Ships lost to aircraft

[Barrett]

I've found contradictory references to the successes achieved by Flanders torpedostaffeln against Allied shipping. Dates vary from September 1916 to May or June 1917. The most specific info seems to involve:

MV Storm (locale unstated) 9 Nov '16
MV Gena off Suffolk 20 April or 1 May '17
MV Kankatee (locale unstated) 14 June '17

Any additions or corrections much appreciated.

[Soderbaum]

Hello Barrett

Gena and Kankakee were "sunk" by Torpedo Staffel II (officially II F-Staffel)...
According to original German sources Gena was sunk on 1 May 1917 in 131 alpha around 7:30. The succesful crew was Oblt zS Hans-Albrecht Wedel - Lt dR MA Wulf Krüger(Krueger), who flew T 701.

Kankakee was sunk by Lt zS Wilhelm Löwe - Lt zS Joachim Thomsen in Outer Garbert area at 15:26. They were flying T 991.

Torpedo Staffel I is reported sunk a British ship on 9 Sep 1917 by Lt zS dR Paul Schürer - Fl.Mt x Mertens in the Themsen "mündung" area around 15:00. They were flying T 1211. In another German source this ship is reported to have the name "Storm of Guernsey"....

Sadly.. ..I dont have the first name of Mertens, can anyone help me..?

A further ship was sunk by Torpedo Staffel I in the Baltic in Sep 1916...


Gunnar

[Barrett]

Gunnar, that is terrific information. Thank you so much. I assume the aircraft were likely Gotha WD series?

I'm interested in the map reference 131A. Is there an online source showing the map grid between Flanders and England, or even part of it? If not, I'd happily exchange one of my Osprey books for a printout. (I've done the Avenger and Devastator--maybe I should convince Tony the series editor of the need for a WW I torpedo plane volume!)

[Cigogne]

Barrett,

Convince Tony Holme to have Osprey do a Torpedo plane volume? Good idea! He should do one on the German Torpedo plane units... and one on the British. He could also do one each on single-seat seaplane units and pilots, German, English, French, Austro-Hungarian, Italian, Bulgarian, Russian, etc.

New ground to break... or is that water?

[Barrett]

Hey I'm for breaking ANYTHING, including ground, water, and the Democratic National Committee. (Meanwhile, Dubya seems intent on breaking the USA, but I digress.)

With my current workload it'll be quite awhile before I could make a serious proposal to Osprey, but a generic coverage of WW I torpedo planes might be feasible. I proposed a combination TBD/SB2U volume, knowing there wasn't enough for a full-length book on either, but it was turned down. Tony said "Do what you can with the Devastator." I think I got to 30,000 words of the 35k desired; beyond that I'd have needed to start counting rivets. The individual aircraft types might be suitable for a Detail in Scale or Walkaround but I doubt there's much of a market.

[Soderbaum]

Hi Barrett

I dont knew if the map of sea areas between Flanders and the British coast exists on the net....however I have a copy of it and can make a copy for you, if you mail me your snail address...

It is also possible that a fourth enemy ship was sunk by Marine flyers on a "torpedo aircraft" in the Flanders, but in this case not by any of the Torpedo Staffeln...

It was mentioned earlier here on the Forum by Regulus who cited a report from See I in Nov 1916(if I remember correct).
It can be noted that some torpedo a/c were in service in See I from Sep 1916 forwards the Winter for what can be described as test use...!
The victorious German crew in this case was probably* Lt dR MA Friedrich Christiansen - Lt zS Leopold Exner....
*I dont have the KTB of See I yet for this period...

It is VERY STRANGE(for me) that this victory(his first) not is mentioned in the PlM citation under the Medal section....but this citation also have wrong date when he assumed command of See I...However Christiansen received official confirmation for the "destruction" of this ship...


Gunnar

[Zeppelin]

As for myself, I have an interest in aviation used for naval scouting, anti-shipping, and anti-submarine warfare. I've finally arrived at the opinion that the naval blockade attempts by both sides were the most influential aspects of the war, due to the stagnation of the army fronts. However, as I've begun to learn about WW1 aviation, I feel like I'm running up against a dearth of information on naval air aspects. If Barrett is interested in writing those stories, I for one would be sure to buy them! I was really pleased as well recently when Roden came out with their Felixstowe model kit. A long neglected field of WW1 Aviation!

Best regards,
Zeppelin

[Barrett]

Mark D. Karau's "Wielding the Dagger", about the various aspects of the Flanders Marine Korps, was published by Greenhill last year. I've just ordered a copy; undoubtedly the best thing in English. It addresses the Flanders destroyer and U-boat flotillas as well as land & air ops so should cover the blockade war.

[Rick]

Barrett,

There is a North Sea map showing the German coordinates in Dr. Douglas Robinson's "The Zepplin in Combat". R.

[Barrett]

Thanx Rick; got it. But it only goes from Tondern to about 4 deg. East. Wish I could find a KM grid from there to the SE coast of Olde England.

Break-break

Thanx again for the xeroxes.