German grand admiral Raeder and the German submarine warfar issie in the American press according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated September 1939. An item reported that during the daily conference at the German Navy Ministry no news was supplied about naval activities. The attaché however received a copy of telegrams exchanged between Carl von Wiegand (1) at the Carlton Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands and grand admiral Raeder (2) and were to be transmitted by the American Embassy. Von Wiegand asked on 7 September Raeder for a statement for the press where the nearest German submarine was when the Athenia (3) was torpedoed, what the attitude of the German Navy Department towards American ships was and finally which orders received German submarines how to handle with American ships. The next day Raeder reacted stating that he was satisfied with the chance to clarify in the American press the attitude and far more how to deal with the “abominable lie” thet the British passenger ship Athenia underway from Canada to England was torpedoed without a warning. He referred to the official statement of the German Navy Department the same dealing with this affaire. For understandable security reasons he could not supply exact positions of German submarines except for that the nearest submarine was on a distance of 170 nautical miles. The entire German armed forces including the submarine commanders received the strickest instructions to act conform international law and treaties and to respect the rights of neutral ships. How to handle with ships under the commerce war was described in the German prize rules. No doubt were merchants ships of the neutral USA not in danger as long as they dit not oppose the prize rules.

Notes

1. Karl Henry von Wiegand (11 September 1874 Glaam, Germany-7 June 1961 Zürich, Switzerland), American journalist and war corrrespondent, in 1939 working for Hearst newspapers.

2. Erich Johann Albert Raeder (24 April 1876 Wandsbek, Germany 6 November 1960 Kiel, Germany), head of the German Naval Command 1 October 1928-1 June 1935 and chief of the German Navy High Command 1 June 1935-30 January 1943.

3. Torpedoed around 200-230 miles west of the Hebrides without a warning by the German submarine U 30 on 3 September 1939. She was underway from Glasgow, Scotland towards Montreal, Canada. British passenger ship built in 1923.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

British passenger ship ss Athenia sunk according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated Tuesday 12 September 1939. An item reported that the ss Athenia was sunk north of Inishtrahull, 10 miles off the north Irish coast at 7:40 p.m. on 3 September.

Note

1. Torpedoed around 200-230 miles west of the Hebrides without a warning by the German submarine U 30. She was underway from Glasgow, Scotland towards Montreal, Canada. British passenger ship built in 1923.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

British cargo ship ss Athenia torpedoed and sunk according to a report of of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated Monday 4 September 1939. An item reported that the British cargo ship ss Athenia was torpedoed and sunk about 200 miles west of the Hebreides. On board were Canadians and 311 Americans returning to the USA. British destroyers, a Swedish yacht and Norwegian and American merchant ships tried to rescue the survivors. The Foreign Officie died officially the loss to the US Chargé.

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

Wreck of Dutch steam trawler Gerard (IJM.316) investigated according to the magazine De visscherij dated 3 August 1929

An item dated IJmuiden, Netherlands 27 July reported that divers examined the Dutch steam trawler Gerard (IJM.316) sunk off the island Ransay [Raasay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland?]and reported that the bottom was beyond repairs damaged caused by hitting the rocks. She was owned by the N.V. Nationale Stoomvisscherij, IJmuiden and built at the shipyard Fortuna, Gorinchem, Netherlands in 1917.

Movements of the American whalers Gazelle, Elizabeth C. Cowdin and Elizabeth according to the Whalemen’s Shipping List dated Tuesday 26th July 1859

An letter written by captain Baker on board of the Gazelle (1) of New Bedford, USA lying in the Bay of Islands reports that according to tidings from Treasury Island (Hebrides) around 1st of February the bark Elliot C. Cowdin (2) captain Bailey of Dartmouth was lying there with a catch of 1.100 barrels sperm oil. The Elizabeth (3) captain Pierce of New Bedford was leaving the harbour with a catch of 1.440 barrels sperm oil.

Notes
1. Tonnage 340 tons, shipping agent Thomas Nye jr., departed on 18 August 1857 towards the Pacific.
2. Tonnage 280 tons, shipping agent Tucker&Cummings, departed on 9 October 1855 towards the Pacific.
3. Tonnage 329  tons, shipping agent Thomas Nye Jr., departed on 11 October 155 towards the Pacific.

Collier Nobile sunk off Hebrides by German submarine according to the Dutch newspaper De Tijd dated 30 April 1915

An item dated London, England 30th reported that the collier Nobile was sunk by a German submarine off the Hebrides. Her crew was brought to Stornoway [Steòòrnabhagh], Hebrides.

French destroyer Primauget (D 644) 1981-

Photo made by Pétur Guðmundur Ingimarsson, thanks for allowing us publishing it. 

A F70 type anti-submarine frigate of the Georges Leygues-class. Laid down on 17 November 1981, launched on 17 March 1984, commissioned on 5 November 1986 and in 2014 still in service. With a displacement of 3.680 tons/3.6222 long tons (standard)-4.580 tons/4.508 long tons (full load) and as dimensions 139,00 x 14,00 x 5,80 metres or 456’0” x 45’11” x 19’0” metres. The 2 Pielstick diesels supplied 5.200 hp and the 2 Rolls Royce gas turbines 26.000 hp allowing a speed of 21 (diesels)-29,5 (turbines) knots. Her crew numbers 144 men. Her armament consisted of 1-10cm gun, 2-2cm guns, 2-12,7mm machineguns, 1-Crotale EDIR missile launcher (8 on launcher+18 stored) and 2 Simbad systems with 2x2 Mistral missiles. With a hangar and a flight deck can she carry two Lynx WG13 Mk4 helicopters with her.