How did Hilfskreuzers avoid being hit by U boats?

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NeoVisionist
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How did Hilfskreuzers avoid being hit by U boats?

#1

Post by NeoVisionist » 12 Oct 2017, 14:06

If Hilfskreuzers flew foreign flags, how did they avoid being accidentaly torpedoed by their own U boats? Were they generally deployed away from U boat hunting grounds as a rule (still presents a risk in home waters when in transit) or did they only fly neutral flags whom Germany wasn't at war with (which would have compromised their disguise- easy for the Brits to put out an "avoid all Swedish flagged ships" bulletin for instance)?

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Waleed Y. Majeed
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Re: How did Hilfskreuzers avoid being hit by U boats?

#2

Post by Waleed Y. Majeed » 12 Oct 2017, 16:03

In most cases I would think intel on friendly vessels and visual ID would hinder it. But there is the case of U 333, so mistakes did happen. http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1305.html

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genstab
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Re: How did Hilfskreuzers avoid being hit by U boats?

#3

Post by genstab » 15 Oct 2017, 11:05

Based on my reading about the Hilfskreuzers, they usually did use a neutral ship disguise and flew that nation's flag - but also no doubt all U-boats were briefed by radio where they were operating; occasionally they would have a critical part sent out for them, and on the rare occasion shipwrecked people were picked up the U-boat would get rid of them by transferring them to the raider. It's true the neutral flag gambit didn't always work with British cruisers but it took a long time for the real ship to be found and sometimes the cruiser would let the raider go if it had more pressing business. I mean the German captains were foxy- they'd put out a few disguised as women with a pram walking the deck and maybe a couple sailors made up to look like older men painting.

If you can get hold of a copy of Life Magazine for June 23, 1941 you'll see the photo of Atlantis taken by a Life photographer from the lifeboat after the Zamzam was sunk. That photo helped the captain of the British heavy cruiser Devonshire identify Atlantis six months later when she was sunk.

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

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