-Schu: see Torpedo-Schuss-Empfänger.

  TETIS: a U-boat cipher used in wireless (radio) transmissions by new U-boats training in the Baltic.

  Tiefenmesser, a U-boat’s depth-pressure gauge, or depth manometer.

  tonnage war: the attempt by U-boats to sink more ships than the Allies could build.

  Torpedo-Schuss-Empfanger. torpedo launch receiver, which, in the fore and aft torpedo rooms of a U-boat, received target data from the Vorhaltrechner and fed it into the guidance systems of the torpedoes. Abbreviated T-Schu.

  Torpedoerprobungskommando (TEK): Torpedo Trials Command at Kiel and Eckernförde.

  Torpedokommando: German Navy Torpedo Command.

  torpex: a high-explosive mix of Cyclonite, TNT, and aluminum flakes.

  trim: the balancing of a submarine’s (U-boat’s) weight and equilibrium underwater.

  TRITON: a U-boat cipher employing four rotors instead of three, introduced on operational boats in February 1942 and not solved by cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park (where it was called “Shark”) until December of the same year.

  Uboot-Zieloptik(UZO): surface target-aiming binoculars with luminous graticule attached to a bridge post that automatically fed target line-of-sight bearing and range to the Vorhallrechner.

  Ubootwaffe: the German submarine (U-boat) fleet.

  Unterseeboot: “submarine” in German, abbreviated as U-boat in English.

  USCG: United States Coast Guard.

  USN: United States Navy.

  USNR: United States Navy Reserve.

  UZO: see Uboot-Zieloptik.

  Vorhaltrechner. A Siemens-made electromechanical deflection calculator in the U-boat conning tower that fed attack headings into the gyrocompass steering mechanism of the torpedoes in their tubes.

  VV/T: Wireless Telegraphy (radio).

  Wabo: German nickname for Wasserbombe (q.v.).

  Wasserbombe: German term for a depth charge dropped on U-boats by British and American surface ships and aircraft.

  way: the motion or speed of a ship or boat through the water.

  Wehrmacht: German Army.

  Weyer. a U-boat’s identification manual for warships of all nations.

  wind force: wind velocities were recorded in a U-boat’s KTB on an ascending scale from zero to ten.

  Wintergarten: the open, railed platform on the after part of a U-boat bridge.

  Zentrale: U-boat control room, directly below the conning tower and bridge, containing all diving controls.

  INDEX

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

  A-29 attack bomber, 351, 380, 385

  Achilles. HMS, 222

  Action in the North Atlantic (movie), xxi, 90

  Active (Coast Guard cutter), 176

  Admiral Graf Spec (German pocket battleship), 83, 95, 222, 316

  Admiral Hipper (German heavy cruiser), 76, 95

  Admiral Scheer (German pocket battleship), 88. 316,437

  Adressbuch, 131-32, 152. 402-3, 440, 466

  Africander (ship), 203

  Airplanes

  available to ESF, 181-83, 349-50

  coastal convoys covered by, 385

  depth charges and bombs dropped by, 23, 46, 182, 226, 235-37, 357

  fírst submarine sinkings in coastal waters, 380. 384

  submarine bases bombed bv, 6, 30, 339

  as threat to U-boats, 22, 31,” 139-40

  Ajax, HMS, 222

  Alcoa Guide (ship), 399-401

  Alexander Hóegh (ship), 270

  Alexson, John D., 272

  Allan Jackson (ship), 244-47, 253

  Allen, Woody, 185

  Amagansett (Long Island, New York), 379

  Ambrose Channefand Lightship, 185, 223-24, 231-32

  Amstein, Richard (“Kraxel”), xi

  on Dec. 1941-Jan 1942 cruise, 16, 49, 113, 114, 127, 129-30, 142, 200, 276-77. 282, 283

  on Mar.-May 1942 cruise, 326

  Anderson, Oscar, 364-65

  Andrews, Adolphus (‘Dolly”), 171-77, 180, 184, 186, 212, 221-22, 235, 268, 305, 306, 327, 329, 340, 343, 344, 346-49. 351-52, 354, 356, 385. 386. 412-13. See also United States Navy—Eastern Sea Frontier

  background of, 174-75

  retirement of, 415

  Antietam (Coast Guard cutter), 176

  Antisubmarine trawlers, British, 346

  Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations Research Group (ASWORG), 384

  Argentia (Newfoundland), 185, 189

  Argo (Coast Guard cutter), 221

  Armed merchant cruisers (AMCs), 50, 56-59, 61-62

  Atuba, xvi, 308, 349

  ASDIC, 48, 49, 90, 98, 189, 406, 432-33, 466

  Ask, Oivind, 219

  Asterion, USS (Evelyn), 305-7, 328, 329, 367

  Asterion Shipping Company, 304

  Astor, Vincent, 354

  Astral (ship), 92

  Athenia (ship), 53, 152

  Atik, USS (Carolyn), 305-7, 323-29

  Atik Shipping Company, 303

  Atlantic City (New Jersey), 199, 271

  Atlantic Conference, 88

  Atlantic Fleet. U.S.. 266-67, 349-50, 392-93, 444

  King as commander of, 84, 87-88, 169, 175

  Support Force, 84, 88, 189. 240. 415, 437

  Atlantis (German surface raider), 124, 134, 135, 439

  Auditor (ship), 51

  Augusta, USS, 167

  Augvald (ship), 38

  Aurania, HMS (armed merchant cruiser), 56-59.61-62, 159

  Azores, 70, 84, 157, 434

  B-17 bomber, 182-83

  B-18 bomber, 182-83, 350, 351

  B-24 bomber, 393

  B-25 bomber, 183, 351, 364

  B-34 bomber, 351

  Bacchus (ship), 377

  Badger. USS. 203

  Baker. USS, 417

  Banana River Naval Air Slat ion, 350. 351.377

  Bangor (Maine). 183

  Baron Erskiiiv (ship). 201

  Barlh, Heinz ( “Puslcr”), xi

  on Dec. 1941-Jan. 1942 cruise, 16, 114, 117-18, 123, 142-44, 146, 215, 224. 254. 255, 276, 279

  on Mar.-Mav 1942 cruise. 316. 325. 326. 331, 333.372

  Bassctl, P P.. 222

  Balleries, storage. 9. 115-16. 282, 428

  Battle of the Atlantic. 84

  Air Gap in. 393, 396

  Churchill on, 418

  German submarines diverted from, 92-93, 310-11, 437-38

  as most important operation of World War II. 397-98

  1941 monthly tonnage sunk in. 93

  1942 lull in. 266-67

  1943 German offensive, 396

  1944 final German loss of. 397

  Bauer, Ernst, 91

  Bauer, Hermann. 89

  Bav of Biscay, 14, 24, 80. 101. 131. 394. 396, 407. 462

  B-Dienst, XV. 131. 440, 456, 466

  Bedfordshire. HMS, 346. 381. 462

  Becslv, Patrick. 154-60. 164, 200-202, 211, 241. 298. 339. 340-42, 348. 349. 393, 416. 444

  Bergen (Norwav). 35-36

  Bermuda. 282-83

  Bernadoii, USS, 190. 448

  Beter, K. M.. 304

  Belts. William Wright. 456

  Beyer (radioman). 117

  Bicgcrl (“Groschengrab’*), 113

  Bigalk, Gerhard, 229

  Big Horn. USS. 330

  BiToxi (Mississippi), 351

  Binfield, John, 56

  Binoculars, 204-5

  target-aiming (UZO), 46. 51. 206-7. 233. 254. 258, 473

  Birch, Frank, 156

  Bismarck (German battleship). 75. 95
. 135. 152.222

  Blackouts. See Brownouts and blackouts Blaison (French submarine, formerly U-/23). 417

  Bleichrodt, Heinrich. 32. 79, 80, 133, 144, 199, 227, 229, 252. 272. 295-96. 309. 417, 461

  Bletchlev Park (BP; Englandl. 150-53, 156, 164. 307. 393

  Blimps. 237. 308

  Blockade runners, 293-95

  Blomberg, Werner von, 316

  Blücher (German heavv cruiser), 95

  Bogue. USS, 392

  Bombe. 150-53. 441-42

  Bonefish. USS (submarine). 431

  Bordeaux, 24, 68

  Boston (Massachusetts). 175. 185, 222. 238, 384, 448

  Bover, Lucienne. 30

  Brainard, R. M., 416

  Braue. Richard H.. 173, 221

  Brazos (ship), 255, 296

  Bremen (Germanv). 68, 76

  Hardegen’s later life in, 418-19

  Hardegen’s vouih in. 17-18

  Brcmseth, Eiriil, 219

  Brest, 6. 24, 40, 67, 96, 384

  Bristol, Arthur LeR, Jr.. 88. 212. 220. 223. 237-40, 385,412, 413, 415-16

  Bristol, USS, 190. 239. 448

  British Motor Torpedo Boat 332, 332-33

  Broome. USS. 400

  Broun, George R., 57

  Brownouts and blackouts. 185-87, 340, 343-45. 366

  Buehheim, Lothar-Günther, 49 “Bucket Brigade.” 386-87

  Bülow, Otto von, 344

  Burlington. HMCS. 210

  Burs (ship), 262

  Byron D. Benson (ship). 224

  Cabot Strait, 199, 226. 270

  California, USS. 390. 446

  Canadian Navy

  good defense by. 309

  Naval Sei vice Headquarters (NSHQ), 156

  Canary Islands, 45

  Cape Breton Island, 199

  Cape Canaveral. 358. 374-76

  Cape Farewell. 60

  Cape Fear, 242. 243

  Cape Halteras, xvii, 138, 141. 199, 242-47, 254-64, 270, 271, 298, 313. 318, 330, 331. 387. 388

  Cape Lookout. 242, 334. 382. 387

  Cape Race, 80. 81, 143. 225-26

  Captor, USS. See: Wave. USS Card. USS. 417

  Cardila (ship). 201

  Carolvn (ship). See: Alik. USS Casablanca Conference (1943). 393 “Cash and carrv” policy, 82. 83

  Cavcnagh, R W1.. 366

  Chandler. M. E., 400

  Channel dash (1942). 96. 253. 438

  Charles F. Hughes. USS. 190, 238. 448

  Charleston (South Carolina). 210, 347. 448

  Cherry Point (North Carolina) Marine Corps Air Station, 384

  Chesapeake Bay, xvii, 185. 387. 388

 

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