U-BOAT PACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1943, Page 3

U-BOAT PACKS

IN NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC MASSED IN FORMIDABLE STRENGTH. ACCORDING TO AMERICAN • COMMENTATOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK. January 9. Flocks of U-boats estimated at about 300 are concentrated at four strategic points, one each in the North and South Atlantic, North Africa and the northern route to Russia, says Drew Pearson in the New York “Daily Mirror.”

Hitler seems to be gambling everything on stopping supplies to the war fronts. Sinkings in the early months of the winter were among the worst of the war.

Nazi methods have much improved the submarines’ crash-diving, according to the War Shipping Administration and they are now able, on an average, to crash-dive four minutes after launching a torpedo. Torpedoes, too, are apparently larger and more powerful, blowing ships in two, preventing them sending an 5.0.5., thereby not revealing their position and sharply increasing casualties among the crews. The British estimate that they lose a third of the crew of a torpedoed ship, America 35, and the Norwegians 40 per cent.

Lifebelts and cork-filled lifebelts are outmoded as there is no time to launch the boats. Therefore they are being replaced by .life rafts suspended at the side and releasable from the bridge. Lifebelts are being discarded because they break too many arms through the belt flying up and wrenching the arms when the wearer leaps into the water. Germany is launching a 750-ton submarine daily, says Rome radio. These submarines usually hunt together in packs of 10 or 12.

KAISER SHIPYARDS OUTPUT OF NEARLY SHIP A DAY. NEW YORK, January 8. Mr Henry Kaiser revealed that his shipyards in California and Oregon are producing almost one ship a day. Only lack of materials preventing them from doubling their output.

He added that they were now operating an iron and steel plant in California to help overcome shortages.