This day, seventy years ago, 06/17/1942

The next day I will be available for tours is Sunday, 06/17/2012. If it's a Sunny day I start with a walk around Albany (approx. 5K, 3+ miles) at 9:00 AM. Visitors are welcome to tag along but please send me an email.

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Seventy years ago on this day, Wednesday, June 17rd, 1942 (during the Battle of the Atlantic four merchant ships were sunk): the unescorted American steam merchant Millinocket was torpedoed and sunk by the U-129; the unescorted Norwegian steam tanker Moira was was torpedoed and then sunk by gunfire by the U-158; the unescorted Panamanian steam merchant San Blas was torpedoed and sunk by the U-158; and sailing with Convoy KS-511, the American steam merchant Santore struck a mine and sank in the Chesapeake Bay.

HMS Wild Swan ( Royal Navy): World War II: The W-class destroyer was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft of the Luftwaffe.

On June 17rd, 1942 there were 78 U-Boats at Sea (Events this day - U-Boat Net). 

Duties of Lookouts

I ran across this excellent (but long) Royal Navy video about lookouts.  The US Navy was slightly different.  They used a 360 degree system for bearings instead of the red/green terminology.   About 22 minutes into the video they discuss sighting a U-Boat periscope and torpedo wakes.  About 43 minutes in they discuss steps for preparing for nighttime lookout duty.

This day, seventy years ago, 06/03/1942

The next day I will be available for tours is Sunday, 06/3/2012. If it's a Sunny day I start with a walk around Albany (approx. 5K, 3+ miles) at 9:00 AM. Visitors are welcome to tag along but please send me an email.

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Seventy years ago on this day, Wednesday, June 3rd, 1942 (during the Battle of the Atlantic four ships were sunk): an unescorted Norwegian motor tanker Høegh Giant was torpedoed and sunk by the U-126; an unescorted Swedish steam merchant Anna was sunk by gunfire after two torpedoes missed by the U-404; an unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant City of Alma was torpedoed and sunk by the U-172; and an unescorted American steam tanker M.F. Elliott was torpedoed and sunk by the U-502. Four smaller vessels were also sunk by gun fire. 

On June 3rd, 1942 there were 60 U-Boats at Sea.  U-109 returned from a 71 day patrol, 2 ships sunk (11,544 tons) and 1 ship damaged (6,548 tons).

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In the Pacific Ocean, the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Dutch Harbor (Alaska) started on June 3rd.