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[Siri]

There's quite a bit of confusion and disagreements in the various sources available to me with regard to the attack on Taranger. The 2nd mate's report says they were attacked at 23:25 on May 1, then torpedoed at 00:10 on May 2, breaking in 2 at 00:20 and sank. The 1st mate's report, however, dates the attack to May 2 at 23:25, saying the lifeboats set sail at 13:00 on May 3. Jürgen Rohwer says the attack occurred on May 3 at 03:16 German time, position 61 07N 25 20W (one of my Norwegian books gives the position 61 07N 20 20W).

Do you happen to have U-95's KTB Roland?

Siri

[Guest]

Hi Siri

Sorry no, I dont have the original. But I have the RITSCHEL. So here is the TARANGER INCIDENT:

02.05.1941

06.20h U-95 sighted a big steamer and starts to reach a attack position
10.09h The boat dived for attack. The ship is changing its course and the attack was given up. U-95 starts again to follow at 11.26h (AL 3178)

03.05.1941
01.45h U-95 again starts to attack TARANGER, which stoped by its own without any action by U-95 (WHY????)
02.08h U-95 fired a single torpedo which becomes a surfacerunner. TARANGER again shortly stoped and than sailed on high speed to escape.
02.45h U-95 fired with its machinegun to stop her again, no reaction just starting with radios and LCKP on 600 m wave
02.55h U-95 started to shell TARANGER with the deckgun. 21 rounds, 16 hits. TARANGER brought out lifeboats at this time
03.12h Second torpedo (coupe de grace) from U-95, surfacerunner again and failed
03.16h Third torpedo hits TARANGER in front of bridge. The ship went a little deeper into the water but doesnot sink (AL 1243)
03.25h Fourth torpedo hits the back part. TARANGER breaks in two parts and sinks (AL 1137)

Hope this is a little help
Roland Berr

[Siri]

Thank you so much Roland! I can't say it helped clarify the mess (you know what I'm like with times zones etc. - I've given up trying to make sense of it all), but I think it's important to see an attack from all sides so I've decided to add everything, including what you told me, to my page about Taranger http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/taranger.html If nothing else, it might be a good starting point for someone who is researcing this ship.

Thanks so much again!

Siri