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[PSUBS-MAILIST] WEAPONS OF DESPERATION: German Frogmen and Midget Submarines of the Second World War
I read this book over the weekend. My library got it on Interlibrary Loan for me from the Dudley Knox Library at the Naval
Postgraduate School in Monterey CA. This book was written by Lawrence Paterson and published by Naval Institute Press.
Patersen describes the frogmen, explosive warhead speed boats (Linsen) and a variety of midget submarines starting
with the torpedoes that had their explosive charge removed to make a pilot compartment with a dome for operator vision
and a torpedo slung underneath. These couldn't travel submerged. He then goes onto describe the one man Biber which
was based on the English Welman and carried two torpedoes. He finally describes the two man Seahund which could also carry
two torpedoes or mines ar a mixture. They were also used near end of war to carrry foods and essential supplies to cut off German
garrisons in Holland.
He actually doesn't really go into too much technical detail on the submarines and the drawing in the book mainly show the exterior
and not the interiors. He does describe problems with the various types as well as their successes. He describes how the Seaahunds
staged out of Holland could get into the Thames estuary in England and sink ships there. He makes the point that with their two torpedo load they were making missions that rivalled the Type XXIII but at a far lower cost for boat and crew. Admittedly the conditions for the crew of the Seahunds were appalling with toilets except empty ration cans.
Paterson also points out that the Germans had a late start compared to the Japanese, Italians, and even the English.
He also points out that the German command seemed to treat the frogmen and miniature subs somewhat as regular sailors and equipment not specialized for specialized work unlike the Italians, Japanese, and English.
Interesting read for those that like midget subs.
Larry Murray