II Torpedostaffel Zeebrugge

Regulus · 8 February 2002, 11:43 AM

Hi,

I know these guys flew Brandenburg GW, Friedrichshafen FF41A and FF33's in 1917. Can anyone enlighten us on the colours of these planes ? Seems to be very bright in most of the cases (except FF 33's which seems to have several colours).

Thanks !

VBR from Regulus

Regulus · 17 February 2002, 07:43 AM

It seems the first Torpedoplanes arrived at Zeebrugge by the end of 1916. A first victory was booked on the 9th november when they sank a merchant ship of about 2000 BRT. It were three planes under the command of Lt.z.S. Becker.
Half march 1917 the II torpedostaffel arrived at Zeebrugge. 19 april 1917 they sank their first ship. At the beginning of september 1917 they are joined by I Torpedostaffel. They sank a 500 BRT schip on the 9th of that month.
Anyone knowing the exact dates of arrival of these units BTW ?

VBR from Regulus

Soderbaum · 17 February 2002, 10:30 AM

Hi Regulus

I have the formation date of the II Torpedostaffel as 16 March 1917.
At this date the flyers arrived with 2 a/c Nr 701 and 702 from Flensburg. The ground-crew lived on the "Dampfer" Brügge...

Three aircraft had arrived earlier to Zeebrügge(678,700 and 703).
The first commander was Oblt zS Hans-Albrecht Wedel(P).
Lt zS

Hermann Becker(P) belonged to the original personal....

On 13 Nov 1917 came the order from the Marineflugchef to dissolve the unit. On 16 Nov 1917 the last of the personal left Zebrügge.

:

Gunnar

Soderbaum · 17 February 2002, 10:41 AM

Oh forget one thing

Regulus do you have the "Sonderbericht" about the incident on 19 April 1917...?

I would like to have a copy of it..?

Gunnar

Barrett · 17 February 2002, 12:17 PM

Most interesting material, especially since "Duel Over Douai" includes some torpedo action from Zeebrugge. is there an on-line list of sinkings by the staffeln?

Regulus · 17 February 2002, 01:10 PM

Hi Gunnar,

Don't have the Sonderbericht about it. Only know that it was a crew of Lt. Freude and Flgmt. Berhoff. Their victim was a dredger near the Ramsgate coast. That's all I know.

Concerning 9 september 1917 I have the following translation :
9 september 1917. 14.10 hrs. Good weather. Three torpedoplanes start : 995 (Lt.z.S. Stinsky, Flugmtr. Neuerburg), 1211 (Schürer-Mertens) and the 1213 (Hubrich-Rowehl). As protection they get three aircraft of the C-staffel (oneseaters). They fly towards the nort-west and with two hits they sink a steamer of 500 tons. 16.55 hrs : all aircrafts land at the base.

Some interesting well known names ! Max Stinsky, Küken Hubrich, Rowehl,...

I also have a translation of the 9th november when sinking the merchant freighter. If you don't have it let me know.

Oh by the way, the Brugge was in fact the captured Brussels, given a new name. The ship from Captain Fryatt that was shot by a firing squad after a court martial at Brugge, led by von Schröder, Otto Steinbrinck,...

VBR from Regulus

Regulus · 17 February 2002, 01:14 PM

Hi Barrett,

As far as I know, there doesn't exist anything like that. Perhaps Michael Lowrey can help us. He's working on another big interestfield of mine, the UB and UC type submarines of the Flandern Flottille. I know he has a list of merchant ships that were sunk. I also have a list that I still have to send him, concerning losses of -500 tons vessels, which he doesn't have. Perhaps he can tell us more on the ships. Will ask him this week.

VBR from Regulus

Regulus · 17 February 2002, 10:30 PM

Barrett,

Have mailed Michael the question. Should have an answer before friday morning.

Will keep you informed.

VBR from Regulus

Barrett · 18 February 2002, 06:44 AM

Many thanks, Regulus. I am most appreciative.

Barrett

Regulus · 18 February 2002, 08:57 AM

Hi,

Always knew Michael was fast, but this time he got Olympic Gold I think. Here is the answer as I got it from him this evening :

Johan,

Actually I have encountered references to ships sunk and damaged by both
Zeppelins and airplanes. I did a fast run through Llyd's and found some of
these include (regardless of location):

Sunk:
Feb 1, 1916 FRANZ FISHER (GBR 957) by Zeppelin 2 miles S of the Kentish Knock
LV
Aug 26, 1916 ROSIES (trawler (GBR, 84) sunk in the Adriatic
May 1, 1917 GENA (GBR, 2784) 3/4 mile SxW1/2W of "A" War Channel Buoy,
Southwold
June 14, 1917 KANKAKEE (GBR, 3718) about 1 mile N of Sunk Head Buoy
Aug 24, 1917 PENELOPE (GBR 1202) Gulf of Riga
Sept 9, 1917 STORM (GBR 440), 1 mile SE of Sunk LV
April 21, 1918 MEEUW (NLD, 127) 12m ExS of North Hinder LV

Damaged:
Sept 7, 1915 JOHN EVELYN (s/v) (GBR, 57) damaged by Zeppelin at Millwall
Dock
Nov 4, 1915 DOTTEREL (GBR, 1596) 14 miles W1/2NxN of Noord Hinder LV
Nov 27, 1918 BALGOWNIE (GBR, 1061) damaged 1/4 mile N of Noord Hinder LV
April 22, 1916 ARGO (s/v) (NOR, 678) damaged by Zeppelin at Leith
May 19, 1916 SEATTLE (GBR, 5133), damaged at Dunkirk Dock
May 20, 1916 LORD STRATHCONA (GBR 7335) damaged at Dunkirk
May 21, 1916 VALENTIA (GBR 3242), damaged in Dunkirk Harbour
July 11, 1917 GROSVENOR (GBR, 267), damaged in Dunkirk harbor
Sept 11, 1918 SUZANNE ET MARIE (FFA, 1644) at Dunkirk
Sep 12, 1918 ORANGEMOOR (GBR, 4134) Dunkirk harbor
Sept 25, 1918 STOCKWELL (GBR 5643), damaged at Royal Albert Dock
Sept 25, 1918 POLESCAR (GBR 5832), damaged at Dunkirk

Source: LLoyd's War Losses. These lists may not be complete (I could have
overlooked something). Ships built for the Admiralty eare excluded, most
merchant ships taken into Admiralty service and then lost should be included.

Looks like there are at least a few cases for you...

Best wishes,

Michael

Our 9 september 1917 victim seems to have been the Storm.
The two others seem to remain a mystery for the moment.

But it looks like we have quite a lot of others that were damaged or sunk by torpedoplanes, no doubt about these mentioned on the sea near certain LV's or Light Vessels or bouys.

That is something interesting to dig out further.

VBR from Regulus