Blocksdorf - Hitlers Secret Commandos: Operations of the K-Verband

List of Illustrations

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Key: P = pilot room; Pk = plexiglass cupola; Z = engineers control room; R = regulating tank; T = Ingolin tanks; B = Fuel tanks; M = Walter machinery room; H = stern section; K = master compass; vT = forward trim tank; hT = aft trim tank; SR = rudder; SF = stabilizers; VT = forward hydroplanes; To = Walter torpedoes (K-Butt)

Key: P = pilots cabin; Z = engineers control room; R = regulating tank; T= 1 to 10 Ingolin fuel tanks (10 tonnes); B = fuel tanks, 1 tonne Deakalin; M = engine room (Walter turbine drive); H = stern section; K = master compass; vT = forward trim tank; hT = stern trim tank

Key: BM = gasoline motor; Z = control room (2 men); R = regulating tank; Bk = battery room; H = stern section; EM = electric motor; RA = caterpillar tracks; WB = breakwater; Pk = plexiglass cupola; SM = snorkel mast; S = periscope; A = Ultra short wave antenna; SR = rudder; SF = stabilizers; VT = forward hydroplanes; To = 2 torpedoes

Key: 1 = pressure hull for divers; 2 = casing and dive tanks; 3 = access hatch with cupola for all-round vision; 4 = electro-magnetic grab; 5 = three searchlights; 6 = stabilizers; 7 = active hydroplanes; 8 = caterpillar tracks; 9 = lifting hooks.

Key: A = airbag; B = mouthpiece; C = tap; D = flexible hose; E = demand valve; F = potash cartridge; G = nose clip; I = spiral wire; J = oxygen bottle; K = hand-wheel; L = opening; M = spring clip; N,O = belt; P = protective goggles; Q = excess pressure release valve

Italian manned torpedo SLC Maiale (Photo Franz Kurowski).

SLC passing through a net barrier.

MTM boat in the Gulf of Tarent, 1942.

Luftwaffe air reconnaissance photo of Alexandria, principal Royal Navy base in the Mediterranean.

Italian frogman.

Vizeadmiral Hellmuth Heye, Kriegsmarine K-Verband head, awards the Knights Cross to one-man torpedo pilot Herbert Berrer. Formerly an Oberfernschriebmeister (Senior Warrant Officer Telex) Berrer was regraded Oberbootsmann (Warrant Officer Boatswain) when serving in the K-Verband.

Fritz Frauenheim in the rank of Korvettenkapitn. From Jger der Sieben Meere.

A Neger being lowered into the water. A good impression of the carrier- and attack-torpedo assembly.

Fitting the plexiglass dome.

The plexiglass dome of the Neger with scale gradations.

A Marder one-man torpedo preserved for the Instuctional Collection, Bundeswehr Naval Weapons School, Eckernfrde. Before it stands Knight s Cross holder Walter Gerhold, one of the most famous one-man torpedo pilots of the war.

The spartan cockpit of the Marder . Control stick, above it the release lever for the torpedo, to the right the pressure gauges. The depth gauge is positioned left above the pilots seat, below the seat is the Jgermaske breathing apparatus.

One of the volunteers for one-man torpedo training was Oberfhnrich (Senior Midshipman) Helmut Bierbrauer. He made available many photos for this book.

A pilot climbs into the carrier-torpedo, the Neger .

The one-man torpedo Neger under way. The aiming prong is clearly seen ahead of the pilots cupola. The photograph gives an idea of how limited was his vision, having to orient himself from a frogs perspective. No periscope, compass or radio was fitted.

Torpedo mechanics of K-Flotilla 361.

Men of K-Flotilla 361 about to entrain for Anzio.