KUK U-30 attack

[James A Pratt III]

According to an article in Warship International No 1 1987 "The Mystery of the Austro-Hungarian Submarine U-30 Some facts, Observations and speculation:

On the U-30s first operational deployment 25 Feb 1917 -16 Mar 1917 the boat was damaged by depth charges when she unsuccessfully attacked a small Allied convoy in the Ionian Sea. Does anyone know which convoy was attacked and what ships depth charged and damaged the U-30?

[KizmeRD]

The U-boat certainly cut short her first operational deployment due to damage incurred, however this was officially attributed to bad weather, not depth charging. Repair work to the parapet on her conning tower, a missing radio aerial, and a broken gyrocompass was carried out at Cattaro.

MB

 

[James A Pratt III]

This article says depth charge attack and wiki says storm damage. In WI No 4. 1987 there is a reply letter from G.F. Thierry son of Captain Franz Baron Thierry commanding officer submarines from 1912-1918. He has access to his father logbooks. If the boat had storm damage instead of depth charge damage. He doesn't mention it. 

[KizmeRD]

February 17, 1917	Commissioning in Brioni.  Lt. Friedrich Fähndrich in command.
February 26, 1917	5:00 p.m.: Leaving Brioni for our first venture into the Mediterranean.
March 1, 1917	Passing the Otranto road. Gyrocompass failure.
March 3, 1917	Southwest of Sapiensa.
March 5, 1917	Continue from Sapiensa to Cape Matapan.
March 6, 1917	At Cape Matapan.
March 7, 1917	Arrival south of Crete.
March 8, 1917	Departed from Crete.
March 9, 1917	Arrival in the Ionian Sea.
March 12, 1917	In the Gulf of Taranto.
March 15, 1917	Otranto Strait.
March 16, 1917	9:00 a.m.: Arrived in Bocche (Cattaro). Around half of the sloping superstructure panels and the mast antenna torn off due to the heavy seas. The folding front part of the bridge umbrella was also badly bent.

Edited 26 April by KizmeRD

[James A Pratt III]

Thanks for the info. A possible cause of loss U-30 until the wreck is found according to both sources is hitting a mine of the Otranto barrage.