Longest Type VII patrol... | Forums

[OzzyTom]

I know that Kentrat holds the record for 225 days in a type IX boat and Luth also had a 200+ day patrol but what was the longest patrol made by a Type VII?

Just curious to see if anyone has any information on this.

Regards,
OzzyTom

[HW3]

Not sure about the longest patrol but, U-978 carried out the longest Schnorchel patrol of the war, 68 days from Bergen, Norway on 9 Oct, 1944 to Bergen again on 16 Dec, 1944.

[OzzyTom]

Thanks, I thought U-977 carried out the longest schorkel patrol when they went to Argentina? Perhaps that doesn't count because its not a war patrol.

If anyone knows what the longest VII patrol was then please let me know! I have a copy of Clay Blair's 'Hitler's U-Boat War 1942-1945: The Hunted' and the answer is in there because I've read it, but I have no idea what page now so just wondering if anyone has the answer.

On another note, I'm curious to know the length of players longest SH3 patrol on any Type U-Boat. If people could post that here then I would appreciate it. To start the ball rolling I just completed a 95 day patrol in my Type VIIC (To and from Bergen, Dec 29th 1942 - April 2nd 1943) sinking 6 ships for 38,574 tons.

Don't know how you guys would rate that but I was quite pleased with it! It was certainly my longest patrol so far, don't think I could have gone any further, I got the 'We're out of diesel fuel sir!' message 100km from home...

[Kaleun1961]

Tom, I have the same Blair book; it's an excellent read. I picked up a hardcover copy in a second hand book store but have had no luck yet getting the first volume.

[OzzyTom]

Kaleun1961, same story with me. I picked up my hardcopy in a second hand bookstore for a cheap price after reading it in my local library several times! I quite agree, an excellent book!

I have been searching for the 1st volume ever since but haven't had any luck.

[Kaleun1961]

Whereabouts in Oz do you live, Tom, if you don't mind my asking. My son visited Australia a while back; a few months later this cute little blonde he met in Brisbane shows up at our home here in Canada. Since then they have travelled back a few times and taken my youngest daughter who is absolutely in love with the place.

[OzzyTom]

I don't mind you asking, but I'm afraid I have inadvertently mislead you.

Its Ozzy as in Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal singer who I'm a huge fan of, not 'Aussie' as in Australian.

You're the second person in recent times to ask where I'm from in Australia, but I never thought it would cause any confusion due to the written difference between 'Ozzy' and 'Aussie' even if they are pronounced the same.

I'm actually from the South Coast of England Herr Kaleun!

[Kaleun1961]

Ach, I feel like a dolt! I'm an Ozzy fan as well, remembering Black Sabbath from the 60's; I used to listen to my brother's records when he was out of the house.

South coast, eh? My wife's from Norfolk, a little farming village just outside Norwich. I met her over then in '83 when I was on vacation. Snatched her up and brought her over here to settle. I love visiting the UK, especially the museums. On one trip I got down to Gosport to board the RN sub moored there.

[HW3]

Thanks, I thought U-977 carried out the longest schnorchel patrol when they went to Argentina?

The schnorchel part of that patrol was 66 days, the rest of the trip was surfaced using 1 diesel engine to save fuel.

The longest patrols I have done (that I still have a record of) are 101 days in a type IXD-2 and 80 days in a type VIIC.

[OzzyTom]

I'm an Ozzy fan as well, remembering Black Sabbath from the 60's

Well, I'm a 2nd generation fan! I inherited my music taste from my dad who saw Sabbath, The Who, Hendrix etc in the 60's and early 70's. Luckily some of those bands are still going and I've been fortunate enough to see some big names, got tickets to go and see Ozzy himself later this month!

I love visiting the UK, especially the museums. On one trip I got down to Gosport to board the RN sub moored there.

I live about 1-2miles from Gosport, its one side of Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth (where I live, don't know if I said) is the other.

The sub is excellent, btw up until a few years ago they were a couple of old attack subs in some kind of junkyard on the outskirts of Pompey. You could get real close and we used to play on them as kids, then they disappeared one day.

The IWM is fantastic but locally I would recommend Bovington Tank Museum which has a Tiger, a Jagdpanther, all sorts, and The Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson which has a working drivable Sexton, the Iraqi supergun, an 88mm... Something to do when you come over next