Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
-
- Member
- Posts: 374
- Joined: 19 Apr 2014, 09:49
- Location: earth
Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
Hello friends, I have accumulated some questions about these three ships, can you help me with them, thanks
Q1: Hannover
the former pre-dreadnaught was decommissioned in 1931 and then converted to a target hulk. Did she serve in this function in WW2 years as well, or was she laid up in the habor doing nothing, or was she converted to a test ship for new type ammo as per one source?
Q2: Lola
The aux. s-boat tender served in the Black sea, but later it was scuttled in Greek waters. Given that Turkey was neutral, no belligerent warships should be allowed to pass the straits. How did Lola enter Aegean, under disguss of merchant? Another thing regarding Lola, was tender Lola the same ship as UJ 117 Lola?
Q3: Biber
The ex-Italian TM194 'Faa di Bruno' was captured in Genoa and served in German naval coastal artillery as monitor Biber. Navypedia says the ship was extensively extended during modifications, including false bow and aft. But on the only available photo of her career in German navy (the turret still bore Italian camouflage but the tower above had German camou), no such modification can be seen, Biber was of roughly the same lenghth as Faa di Brunno. Was the modification/extension occurred half-way during her service as German Biber?
Q1: Hannover
the former pre-dreadnaught was decommissioned in 1931 and then converted to a target hulk. Did she serve in this function in WW2 years as well, or was she laid up in the habor doing nothing, or was she converted to a test ship for new type ammo as per one source?
Q2: Lola
The aux. s-boat tender served in the Black sea, but later it was scuttled in Greek waters. Given that Turkey was neutral, no belligerent warships should be allowed to pass the straits. How did Lola enter Aegean, under disguss of merchant? Another thing regarding Lola, was tender Lola the same ship as UJ 117 Lola?
Q3: Biber
The ex-Italian TM194 'Faa di Bruno' was captured in Genoa and served in German naval coastal artillery as monitor Biber. Navypedia says the ship was extensively extended during modifications, including false bow and aft. But on the only available photo of her career in German navy (the turret still bore Italian camouflage but the tower above had German camou), no such modification can be seen, Biber was of roughly the same lenghth as Faa di Brunno. Was the modification/extension occurred half-way during her service as German Biber?
-
- Member
- Posts: 816
- Joined: 22 Jan 2014, 04:16
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
where was information on Hannover and new type of ammo (and what type of ammo?)
not much info after it was removed from active service
cannot find any pictures of converted Biber, was interested as the stated size of ship with modifications would be over 300 ft.
not much info after it was removed from active service
cannot find any pictures of converted Biber, was interested as the stated size of ship with modifications would be over 300 ft.
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
LOLA was ordinary steamship and pass through Bosphorus after being disarmed. There is uncertainity about nature of UJ.117. Groener say this was ship named RILA, not LOLA.
-
- Member
- Posts: 374
- Joined: 19 Apr 2014, 09:49
- Location: earth
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
Thank you for the information. I can not find the website on Hannover anymore. It said the ship served as target in ww2 for new aircraft-dropped ammo. I agree with that no converted biber shows up in photo, the only photo available shows her being roughly the same as italian faa di bruno, no lengthening, no masts.
Hopefully there will be more clarification on UJ117
Hopefully there will be more clarification on UJ117
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
IIRC the "Faa di Bruno"/"Biber" wasn't rebuilt, but with the help of barges camouflaged to look like a longer merchant ship (somewhat simliar like the "Scheinprinz" at Brest).
-
- Member
- Posts: 816
- Joined: 22 Jan 2014, 04:16
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
Navypedia.org has Biber rebuilt by Germans http://www.navypedia.org/ships/germany/ger_bb_biber.htm
my interest was in concrete use, ever attempted on other ships? (German or other Axis ships)
my interest was in concrete use, ever attempted on other ships? (German or other Axis ships)
-
- Member
- Posts: 374
- Joined: 19 Apr 2014, 09:49
- Location: earth
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
Here is the Biber photo, the only I know to have been taken when serving the KM. Mostly the same as when Italian, but camouflage in the tower was German, and different from the old italian camou when it was faa di bruno. No masts and/or lengthening existed. So I guess the fact was more likely as kgvm suggested, rather than lengthening, it was other barges putting closely to Biber to make her like a harmless merchant.
photo is found on this forum, posted by jopaerya
BTW, can someone pls help ID the ships I posted in the 'Warship ID' stick thread? Thanks
Last edited by bertamingo on 02 Apr 2015, 12:10, edited 3 times in total.
-
- Member
- Posts: 374
- Joined: 19 Apr 2014, 09:49
- Location: earth
Re: Questions about "Hannover", "Lola" and "Biber"
There was a concrete ship(or boat?) called Engineer One, built in Greece by local shipyard for KM. Not sure what type of ship she was, might be a concrete version of the engineer landing boat?thaddeus_c wrote:Navypedia.org has Biber rebuilt by Germans http://www.navypedia.org/ships/germany/ger_bb_biber.htm
my interest was in concrete use, ever attempted on other ships? (German or other Axis ships)