| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? 21:03 - Feb 24 with 1129 views | NthQldITFC |
https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/re
I've been trying to work out what the objects at the top of this photo are. The seven boaty looking things with pointy ends which are on the beach at Shotley Gate in 1946 but gone by 1951. My rough estimate makes them about 70m (220ft) long.
They look like they have superstructures all along the top to me, so presumably not captured U boats, and they look like they must be moving around in the tide given the indentations in the sand/mud, and given its fairly shallow there, I think they might be quite lightweight things.
Wondering if they could they be something to do with Mulberry harbours, although I thought the floats for those were square ended?
Edit:
Having done some more checking I think I can safely say that they are all of the same length, and between 65m and 75m (215' to 245') with confidence.
This would probably mean that they would be around 800 tonnes displacement. [Post edited 25 Feb 2023 14:28]
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 21:29 - Feb 24 with 1061 views | NthQldITFC |
Having read a bit more, it seems that the length is just about right for U boats of either WWII or WWI vintage, and that there were 168 WWI-vintage surrendered U boats anchored off Felixstowe (or possibly Harwich) in 1918.
I wonder if any were kept in the area and maybe used as the basis of some anti-submarine netting in WWII perhaps? Or maybe something to do with jetties for the seaplane base at Felixstowe? | |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 21:54 - Feb 24 with 1022 views | Plums |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 21:29 - Feb 24 by NthQldITFC |
Having read a bit more, it seems that the length is just about right for U boats of either WWII or WWI vintage, and that there were 168 WWI-vintage surrendered U boats anchored off Felixstowe (or possibly Harwich) in 1918.
I wonder if any were kept in the area and maybe used as the basis of some anti-submarine netting in WWII perhaps? Or maybe something to do with jetties for the seaplane base at Felixstowe? |
Very interesting! It's hard to tell but the marks in the sand or mud suggest they're free to move which would be odd if they are vessels of some sort as they'd presumably be at risk of breaking loose.
I see on the HMS Ganges Wikipedia page that the boys at the school did put 600 miles of submarine netting together so your theory might be correct. You've got me going down various internet rabbit holes now! |  |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 23:21 - Feb 24 with 935 views | Guthrum |
From the shadow silhouettes, I'd say they look more like E-Boats. Maybe destroyers if as long as 70m. |  |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 07:18 - Feb 25 with 840 views | Swansea_Blue |
Looks like there’s too much superstructure on them to be subs. I’d guess they’re surface vessels. |  |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 08:28 - Feb 25 with 780 views | Churchman |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 23:21 - Feb 24 by Guthrum |
From the shadow silhouettes, I'd say they look more like E-Boats. Maybe destroyers if as long as 70m. |
I wondered E-Boats (S-Boats) or perhaps redundant MLs/MTBs/MGBs.
Certainly u-boats we’re moored there in 1918 so I can imagine them doing the same after WW2. That’s the other possibility but I agree - there looks to be more superstructure than a conning tower and gun emplacement. |  | | |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 08:54 - Feb 25 with 757 views | Plums |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 08:28 - Feb 25 by Churchman |
I wondered E-Boats (S-Boats) or perhaps redundant MLs/MTBs/MGBs.
Certainly u-boats we’re moored there in 1918 so I can imagine them doing the same after WW2. That’s the other possibility but I agree - there looks to be more superstructure than a conning tower and gun emplacement. |
I've had a good old look around but found nothing on WW2 U-boats. The vast majority of which were scuttled or dispersed from Ireland during Operation Deadlight https://uboat.net/fates/deadlight_hist.htm
I have found some family links to HMS Ganges at Shotley as a result of this search - which has been an interesting rabbit hole to go down. | |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 09:10 - Feb 25 with 737 views | Churchman |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 08:54 - Feb 25 by Plums |
I've had a good old look around but found nothing on WW2 U-boats. The vast majority of which were scuttled or dispersed from Ireland during Operation Deadlight https://uboat.net/fates/deadlight_hist.htm
I have found some family links to HMS Ganges at Shotley as a result of this search - which has been an interesting rabbit hole to go down. |
It was a long-shot on my part - without enough research. It is always interesting finding links like that.
The website link has a lot of information and as with all good websites is work in progress. My late father in law’s name is in it too. | | | |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 09:34 - Feb 25 with 722 views | NthQldITFC |
Thanks for all your input.
Looking again at the photo, it seems to me that at least the four rightmost and probably the fifth too are all facing they same way, with a largish projection about 1/3 of the way in from the RHS and a couple of smaller projections right of that. Also looks like there are multiple projections toward the left hand end too. (I'm carefully avoiding the words fore and aft).
The shadows are interesting and tend to suggest that some of those projections might be smaller features (maybe just reflections off hatches etc). The profile of the shadows almost looks like two or at most three significant projections, but the biggest is not central-ish which it would be with a U boat.
I wonder if there's a searchable silhouette resource out there; I'm pretty sure I'm very close with the length of 70m. Back down the rabbit hole for me too!
German M class minesweepers are the closest length and profile match I've come across so far. But I really must get out for some fresh air.
US recognition manual (P213): https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/NewPDFs/USN/ONI%20Recognition%20Manuals%20a
German navy: http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/minehunter/index.html [Post edited 25 Feb 2023 9:56]
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 10:14 - Feb 25 with 685 views | NthQldITFC |
I had heard landing ships mentioned previously specifically in relation to Shotley, but these look so pointy ended (at both ends) that they don't seem to fit the bill. Plus the bits of superstructure of course. Unless they were something else that was adapted for that role? | |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 10:29 - Feb 25 with 674 views | You_Bloo_Right |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 10:14 - Feb 25 by NthQldITFC |
I had heard landing ships mentioned previously specifically in relation to Shotley, but these look so pointy ended (at both ends) that they don't seem to fit the bill. Plus the bits of superstructure of course. Unless they were something else that was adapted for that role? |
I reckon there must have been a few LST designs. Not trying to push the idea (destroyers look right from the shape, superstructure and your size estimate) but here's an LST of D-Day vintage.
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 13:17 - Feb 25 with 623 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 08:54 - Feb 25 by Plums |
I've had a good old look around but found nothing on WW2 U-boats. The vast majority of which were scuttled or dispersed from Ireland during Operation Deadlight https://uboat.net/fates/deadlight_hist.htm
I have found some family links to HMS Ganges at Shotley as a result of this search - which has been an interesting rabbit hole to go down. |
There’s some quite interesting stuff about HMS Ganges (training centre) and across the water in Harwich. I hadn’t realised Harwich was a base for surrendered u-boats after WWI. Interesting read about it all here https://harwichhavenhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/UboatsNHSCICfinal.p
Thanks TWTD, I was supposed to be doing some chores for the missus! | |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 13:48 - Feb 25 with 584 views | DinDjarin |
Torpedo boats |  | | |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 14:17 - Feb 25 with 555 views | NthQldITFC |
| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 13:48 - Feb 25 by DinDjarin |
Torpedo boats |
I know that torpedo boats were based at Harwich, but these things are three times the length of the average torpedo boat, and nearly half as long again as the biggest torpedo boat I can find a reference to (220ft vs 160ft). | |
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| Historical WWII-ish aerial photo buffs, any ideas? on 14:51 - Feb 25 with 523 views | Double_Dutch |
They look as though they could possibly be, something like Submarine Depot Ships, similar to HMS Adamant and HMS Medway. |  | | |
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