Prinz Eugen's Afterdeck

RF · Post by RF » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:15 pm

Looking at this photo I notice an object on the far left that looks very much like a depth-charge. Is this right, did the Hipper classe cruisers carry depth charges, and was PE so armed on Rheinubung?

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:23 pm

Yes to both questions. Depth charge racks were carried on the fantail. The Hipper class were equipped with a full suite of active and passive sonars. The depth charges were electrically tripped from the bridge. Fotos of Prinz Eugen's fantail before, during and after the action indicate that she had DCs on board and dropped them at some point during the action, either jettisoning them for safety sake or, as several have postulated, to confuse enemy gunners.

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:07 am

As an aside, the object next to the depth charge rack is a chemical smoke generator. I believe the photo on the home page was actually taken from a minesweeper and not Prinz Eugen.

RF · Post by RF » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:08 pm

Were the Hipper classe cruisers ever used in an anti-submarine role, ie. did they ever depth charge an Allied sub?

Post by **José M. Rico** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:24 pm

tommy303 wrote:I believe the photo on the home page was actually taken from a minesweeper and not Prinz Eugen.

Interesting observation Tommy. What makes you think it is a minesweeper? We can't see much but it looks like Prinz Eugen to me.

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:21 pm

I will have to do some digging, but I believe I have seen several photos from the same ship at different angles. I could be wrong of course, and I seem to recall one as being captioned as being on a torpedo boat.

Terje Langoy · Post by **Terje Langoy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:07 pm

Could it be the size of the swastika as well as the distances between the deck details relative to this that feed your doubts, Tommy? I recall the images from February 1942, after she had been torpedoed, and must admit that her aft deck as well as the swastika appeared a bit larger on those images.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_di ... page_2.htm

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:59 pm

Hi all,

I retract the statement that it might be a minesweeper. After carefully looking over the photograph, it is probably as stated Prinz Eugen from which the photo was taken. The photographer was standing very near the stern at almost the centerline, looking to port and slightly forward. The confusing point was the two depth charges racks, one to port and one to starboard were not the same design and the one in the picture was the less photographed port one, which resembled the type used on minesweepers and destroyers.

my apologies to all.

thomas

Post by **José M. Rico** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:26 pm

No need to apologize.

If I'm not mistaken that deck wheel to the right of the photo was for the stern anchor chain. I don't think the minesweepers had that.

As for the depth charges, this is the only picture that I have found so far in which the port side rack can be seen (covered with canvas):

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:57 pm

Hi Jose,

Yes, that is the only one I have seen of the port rack as well. Yes, it appears the hand wheel is for the stern anchor control.

Post by **José M. Rico** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:59 pm

RF wrote:Were the Hipper classe cruisers ever used in an anti-submarine role, ie. did they ever depth charge an Allied sub?

No, I don't think so.
Bismarck was also equipped with depth charges. Can you image a battleship on anti-submarine duties?

tommy303 · Post by **tommy303** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:31 am

I should think, the depth charges and active sonar would have been more defensive than anti-submarine. Conceivably drop a pattern on or near a suspected submarine and then run for it to get out of range of his torpedos while he was going deep to escape the attack. Other than that, a large ship such as a cruiser or battleship, with its very wide turning circle, is not going to be an effective sub hunter by any stretch of the imaginations.

Antonio Bonomi · Post by **Antonio Bonomi** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:55 am

Ciao all,

if I can be of any help....... be sure 100 % that ship is Prinz Eugen.

More, .. the depth charge racks ( 2 in total; one on each side ) were covered often with canvas and changed as far as position on the stern , .. before they were more toward midship, .. than they moved them more to the stern as you can se down below on the photos ( use teh last set of bollard as reference ),..... the swastika banner being re-painted.

Ciao Antonio

RF · Post by RF » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:58 am

José M. Rico wrote: Can you image a battleship on anti-submarine duties? :lol:

They would certainly pull their weight in ramming a surfaced sub...

Bgile · Post by **Bgile** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:22 pm

RF wrote:
José M. Rico wrote: Can you image a battleship on anti-submarine duties?
They would certainly pull their weight in ramming a surfaced sub...

Thereby causing sufficient damage to the cruiser to have to abort her mission and return to dry dock for repairs at much reduced speed.

Surely grounds for relieving the captain of command.