In July 1944 Germany started to send U.Boats into the Indian and Pacific Oceans to assist her ally Japan in the war effort.
Many were sunk en-route by the allies. One of the boats that did get through was U.196. She was based at Penang, Malaysia.
On November 30 1944 she set off on a patrol - and shortly after, promptly vanished!
I've just read some fascinating accounts as to what might have happened to the vessel. Well worth looking up.
One account with much credibility claims she was full of gold bullion, arrived off the coast of S. America and then crossed over to New Zealand where her remains are rumoured to be.
I haven't delved further, but this gave me inspiration for a build.
So here we go. Apart from the work on the boat, I haven't a clue just where this will all eventually lead.... :upside:
But in my minds eye, she has been lying undetected in warm tropical waters. A sudden violent storm has shifted her further up the isolated and uninhabited shore line and finally exposed her whereabouts.
I know this type of U.Boat wasn't in the Monsun Gruppe, this was Kretschmer's 1940/41 U.99 VIIB ride.
Sorry, but I wasn't going to pay big wonga just for the correct type. A wreck is a wreck.
All model submarines should have their water vent slots opened out. A tedious, but necessary job. But because the boat will be rusted and rotted to hell and back, I didn't have to be too fussy about the finished slots - any excuse!
Deck fitted.
Just enough required gear and conning tower glued on. I was going to leave the dive planes off, but I reckon it will look better, if a bit far fetched, with them in place.
Who dares, wins....Just! :smiling6:
Surgery courtesy of a hard point hand saw.
The bit wot I want! Ribs marked and ready for 'Modification' :fearful:!
Cheers.
Ron
Many were sunk en-route by the allies. One of the boats that did get through was U.196. She was based at Penang, Malaysia.
On November 30 1944 she set off on a patrol - and shortly after, promptly vanished!
I've just read some fascinating accounts as to what might have happened to the vessel. Well worth looking up.
One account with much credibility claims she was full of gold bullion, arrived off the coast of S. America and then crossed over to New Zealand where her remains are rumoured to be.
I haven't delved further, but this gave me inspiration for a build.
So here we go. Apart from the work on the boat, I haven't a clue just where this will all eventually lead.... :upside:
But in my minds eye, she has been lying undetected in warm tropical waters. A sudden violent storm has shifted her further up the isolated and uninhabited shore line and finally exposed her whereabouts.
I know this type of U.Boat wasn't in the Monsun Gruppe, this was Kretschmer's 1940/41 U.99 VIIB ride.
Sorry, but I wasn't going to pay big wonga just for the correct type. A wreck is a wreck.
All model submarines should have their water vent slots opened out. A tedious, but necessary job. But because the boat will be rusted and rotted to hell and back, I didn't have to be too fussy about the finished slots - any excuse!
Deck fitted.
Just enough required gear and conning tower glued on. I was going to leave the dive planes off, but I reckon it will look better, if a bit far fetched, with them in place.
Who dares, wins....Just! :smiling6:
Surgery courtesy of a hard point hand saw.
The bit wot I want! Ribs marked and ready for 'Modification' :fearful:!
Cheers.
Ron
Comment