I/KG 40 Casualty 16 Feb 41

[Chris Goss]

On the above date, Uffz Hermann Reidegelt was killed by gunfire. Can anyone confirm where his death occurred as all I have is 'west of Ireland'

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Hi Chris,
this is all I can offer as well.

Regards,

Norbert

[Mark McShane]

On 16 Feb the trawlers Iwate & Naniwa were attacked by a FW 200 120' W of Galway (Another report mentions a position 130' NW of Bull Rock, approx the same area) Iwate was undamaged and Naniwa was sunk.

Regards,

Mark

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Mark. Presume the trawlers were armed?

Chris

Originally Posted by Mark McShane

On 16 Feb the trawlers Iwate & Naniwa were attacked by a FW 200 120' W of Galway (Another report mentions a position 130' NW of Bull Rock, approx the same area) Iwate was undamaged and Naniwa was sunk.

Regards,

Mark

[Mark McShane]

Chris,

For this engagement the brief statements from personnel from both trawlers does not specifically state returning fire to the FW 200. However from previous engagements with these trawlers and indeed other trawlers from fleetwood & Milford I know that they were armed, usually with a Lewis or Hotchkiss machine gun that was manned by a dedicated gunner (DEMS gunner). They also usually carried at least one rifle.

Regards,

Mark

[Tony Kearns]

The survivors of the Naniwa were taken to Cobh whch might suggest that the action was 130 miles NW of the Bull rock rather than Galway.This is the location noted in the DRS in military Archives in Dublin. I agree with Mark that those plucky steam trawlers, carried only a Lewis gun ( sometimes two) and a rifle ( for drifting mines?)

Chris would it be possible to identify the FW200 and crew, please?
Tony K

[Mark McShane]

I'm not at home now.so cant give you exact daes nut wasnt Iwate attacked in late 1940. It would be a freak coincidence if the same aircraft was involved in both attacks

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gentlemen

Apart from the casualty and I/KG 40, I have nothing at present and the Luftflotte 3 reports have nothing but if I find out, I will certainly tell you

Chris

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

'Iwate' had nine lives it seems, or at least six anyway. There are four separate attacks recorded on it during late 1940 alone, all by aircraft with bombs and guns.
6 September, 3 October, 11 November and 23 December 1940.
All these attacks are listed in 'FW 200 CONDOR' by Juan-Carlos Salgado (so presumably all by Condors) and 'BRITISH VESSELS LOST AT SEA, 1914-18 and 1939-45'.

File G2/X/0423, Part 1 - 'Attacks on Shipping' (covering July 1940 to May 1941) has some pages on the 3 October and 23 December 1940 attacks, plus another on 29 March 1941. There is also a report on the 'Naniwa' sinking of 16 February 1941 which mentions the 'Iwate' and indeed records that its crew reported being bombed too.

Of interest to Chris might be a mention in the 3 October 1940 report that the 'Iwate' was armed with a Lewis gun which was manned by a gunner of the Royal Artillery, one Edward Simpson who believed he had hit the nose of the attacking aircraft with tracer bullets.

Fire was also returned by the 'Iwate' during the 29 March 1941 attack. There is no reference to weapons or their use by the trawler(s) during the 23 December 1940 or 16 February 1941 incidents but I think it is safe to assume they were used based on the above.

The four reports in the Irish Military Archives file were generated because 'Iwate' called into an Irish harbour after each attack, either due to having wounded or rescued survivors aboard or to make temporary repairs.

One really has to admire the courage of these fishermen. As far as I can tell 'Iwate' survived the war. If anyone can add more it will be Mark.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Mark McShane]

Originally Posted by Martin Gleeson

As far as I can tell 'Iwate' survived the war.

Martin,

Iwate did survive the war but fell victim to a mine off the Cork coast in 1946.

Mark