| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | L2ML |
| Fate: | Broken Up May 1934 |
| 10-06-1918 | Launched |
C 31 (I 61) |
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| Class: | 1903 - 1906: C Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | C1 |
|
Fate: Submarine C31 was sent to the area off Zeebrugge in Belgium for a two-day patrol on the 4th January 1915 with orders to report at Harwich on the 7th. Nothing more was heard from C31 and on the 10th and 11th January two destroyers (Lurcher and Firedrake) attempted to find out what had happened but were thwarted by the stormy weather prevailing. It was thought that the submarine had been sunk by enemy patrol craft but it may well have been mined. The date of the loss of C31 is accepted as being Thursday 7th January 1915. |
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"They were the only thing that really frightened me" So said the usually steadfast Winston Churchill of the German Navy's U-Boat fleet - the dreaded Wolf Pack, which stalked the Atlantic depths, bringing instant death to merchantman and warship alike.
Together with a formidable surface fleet, the U-Boats challenged the Royal Navy's traditional supremacy of the oceans, countering Britain's strength in numbers with a reign of silent terror. A decade of secret rebuilding had brought forth capital ships like the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen - names to strike fear into any Allied seafarer.
However, it was from under the water that the biggest threat was to come. Commanded by Admiral Karl Doenitz, the submarines laid waste to shipping, cutting supply lines and striking from within convoys where Allied escorts dare not use guns. The U-Boat captains were the equivalent of Luftwaffe aces - ruthless, cunning and ice-cool under pressure. Enduring harsh conditions for months on end and working in darkness with no chance of escape, this was truly a war of nerves.
"There is no margin for error on a submariner" said one captain. "You are either alive or dead." on May 4 1945, Doenitz issued orders to cease hostilities. "You have fought like lions" he said to his valiant survivors. "You are laying down your arms after a heroic fight which knows no equals."
The story of that light is told hare using rare archive footage, much of which has been unavailable in the West since World War II.
18 pages added or updated in the last 3 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
C 31 (I 61) |
|
| Class: | 1903 - 1906: C Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | C1 |
|
Fate: Submarine C31 was sent to the area off Zeebrugge in Belgium for a two-day patrol on the 4th January 1915 with orders to report at Harwich on the 7th. Nothing more was heard from C31 and on the 10th and 11th January two destroyers (Lurcher and Firedrake) attempted to find out what had happened but were thwarted by the stormy weather prevailing. It was thought that the submarine had been sunk by enemy patrol craft but it may well have been mined. The date of the loss of C31 is accepted as being Thursday 7th January 1915. |
|
"They were the only thing that really frightened me" So said the usually steadfast Winston Churchill of the German Navy's U-Boat fleet - the dreaded Wolf Pack, which stalked the Atlantic depths, bringing instant death to merchantman and warship alike.
Together with a formidable surface fleet, the U-Boats challenged the Royal Navy's traditional supremacy of the oceans, countering Britain's strength in numbers with a reign of silent terror. A decade of secret rebuilding had brought forth capital ships like the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen - names to strike fear into any Allied seafarer.
However, it was from under the water that the biggest threat was to come. Commanded by Admiral Karl Doenitz, the submarines laid waste to shipping, cutting supply lines and striking from within convoys where Allied escorts dare not use guns. The U-Boat captains were the equivalent of Luftwaffe aces - ruthless, cunning and ice-cool under pressure. Enduring harsh conditions for months on end and working in darkness with no chance of escape, this was truly a war of nerves.
"There is no margin for error on a submariner" said one captain. "You are either alive or dead." on May 4 1945, Doenitz issued orders to cease hostilities. "You have fought like lions" he said to his valiant survivors. "You are laying down your arms after a heroic fight which knows no equals."
The story of that light is told hare using rare archive footage, much of which has been unavailable in the West since World War II.
18 pages added or updated in the last 3 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
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