Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Non-Wargaming Discussion => Chat & News => Topic started by: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 09:39:21 AM

Title: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 09:39:21 AM
This just came up on my Facebook "wall"

The guy who posted the pic said: "Read up on them, fascinating story how they were used to target the Tirpitz. 52 foot long with a crew of 4 and powered by an engine from a London double decker bus!"

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10454477_772448942778428_495481828088416196_n.jpg)

There are two, apparently, on the beach at Aberlady (near Edinburgh)

Description of the location by three different posters below. If you wind up going please note the warnings about the tide!!

"Hard to explain Graeme. If you come through Aberlady towards Gullane there is a bridge over the river running into Aberlady bay. Cross the bridge and follow the path towards Gullane. When you get nearer the beach you will see a big dune in front of you with the path going up and over it. Once you get to the top look away to your left and you will see them lying about 600m away. They are only visible at low water so check the tides

Go in at the bird sanctuary, over the bridge and walk out towards the sea. You can either go over the marshland to the left or continue and the path takes you to the beach. Either way the remains are to the left of the pathway. As Jim rightly says you can only see them when the tide is out

Just to note that this area is very dangerous if the tide starts coming in as it is pretty flat so you could end up surrounded by water quite easily."
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: sebigboss79 on 14 June 2014, 10:10:47 AM
Very interesting. I am definitely intrigued to have a wee look. :-\
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Hertsblue on 14 June 2014, 10:12:24 AM
Doesn't look much like the British X Craft - unless a lot of the top casing has been broken off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-class_submarine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-class_submarine)
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 14 June 2014, 10:16:19 AM
So what is it then?
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 10:28:14 AM
I believe these are XTs rather than X-craft - training vessels rather than operational ones
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 14 June 2014, 11:46:40 AM
With nothing to scale it against it looks very like a Chariot.

IanS
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Hertsblue on 14 June 2014, 05:07:14 PM
It does, except that there appears to be a hatch amidships, which a Chariot wouldn't have.
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 09:33:53 PM
Image with bicycles to give scale

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDxjetAf8-o/Un7Hh6_PG6I/AAAAAAAAorI/iPTVAC2h-jg/s1600/9th+Nov;+Return+to+the+Subs+ride+018.JPG)
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 09:37:06 PM
More info and pictures here

http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ww2-xt-class-submarine-wrecks-aberlady.html (http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ww2-xt-class-submarine-wrecks-aberlady.html)
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 15 June 2014, 07:14:02 AM
Thanks for those.

IanS
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: paulr on 15 June 2014, 08:19:15 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 14 June 2014, 09:37:06 PM
More info and pictures here

http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ww2-xt-class-submarine-wrecks-aberlady.html (http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ww2-xt-class-submarine-wrecks-aberlady.html)

Is this a cunning plan to get FK's brain to explode as he attempts to cope with the grammar & spelling on this site?

I also suspect they mean Norwegian and/or Barents Seas rather than the North Sea.  ;)
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: FierceKitty on 16 June 2014, 12:21:33 AM
Quote from: paulr on 15 June 2014, 08:19:15 PM
Is this a cunning plan to get FK's brain to explode as he attempts to cope with the grammar & spelling on this site?



"In my youth," Father William replied to his son,
"I feared it might injure the brain;
But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again."
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: DanJ on 17 June 2014, 03:37:16 PM
Thanks for the post, I'm on holiday next week and will be in North Berwick on Monday or Tuesday night so I'll pop over and have a look.
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Hertsblue on 18 June 2014, 08:37:21 AM
Quote from: DanJ on 17 June 2014, 03:37:16 PM
Thanks for the post, I'm on holiday next week and will be in North Berwick on Monday or Tuesday night so I'll pop over and have a look.

Watch out for the tide.
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: DanJ on 18 June 2014, 09:08:11 AM
Thanks for the warning, but often take the dog to Morecambe Bay for a run, so I'm very particular about checking my tide times.
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: DanJ on 07 July 2014, 08:32:48 AM
Just got back from holiday, no danger from the tides as they were fully in on each of the four occasions I would have had a chance to see them  >:(

I'll just have to keep going back until I get to see them, fortunately the North Berwick coast is becoming a favourite area so we will be going back.  Also it's nice to have something to look forward to.
Title: Re: WW2 Midget XT Submarines
Post by: Last Hussar on 11 July 2014, 12:19:44 AM
Surely a sub is REALLY easy to do - just a base...