This color photo was
taken by Kriegsberichter Garms in 1942. It shows a “Brückenwache” (Bridge
Watch) in the back light in a heavy following sea. Such seas could pose a
serious threat to the Bridge Watch if it underestimated the wave heights. Few
other positions on a U-boat were as critical as the Bridge Watch. Keeping
lookout was a “holy act”, on which the success and fate of the boat largely
depended. Carelessness at this post could have fatal consequences. The Bridge
Watch consisted of four men. An officer and one man stood forward in the
conning tower with an NCO and another man aft. Using binoculars, each member of
the watch had to observe a fixed sector without interruption. Every five
minutes each lookout had to report “Sektor ist frei melden” (sector is clear)
if that was the case. Regulations forbade conversation during the watch.
Sighting reports were to be made in clear, plain language while pointing a
finger to indicate direction. The watch was also forbidden to smoke. In areas
where there was no threat from the air, other members of the crews could be
allowed onto the bridge to smoke, but never more than two in addition to the
Bridge Watch. There was no smoking on the bridge at night. The Bridge Watch was
expected to be especially alert transiting areas where the aerial threat was
great (Bay of Biscay and the North Sea) and in special situations. These
included the stopping of ships, use of the deck gun, encounters with other
submarines and the interrogation of survivors. In such situations the Bridge
Watch could easily become distracted, resulting in lack of concentration. The
danger of a surprise attack rose proportionally in such situations. Because of
the blinding effect of the sun, lookouts were required to wear sunglasses when
the sun was in their quadrant. The watch was relieved every two or four hours.
The lookouts were relieved one at a time at five minute intervals for a full
hour. This was intended to prevent too many men from being in the conning tower
during a crash dive and to give the new watch time to become accustomed to the
darkness or brightness. To accelerate the change at night, 15 minutes before
beginning their watch, below deck the new lookouts put on infrared glasses. The
lookout being relieved could only leave when the new man had become accustomed
to his surroundings. As a rule, the best watch officer and bridge lookouts
worked the most dangerous periods. Assignment of lookouts was the
responsibility of the captain. In heavy seas, with breakers rolling over the
conning tower, Bridge Watch was a task that demanded everything of the men. If
wind, cold, rain or fog were added, the men were often completely exhausted
when it came time to be relieved. In heavy seas the captain could order the men
to put on restraining belts, which were supposed to prevent them from being
washed overboard. A following sea was especially dangerous, as its height and
power were often underestimated. The restraining belts could only be taken off
by order of the captain. The conning tower hatch was kept closed in high seas
to avoid damage to the latch. Without an efficient Bridge Watch, a U-boat had
neither great chances of success nor a long life expectancy.
Source :
U-Boot im Focus - ediiton no.3, 2008
Luftwaffe officer feeding a cat in Russia 1941.
Panzergrenadiers of the German Wehrmacht driving through a burning village somewhere on the Eastern Front. 1944. Propaganda photo by SS-Kriegsberichter (war reporter) Grönert. Taken from “Signal” magazine, 5th year, issue 18, 1944.
