U-441=( U-Flak 1 )

[leon21]

 

U-441 type V11C U-Boat commissioned in Feb 1942, served with (5th U-Boat Flotilla) a training unit, and(1st U-Boat

Flotilla) from Oct 42 to Jun 44. In Apr-May 43 U441 was rebuilt as the 1st of three U-Flak Boats, designed to give

U-Boats a better chance of defending against Aircraft Attacks. She was equipped with an enlarged bridge which served

as a base for 2 Flakvierling 2cm (4 barrelled guns 6,000 rounds) and one 3.7cm gun (1,160 rounds) as well up to six

MG42, an AA Rocket Launcher and a Powerful Searchlight. She operated from May43 to Oct43 as U-Flak 1,by late 43

the U-Flak Boats were considered a failure and U-Flak 1 was converted back to her original configuration. Completed

11 patrols, sank one ship of 7,051 tons and shot down one Sunderland Flying -Boat, she was sunk on 8th June 1944

with all hands on deck by depth charges dropped by a Liberater of RAF 224 Squadron.

 

Pic (1) of U-441 before rebuild

 

Pic (2) of U-Flak 1 after rebuild

 

Pic (3) close up of bridge area

[Kenny Andrew]

I didn't even know these existed ,pretty cool ,the Flak towers in Berlin have always intriged me too

[Greg]

Never knew myself either.... Why did they fail?

[Greg]

Never knew myself either.... Why did they fail?

[leon21]

The U-Flak Boats were (U-441, U-256, U-621, and U-953, three other U-boats were set aside to be converted but were

never completed. They were to act as surface escorts for incoming/outgoing attack U-Boats operating from French

Atlantic Bases and were intended as (Aircraft Traps). The fuel capacity was limited to Bay of Biscay operations only,

only 5 torpedoes were carried-in the tubes- for self-defence, room was needed for additional gunners taken onboard.

All went well at first with the shooting down of to British Aircraft but it was'nt long before the British change tactics the

single aircraft would hold off the attack on spotting the U-Flaks, would call up support destroyers or other aircraft to help

with the attack. U-Flak 1 was such a victim when attacked by three Beaufighters and badly damaged with 51 killed, 35

wounded including all the naval officers, the boats doctor took over command and recoverd the wounded and managed

to get U-Flak 1 back to Brest, for which he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. it was then decided to convert them

back to Attack U-Boats. Another reason also was that some of the Allied planes were using rockets and could sink a

U-Boat with one hit.

[leon21]

 

 

Here's a picture of U-889 although not a U-Flak Boat could be mistaken for one. It's been reported that there were

more than just the 4 operational Boats.

[Greg]

seems rather silly to use a complex and expensive submarine as a above water flack platform... sure it can draw fire away from the read subs and shoot down aircraft but an escourt craft with flak mounts can do the same for far lest cost. Really neat looking though!

[leon21]

 

 

Yes your quite right, I remember reading somewere not sure when, didn't the American Airforce try something

along the same line's with B-17s. Putting extra guns in a few aircraft and using them as escort planes to the

bombers on thier bombing operations, that failed to if I recall.

[RAF635SQ]

They also tried to fly B17's with a remote control to take out V weapon sites and U-boat pens, I think it was codenamed operation aphrodite if I can recall from memory.

[Dave]

The Germans had dedicated flak vessels; very often simple boats such as barges with flak guns on board. These guarded ports and harbours.

 

Does seem crazy to use U boats as such weapons but the U boats were almost a seperate part of the Whermacht and there was a lot of inter service rivalry in the TR.

 

Thanks for the info Leon, very interesting.