One prisoner swimming near Heyda stated that he heard his Commander say: "Let's hope the damned boat soon blows up!" There was, however, an interval of nine minutes before the charges, which were fixed beside the air bottles, exploded, and "U 434" sank.

Forty-two survivors were picked up by "Blankney". Two other members of the crew, Oberleutnant zur See Frank and Maschinengefreiter (Stoker, 2nd Class) Brandes, are believed by prisoners to have been run down by "Blankney" and killed by her propellers.

"U 434" joins the growing list of U-Boats destroyed in recent months with no sinkings whatsoever to their credit.

VII - DETAILS OF "U 434"

(i) General Remarks
"U 434" was a 500-ton U-Boat of the Type VII C, built at Danzig and, therefore, similar to the captured "U 570". According to survivors, "U 434" appeared to be painted dark blue-green in order to camouflage the U-Boat. The paintwork was said to have been in good condition. It was stated that "U 434" had no special armament against bombing attack. It was denied that "U 434" carried a telephone buoy.

(ii) Engines
"U 434" was stated to have been fitted with two six-cylinder, four-cycle, M.A.N. Diesels.

(iii) Electric Motors
The electric motors were stated to have been built by A.E.G.

(iv) Internal Telephones
A leading telegraphist of "U 434" stated that no internal telephone, operated without the use of batteries, was fitted. He was of the opinion that this had not been a success and had been abandoned; he said that it was generally found more satisfactory to pass the orders by word of mouth.

(v) "Adoption" of "U 434"
It appears from prisoners' statements that "U 434" had not yet been "adopted" by a German town, as has usually been the practice with previous U-Boats.

(vi) Badge
Prisoners stated that "U 434" had a badge on her conning tower depicting the Arms of the town of Liegnitz.

(vii) Scuttling Charges
It was stated by an engine room petty officer that scuttling charges of 1.5 kgs. (3.3 lb) were placed next to the air bottles and timed to explode ten minutes after the firing key had been depressed. This latter statement was confirmed by the greater part of the crew, who stated that two explosions took place while they were swimming in the water about ten minutes after abandoning the U-Boat.