Attack periscope!

[amiklic1]

Outstanding piece. It looks very shiny in the more recent pictures, did you polish it or is that its natural look?

JL

I just "cleaned" it with a neutral detergent and polished with a very light polish which is used as the final one for cars, haven't polished any scratch or similar, just removed dirt.
Unfortunately, all original paint was removed before, probably by the previous owner, and it was polished back then.

The material is outstanding, of highest quality, which we don't see nowadays easily.

[amiklic1]

Let's go folks... The story continues...
Here is the photo of the scuttled U-boats in Wilhelmshaven, amongst which there are two that this periscope possibly belonged to. I tried to identify all off those U-boats, but without much success.

[amiklic1]

and here is the photo of a Red Devil seen from another boat (possibly the boat whose captain took the periscope which I have now ;-) :

[amiklic1]

So, taking into account known facts, and the most important one is that one U-boat I previously identified as a member of the group of three which could be the ones from which this periscope was taken was laying below U-552 and it's tower wasn't visible, I am free to think that the periscope did not belonged to U-554.

I don't know which of the U-boots from the photo is the U-777, but as the U-552 was the top one, it's tower easily accessible and based on the last photo it's missing the top of the periscope (hole is clearly visible in the periscope housing, and if the periscope is inside it should cover the center and thus also cover the hole which shouldn't be so black), I really dare to believe that's the one.

Here is the periscope housing

[amiklic1]

Here are some other photos of Red Devil periscope:

[amiklic1]

...

[amiklic1]

.....

[amiklic1]

Nice,

Your other displays are looking nice as well!

Thanks!

Here you can see my war room. I'm trying to do my best, and I leave to others to judge ;-)
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=586792

[amiklic1]

And here are two more photos of the U-552 and the u-boots scuttled. I believe these were taken in between salvaging some of the boats, as the subs layout is not the same (or the second photo was taken from the place which is not covered by the first photo, on the far right side and pretty low on the shore).
However, many details are the same.:

[Spanish Freiwillige]

a very sad end to such beautiful machines!!

[amiklic1]

a very sad end to such beautiful machines!!

Here is my other thread about salvaging the Uboots in Wilhelmshaven, with the original photos I got with the periscope. Really sad story, I agree:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=579652

[amiklic1]

And to bring a bit of bravery and proud to surface, here is U-552 video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhunl...ipcontrinter=1

[JAndrew]

Not to rain on anyone's parade but I recall several years ago seeing photos from a friend who visited Topp before the theft of his belongings and among his affects was U-552's attack periscope head. He has passed away and I am not sure what happened to the photos. This was pre internet days. Still a very nice piece. Did they recover any others?
JAndrew

[amiklic1]

Of course I cannot be sure about this, not yet.
I am still waiting for some other photos and more details from the guy whose father took this one back than (he was the captain of the crane boat used in salvaging the Uboots in Wilhelmshaven).

If you can help, I'd really appreciate a scan of that photo with the periscope.

Anyway, this is a great relic, so coming from U552 or not is of less importance, of course ;-)

[amiklic1]

I just contacted Uboot museum in Cuxhaven to check if they have any evidence of Topp's periecope head mentioned above. I can also try with Sharkhunters, but I must admit that I have huge collection of all available photos and no sign of periscope on any of those...

I'd like someone to jump in if there is a photo which shows Topp with the periscope on the photo (even if that doesn't means that the periscope Topp had was from U552).

Also, I'd like to know if E. Topp was in prison after the war and if yes for how long?