U-boat autogiros

[Brian]

Hi guys

Out of curiosity, what do we know about the autogiro kites towed by U-boats, from which an observer could get a view of the surroundings?

Were these used operationally?

Cheers
Brian

[Bruce Dennis]

Try this link ...

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html

... and also do a general search on U-boat.net.

Several U-boats used them operationally and there is a bit at Kew about them. They were also tested in the Baltic by Komet, a disguised German surface raider, during a refit. One was aboard Komet when she attempted to break out into the Atlantic in October 1942, but you may recall from our conversations that she was caught and sunk before leaving the English Channel.

Regards, Bruce

[Steve Coates]

My book 'Helicopters Of The Third Reich' has two chapters on the Fa 330 which will help answer your questions.

As a matter of interest what's the evidence for an Fa 330 having been aboard the 'Komet' ? In late 1942 the Fa 330 was still in testing.

[Bruce Dennis]

Hi Steve, it is in the KTBs of Komet. You probably saw the same thing I did: the only example of operational use (although not carried out, it was intended) of the Fa330 by a surface craft.
Regards, Bruce

[Pilot]

Must check out but I think have somewhere an image of one of this machines on board of the submarine... So they was towed, not powered?

[Steve Coates]

Bruce Dennis posted: They were also tested in the Baltic by Komet, a disguised German surface raider, during a refit. One was aboard Komet when she attempted to break out into the Atlantic in October 1942, but you may recall from our conversations that she was caught and sunk before leaving the English Channel.

Bruce,

I've got the pages from the KTB of the testing of the Fa 330 V1 carried out at the end of July 1942 but nothing more. Your response implies a bit more might be available. What else do you have ?

Steve

[Tony Jones]

Hi

Fa 330A-1 c/n 100549 is on display Sundays at the Lashenden Museum, Headcorn Airfield, Kent, England

Their piloted Fi 103 V-1 is away in Germany at present for refurbishment

Regards

Tony

[Seaplanes]

I did find a note regarding the testing of the "Bachstelze" in the KTB of Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M. for October 6, 1942:
Schiff 45 meldet dass die am 28.9. auf Schiff 45 durchgeführten Versuche mit "Bachstelze" zu einem völlig negativen Ergebnis geführt haben, so dass die Abnahmekommission der Luftwaffe und der Kommandant des Schiffes das Gerät für das Schiff 45 als nicht frontreif erklären mussten.
Luftwirblung am Heck des Schiffes, so dass auch bei einer Windstärke von 8-10 m.sek. selbst den Firmenfliger in einer langen Versuchreihe und Ausprobieren aller Möglichkeiten ein Start nicht möglich war. Da gerät wird von Bord abgegeben.
(Schiff 45 was another designation of "Komet".)

[Bruce Dennis]

Seaplanes, thank you for that. It contradicts the earlier KTB statements from KOMET which sounded like the flying equipment and crew had remained despite the results of their trials. Steve, there is your answer.

Bruce

[Steve Coates]

Thanks both. I've also got this page from the KTB of the Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M. and came across it earlier this evening whilst checking back through my material rather than posting off the top of my head (which can be unwise).