Anchors on submarines

[vyv_cox]

I recall a thread on this topic a few months ago. I am currently reading a book about the various small organisations that led to the creation of the Special Boat Service and came across this account. It relates to the midget-submarine X23 taking position as a pathfinder off Sword beach immediately before D-day in 1944. X23 and its sister boat X20 were towed by trawler to about half way across the Channel, 60 miles from the French coast. At 2315 on June 4 they surfaced and moved to their position just under four miles from the coast. They then "did the most dangerous thing of all, which was to drop the anchor down". Lieutenant Booth put on his waterproof suit "came out of a hatch and went across to the bow and got the CQR anchor out of a metal box there and slung it out".

In a broadcast by the BBC they received a coded message that the landings had been postponed, so lay submerged for 24 hours in very uncomfortable conditions. They surfaced at 0445 on 6th June, rigging a white ensign, a light and a radar beacon. When the invasion fleet had passed them their orders were to report to the command ship. They could not raise the anchor and cut the rope.

 

[Sea Change]

Yes, very dangerous to spend a night anchored using a CQR!

 

[NormanS]

I recall a thread on this topic a few months ago. I am currently reading a book about the various small organisations that led to the creation of the Special Boat Service and came across this account. It relates to the midget-submarine X23 taking position as a pathfinder off Sword beach immediately before D-day in 1944. X23 and its sister boat X20 were towed by trawler to about half way across the Channel, 60 miles from the French coast. At 2315 on June 4 they surfaced and moved to their position just under four miles from the coast. They then "did the most dangerous thing of all, which was to drop the anchor down". Lieutenant Booth put on his waterproof suit "came out of a hatch and went across to the bow and got the CQR anchor out of a metal box there and slung it out".

In a broadcast by the BBC they received a coded message that the landings had been postponed, so lay submerged for 24 hours in very uncomfortable conditions. They surfaced at 0445 on 6th June, rigging a white ensign, a light and a radar beacon. When the invasion fleet had passed them their orders were to report to the command ship. They could not raise the anchor and cut the rope.

That just shows that in those far off days, there was nothing wrong with CQRs. Funny how nowadays lots of people can't get them to work.

 

[S04]

Wow, 24 hours submerged certainly must have been "uncomfortable", hats off to the crews.

In the boats I was on that period of time without surfacing or snorting was terrible and we had oxygen candles and CO2 scrubbers.

Edit: I wonder why they didn't just sit on the bottom instead of anchoring?

 

[vyv_cox]

Wow, 24 hours submerged certainly must have been "uncomfortable", hats off to the crews.

In the boats I was on that period of time without surfacing or snorting was terrible and we had oxygen candles and CO2 scrubbers.

Indeed it was. No way of replenishing air, no sewage disposal, six on board a relatively small vessel. When they opened hatches they all suffered hangover symptoms due to the sudden increase in oxygen.

 

[dgadee]

Read that. Fascinated by people who go beneath the waves. Have a book on early escape techniques.

Would never do it myself.

Bill King's writing was something else, too.

 

[ducked]

Edit: I wonder why they didn't just sit on the bottom instead of anchoring?

Submerged navigation buoys, eh? Fool em every time.

 

[capnsensible]

Wow, 24 hours submerged certainly must have been "uncomfortable", hats off to the crews.

In the boats I was on that period of time without surfacing or snorting was terrible and we had oxygen candles and CO2 scrubbers.

Edit: I wonder why they didn't just sit on the bottom instead of anchoring?

Submersibles........

 

[S04]

Submersibles........

OK you've shamed me.....

Although it's widely agreed that the transition from submersible to submarine came with the advent of the capability to snort. Well, that's my story.