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WorldWar2.ro Forum > WW2 in General > 30 Flotilla Submarines ( Constanta )

Posted by: Rostrica May 28, 2005 06:14 pm

Hello l, my intention is asked if they know some web or other sites where contain information about 30 U-flotilla german that was in Constance in the WW2.

There is little information about this flotilla and his operations in the black sea, maybe you could help me to find more information.

Thank you for his attention.

greetings

Posted by: Victor May 28, 2005 07:11 pm

In April 1942, the Kriegsmarine decided to bring six class II-B subs in the Black Sea. Because the Bosphorus Straits were closed to military ships, the ships had to be brought from the Baltic through the mainland.

The first three (U-9, U-19 and U-24) were lightened by some 50 tons by removing the Diesel engines, the electric motors and the batteries. From Kiel they were towed on the Northern Baltic Channel, then on the Elba all the way to Dresden. From there the subs were trasported on the highway to Ingolstadt. There they were launched in the Danube and mounted on pontoons. This way they travelled to Linz, where the engines were reinstalled and they travelled on their own to Sulina. The three subs became operational in the Black Sea between 26 October and 9 November 1942. In May-June 1943, teh other three (U-18, U-20 and U-23) arrived. The Flotilla was based at Constanta.

The first attack was made by U-24 (CO Petersen) at Poti on 5 November 1942, but with an unknown result. The first sinking was on 14 February 1943, by U-19, which torpedoed the Krasnii Profintern (4,648 tons) cargoship SE of Tuapse.

Other claims:
1. U-19, 23 March 1943, damaged a 2,000 ton cargo at Gagry
2. U-24, 31 March 1943, sunk the oil tanker Sovietskaya Neft (8,228 tons)
3. U-24, 15 June 1943, sunk an armed fishing ship
4. U-18, 23 JUne 1943, sunk the cargo ship Leningrad (1,783 tons)

During the first 6 months of operations, the subs have been 276 days at sea and were involved in 19 torpedo attacks.

5. U-18, 17 July 1943, sunk the cargo ship Voroshilov (3,908 tons)
6. U-24, 30 July 1943, sunk the cargo ship Emba (7,886 tons)
7. U-24, 22 August 1943, sunk two small motor boats and one tug.
8. U-18, 29 August 1943, sunk a submarine hunter
9. U-9, 29 October 1943, damaged an oil tanker near Soci
and the list could go on.

In 1943, the Flotilla made 30 war patrols, totaling 765 days at sea, with 79 torpedoes launched in 42 attacks, which led to the sinking of six large transports of oil tankers, an armed fishing boat, three narges and three patrol ships (in total 24,850 tons). Further 24, 000 tons were claimed damaged.

Posted by: Carol I May 29, 2005 10:43 am

See also the thread on http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=1261.

Posted by: Carol I May 29, 2005 11:25 am

QUOTE

The 30th Flotilla was founded in October 1941 under the command of Kptlt. Helmut Rosenbaum. The boats reached Constanza after a transport over land and canals. The operational area was limited to the Black Sea. Its history ended in September 1944, when the three last Flotillas boats U-19,U-20 and U-23 were scuttled on 10 September, 1944 near the Turkish coast.

From http://uboat.net/flotillas/30flo.htm

Posted by: Victor May 29, 2005 07:55 pm

Btw, Kplt. Helmut Rosenbaum was the captain of the sub that had sunk the carrier HMS Eagle in the Med.

Posted by: Kiwi December 30, 2008 11:01 pm

The surviving U-boats were scuttled along the Turkish coast and these 4 U-boats were recently discovered in excellent condition.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1577456/Adolf-Hitler%27s-%27lost-fleet%27-found-in-Black-Sea.html

QUOTE

He has already completed successful dives to the wreckage of one vessel, U-20, two miles offshore in about 80ft of water. He believes he has discovered another, U-23, at twice that depth, three miles from the town of Agva, but bad weather forced him to suspend diving until the spring.

He thinks he is also close to pinpointing the third boat, U-19, thought to lie more than 1,000ft down, three miles from the Turkish city of Zonguldak.

QUOTE

When Romania switched sides the crews were ordered to scuttle out of sight of the Turks so the submarines' locations would remain a mystery. Mr Kolay was helped by a map drawn by Rudolf Arendt, 85, the former captain of the U-23, showing where his crew came ashore.

Posted by: Petre May 08, 2009 08:44 pm

The commander of 30 U-Flotilla, Kapitaleutnant Helmut Rosenbaum was lost on May, 10th, 1944 as a result of flight accident near Constantza. Has taken off from Constantza on a call of Donitz and in some minutes after launch the plane crashed. Korvettenkapitän (posthumous).

Posted by: Dénes May 08, 2009 08:55 pm

Do you know details of the Luftwaffe airplane (seaplane?) and its unit, involved in the accident?

Gen. Dénes

Posted by: Petre May 09, 2009 06:15 am

Sorry, no.