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Atlantic Naval Conflict U-boats, merchant convoys, the Hood, the Bismark, Huff-Duff and ASDIC

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Old August 21st, 2009, 03:53 PM
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Default The Lorient U-Boote Base

Last week I visited the Lorient Keroman U-Boote Base. This place was chosen by Doenitz as early as 1940 to become the largest U-Boote facilitly on the Atlantic coast. It was taken over by the French Navy in 1945 and used until 1997 . Nowadays Keroman 3 is a museum whereas K1 and K2 are used as warehouses.

from 1941 three huge bunkers shelters were built by the Todt organisation, each new bunker coming with new techniques to counter the allied bombings.

1) Keroman 1 was built first and could hosted the first generation u-Boote







notice the original cammo from 1944

2) Keroman 2 was built next to K1 and hoted bigger subs with better protection. It was connected to K1 but was separated by a 90meter open track that was still vulnerable.









3)K3 was built later with better technology (no open space and 7 meters thick concrete protection instead of three to which was added blue granite imported from Norway .



4) a K4 was planned in 1943 , but never completed . This one even planned a protected railroad station. see open hall on pic below.

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Old August 21st, 2009, 04:01 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

great pics skipper,must have been awesome place when fully operational...
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Old August 21st, 2009, 04:51 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Just wait till I post what I saw inside!

achtung Minen!



Torpedo los!
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Old August 21st, 2009, 04:52 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

I see the trip was productive.
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Old August 21st, 2009, 04:57 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Great pics, Skipper. Looking forward to more from what seems like an informative trip.
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Old August 21st, 2009, 05:01 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skipper View Post

Torpedo
Torpedo! Shame on you, eels old boy.

Nice pictures there Skipper, you visiting any more?
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Old August 21st, 2009, 05:08 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

a French Daphne class sub (the Flora) between the K1 and K2 buildings. This 1950s model was left here in 1997 to help you imagine the transfer of the U-Boote at the right scale. It is about 57 meter long and the total vulnerable distance between both buildings was 90 meters. Notice that even the later 70 meter U-Boote would fit in there.

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Old August 21st, 2009, 05:19 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

these 2 ships were deliberately sunk by the Germans and loaded with concrete to make and anti- floating mine dam . As it does not hinder navigation the authorities have chosen to leave it as such up to nowadays.



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Old August 21st, 2009, 05:41 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

What's with the beached sail boats? Is the tide out?
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Old August 21st, 2009, 10:22 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

you are correct there is a very strong tide in Britanny and you better sail out when the water is high

I spotted more wreckage in a part of the harbour that was not touched since WWII. I'm not sure whehter these are WWII relics , but they are certainly surrounded by bunkers and other Flak remains.







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Old August 21st, 2009, 10:34 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

more WWII relics: a Flak socle, a Tobruk (about to fall into the sea) , another socle





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Old August 22nd, 2009, 12:14 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

great photos Skipper, i'd say you enjoyed yourself - my kind of holiday


i love the little Tobruk....there were so many of them in Normandy, it felt great to go inside them and then stick your head up out of the opening
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 12:21 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Cheers guys, I have many more pics to post but it's 1 am , so you "ll have to wait a few hours before you see the pics I took inside the huge Keroman building. Here is one of the K1 I managed to take through a net.

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Old August 22nd, 2009, 12:23 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

very atmospheric, is that a long lost U-Boot down in the far end or maybe a derelict Schnellboot ?

great pic this last one
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 07:23 AM
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Thumbs up Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Excellent pics, thanx Skipper for sharing those!!!!!
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 09:03 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

It looks like a sunk U-Boot Erich , but it's a French ship sunk by the Germans in 1941 to serve as a rempart against mine attacks. If you want to see sunk U-Boote you will need to visit the Davis Tower Museum , it's in the K1 building . It hosts relics from the KM but also a unique German WWII diving simulator
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 09:09 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Hi Skipper, great shots and info on these. Thanks for your time and effort to give us such a great photo essay of your time there. I NEED to go there some day ;-)) Too bad that they can't borrow U 995 from Laboe, U 10 from Wilhelmshaven and U 2540 from Bremerhaven. They would help make a great German display ;-))
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 11:38 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Thanks, Skipper!

Seems that you, as french countryman can reach authentic treasures inside Keroman.....



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Old August 22nd, 2009, 10:15 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

well pull out the 3 long lost late War U-booten XXI's out of the Hamburg bunkers and put one to scale there in Lorient.........

nah not worth the effort really.
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 10:30 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

The place is open for ay body and there are even guided tours in English .

Here are a few pictures of the roof of K-3 . Notice the Flak turrets and the bombing bouncing devices. The roof at this point is 7 meter thick and resisted to a massive bombing on August 1944 which included a direct hit on this very roof by a +-5000 kilo Tall boy bomb.







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Old August 22nd, 2009, 10:32 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

here are pictures of the inside of K3 with the German ceiling crane that was s maintained by the French after the war and still works.





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Old August 22nd, 2009, 10:44 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

a question on the Flak apperatures Skip with loading bays for ammo, you think 8.8cm or larger .....your # 3 pic on thread # 20 ? great impressive shots
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Old August 22nd, 2009, 10:58 PM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

I believe tha tis correct. Considering the large socle I'd say 88mm for anti bomber defense on the roof and 20mm along the docks to prevent diving stafing aircraft from coming too close. I think the 20 mm were twinned or even quadruple mounted , but I'm not certain about that because they were also used by the French after 1945
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Old August 23rd, 2009, 12:31 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Skipper, thanks again from someone who will probably never get to see this in person. It's a poor substitute, but it gives me a better understanding of the setup.
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Old August 23rd, 2009, 03:21 AM
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Default Re: The Lorient U-Boote Base

Great shots, Skipper. Thanks for sharing!
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