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Confidential
U-Boat in the Arctic
from the wind. Obsolete (old) type radio appa-
this area. However, after operating in one of the
ratus was in use. These stations were adequately
alleged fields for some time, they were regarded as
stocked with all gear and supplies necessary for
a negligible danger. No mine detonations were
remaining self-sustaining for long periods. Russian
observed.
personnel made a good impression and were trained
Air patrol was carried out by Catalinas and small
very much as specialists. No defense preparations
land planes. Detection from the air could mostly
in the normal sense were observed, and according to
be avoided by steering for the aircraft and changing
Russian prisoner of war statements were not to be
course SO as to direct the bow at the plane at all
expected. Russian radio keying was very precise
times. After a few occasions, no alarm was given
and radio discipline was strict. However, after
on sighting Soviet aircraft. Neither radar nor
concluding official business, it was general practice
rockets were observed. In some places aircraft were
to carry on private conversation among themselves
also sighted in bad weather, sometimes undertaking
which evidently was not prohibited.
routine work along the shipping route for ice re-
connaissance.
Soviet Antisubmarine Warfare
Russian defense against submarines was simple,
Shchuka-type submarines were observed in posi-
i. e., by keeping close watch on the area north of
tions that did not seem to be fixed according to any
Cape Shelanya and around Kara and Yugor
plan, and they were definitely not in waiting posi-
Straits. Convoys proceeded hugging the ice limit.
tions. Their behavior was no different than in
In this way only one side of the route had to be
peacetime. It was assumed that submarines would
protected from the submarines.
hardly operate in the area north and east of Novaya
Influence on Crews Operating in the Arctic
Zemlya. Soviet submarines sighted in the north-
ern theater did not operate in a very clever manner;
Operations were carried out under a certain psy-
on meeting a German sub they always appeared un-
chological strain in view of the hopelessness of re-
certain whether the German boat was not one of
turn if the route around Cape Shelanya were closed
their own. The Russian subchasers were princi-
by ice. This feeling was neutralized to some extent,
pally the Wedemeyer craft which is adequate for
however, by the fact that the danger of air attack
these areas if equipped with all modern antisub-
was insignificant and that enemy surface vessels were
marine weapons. Submarine hunting groups were
comparatively harmless. The low temperature in-
observed ahead of the convoys, as well as separate
side the submarine combined with the high
groups for protecting the sea area. It is likely that
humidity and the absence of any possibility for dry-
these forces were not equipped with sound detectors
ing clothes, was a heavy strain on the health of the
because the latter were not of much value due to
crew. After a spell of heavy seaway, one could
stratification of the water and owing to the sound
expect to be underway for days on end in damp
being reflected from the ground in these shallow
clothing.
waters. No sonar was observed. In general, the.
Estimate of Constructional and Special Equipment
bottom of these waters was comparatively level.
Required by Subs in the Arctic
Most vessels, excepting destroyers, had only one
gun. Their antiaircraft armament was probably
Submarines operating in the Arctic should have
weak because air attacks could hardly be expected
strengthened bows, heated periscopes, drying room,
in this area. Depth charges in simple chutes were
antiaircraft guns protected from spray.
observed but these were never used systematically
White camouflage nets and white paint should be
and there was never any intensive pursuit with
carried on board. Food should contain much fat.
depth charges.
Rations must be pre-prepared because docking con-
Based on information obtained from Russian
ditions under submerged conditions are very poor.
prisoners of war, there were several mine fields in
Special boats for landing operations should be
carried.
1 Wooden craft, Diesel-engined, capable of about 16
knots.
2 The northern point of Novaya Zemlya Island.
120
Confidential
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"ocrText": "Confidential\nU-Boat in the Arctic\nfrom the wind. Obsolete (old) type radio appa-\nthis area. However, after operating in one of the\nratus was in use. These stations were adequately\nalleged fields for some time, they were regarded as\nstocked with all gear and supplies necessary for\na negligible danger. No mine detonations were\nremaining self-sustaining for long periods. Russian\nobserved.\npersonnel made a good impression and were trained\nAir patrol was carried out by Catalinas and small\nvery much as specialists. No defense preparations\nland planes. Detection from the air could mostly\nin the normal sense were observed, and according to\nbe avoided by steering for the aircraft and changing\nRussian prisoner of war statements were not to be\ncourse SO as to direct the bow at the plane at all\nexpected. Russian radio keying was very precise\ntimes. After a few occasions, no alarm was given\nand radio discipline was strict. However, after\non sighting Soviet aircraft. Neither radar nor\nconcluding official business, it was general practice\nrockets were observed. In some places aircraft were\nto carry on private conversation among themselves\nalso sighted in bad weather, sometimes undertaking\nwhich evidently was not prohibited.\nroutine work along the shipping route for ice re-\nconnaissance.\nSoviet Antisubmarine Warfare\nRussian defense against submarines was simple,\nShchuka-type submarines were observed in posi-\ni. e., by keeping close watch on the area north of\ntions that did not seem to be fixed according to any\nCape Shelanya and around Kara and Yugor\nplan, and they were definitely not in waiting posi-\nStraits. Convoys proceeded hugging the ice limit.\ntions. Their behavior was no different than in\nIn this way only one side of the route had to be\npeacetime. It was assumed that submarines would\nprotected from the submarines.\nhardly operate in the area north and east of Novaya\nInfluence on Crews Operating in the Arctic\nZemlya. Soviet submarines sighted in the north-\nern theater did not operate in a very clever manner;\nOperations were carried out under a certain psy-\non meeting a German sub they always appeared un-\nchological strain in view of the hopelessness of re-\ncertain whether the German boat was not one of\nturn if the route around Cape Shelanya were closed\ntheir own. The Russian subchasers were princi-\nby ice. This feeling was neutralized to some extent,\npally the Wedemeyer craft which is adequate for\nhowever, by the fact that the danger of air attack\nthese areas if equipped with all modern antisub-\nwas insignificant and that enemy surface vessels were\nmarine weapons. Submarine hunting groups were\ncomparatively harmless. The low temperature in-\nobserved ahead of the convoys, as well as separate\nside the submarine combined with the high\ngroups for protecting the sea area. It is likely that\nhumidity and the absence of any possibility for dry-\nthese forces were not equipped with sound detectors\ning clothes, was a heavy strain on the health of the\nbecause the latter were not of much value due to\ncrew. After a spell of heavy seaway, one could\nstratification of the water and owing to the sound\nexpect to be underway for days on end in damp\nbeing reflected from the ground in these shallow\nclothing.\nwaters. No sonar was observed. In general, the.\nEstimate of Constructional and Special Equipment\nbottom of these waters was comparatively level.\nRequired by Subs in the Arctic\nMost vessels, excepting destroyers, had only one\ngun. Their antiaircraft armament was probably\nSubmarines operating in the Arctic should have\nweak because air attacks could hardly be expected\nstrengthened bows, heated periscopes, drying room,\nin this area. Depth charges in simple chutes were\nantiaircraft guns protected from spray.\nobserved but these were never used systematically\nWhite camouflage nets and white paint should be\nand there was never any intensive pursuit with\ncarried on board. Food should contain much fat.\ndepth charges.\nRations must be pre-prepared because docking con-\nBased on information obtained from Russian\nditions under submerged conditions are very poor.\nprisoners of war, there were several mine fields in\nSpecial boats for landing operations should be\ncarried.\n1 Wooden craft, Diesel-engined, capable of about 16\nknots.\n2 The northern point of Novaya Zemlya Island.\n120\nConfidential"
}