Anyone see the Timewatch programme tonight on the sinking of U864 by the RN submarine HMS Venturer? This was apparently the only time a submarine was sunk by another when both were underwater (though I could have sworn I heard of such an incident in WW1??) Not a bad programme, allowing for the usual speculative dramatisation and some dodgy choice of WW2 footage (e.g. the bombing of the U-boat pens at Bergen by Lancasters was illustrated by footage of Fortresses and a Blenheim ) One question: the crew of Venturer were apparently listening to the sound of U864's diesel engines on the hydrophones. But the U-boat was submerged - so how could it use its diesels? Was it using a snorkel? If so there was no mention of this on the programme - Venturer's skipper was observing the periscope of the U-boat when it was raised - if the snorkel was in use it would have been visible continually.
Some info here from Uboat.net uboat.net - Boats - U-864 Not the only U-Boot that Venturer sank, although U771 was not submerged. 11 Nov, 1944 HMS Venturer (Lt. J.S. Launders) torpedoes and sinks the German submarine U-771 in the Andfjord some 7 nautical miles east of Andenes, Norway, in position 69º17'N, 16º28'E. (see map)
I rather enjoyed it. It was good to have the present day problems with the mercury covered, the dramatised events of the hunt and the heart breaking human side of the german engineer's fiance talking about him. All round a good 50 minutes.
Timewatch documentaries usually appear on UK History after about 6 months if you've got Sky, Cable or Freeview.
