Kriegsmarine

Return I

KM72-001

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Kit contains:

1 ComSub (CiC); 1 War correspondent; 2 Flag officers; 1 CO "Skipper"; 1 Chief engineer; 1 Ordinary seaman (leather skin);

1 Wren & child; 9 bases, each 1x dog, tomcat, seagull, life-belt & rack, Hall-anchor, sea bag, palette, barrel, box, block, warp rope, poller.

Throughout wartime it was a tradition by ComSub to welcome those U-Boats, which made their lucky return. These reports, often in a familiar atmosphere between CiC and his CO's, were a useful moment to the German propaganda officers and their design. Meanwhile the crew tried everything to forget the horrors of sortie and prepared to meet their folks again - if these were still alive. Overhauling and resupply was the main objective for the Chief Engineer to shorten mooring or docking time. Due to that, he spent most of his time together with "his" U-Boat in the harbour and dockyard area.

Sortie I

KM72-002

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Kit contains:

4 able seamen (leather clothing); 1 CO (KL) (leather clothing) - as U-boat (submarine) conning tower watch.

This group of Kriegsmarine bluejackets shows a typical U-boat conning tower watch on sortie in their common weather dress. The leather clothing was nicknamed "Paeckchen" (package) to emphasize the air-sealed conditions of this second skin. Typical hat wear was a forage cap but also the non-military "Pudelmuetze" was in use. Some of the look-outs are watching their sectors while one is cleaning his binoculars - a necessary and essential duty.

Sortie II

KM72-003

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Kit contains:

4 able seamen (foul weather gear)

1 CO (KL) (leather clothing)

as U-boat (submarine) conning tower watch

This group of Kriegsmarine bluejackets shows a typical U-boat conning tower watch on sortie in their heavy weather dress. This foul weather dress was nicknamed "Oelzeug" (oil skin) as an homage to former times such clothing was usually tarred. Common hat wear was a southwester