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The First Submarine Sunk by Aircraft Attack

World War I Discuss The First Submarine Sunk by Aircraft Attack in the Other Eras forums; On the 15th September 1916 2 Austrian Lohner Flying boats piloted by Fregatten-Leutnant Zeiezny and Linienschschiffsleutnant Konjovic, attacked the French ...

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    The First Submarine Sunk by Aircraft Attack

    On the 15th September 1916 2 Austrian Lohner Flying boats piloted by Fregatten-Leutnant Zeiezny and Linienschschiffsleutnant Konjovic, attacked the French Submarine Foucault whilst she was on the surface, 3 of the first 4 bombs caused severe damage to the submarine, these damaged the batteries & the electric motors, she was also leaking and out of trim and subsequently disappeared below the surface, the crew of the Submarine blew all the balast tanks and half an hour later the submarine rose to the surface, the Submarine Commander opened the hatch and clambered out, only to be faced by the 2 Flying Boats diving to attack, the Flying Boats dropped 4 more bombs which burst close to the Submarine, and now the Submarines Diesels refused to start, the French Commander ordered the men to abandon ship, and the Submarine was scuttled, at which point the 2 Flying Boats dropped all the remaining bombs at a safe distance from the Submarine.

    The Flying Boats landed on the surface of the water taxied over to where the Crew of the Submarine were floating in the water, and the sailors were allowed to cling to the hulls and the floats of the flying boats, until an Austrian Torpedo Boat arrived to pick them up, not a single life had been lost.



    Previous attacks on Submarines by Aircraft had resulted in minor damge to the Submarine.

    Drawing of a Lohner Flying Boat



    Source Aircaft Versus Submarine in Two World Wars by Dr Alfred Price
    ISBN Number 1 84415 0917


    Short Back & Sides Please

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    Senior Member Nonskimmer's Avatar
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    An interesting story. It's amazing that not a single life was lost. It was also very gracious of the Austrian airmen to allow the French submariners to cling to their hulls until rescue arrived.

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    Senior Member the lancaster kicks ass's Avatar
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    yes, that's the spirit!! it's stories like that that give hope in times of depression........

    "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

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    Good on the Austrians!

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    Senior Member plan_D's Avatar
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    It'd be Austro-Hungarians, actually - being World War 1, the Gentlemens War.
    "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004

    To those in that club.

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    Senior Member trackend's Avatar
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    Would that be the gentlemans war that introduced gas and flame throwers D

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    Senior Member plan_D's Avatar
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    Yes, yes it would. It's much more gentlemany (?) than plague infested cow carcusses or the atom bomb.
    "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004

    To those in that club.

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    World Travelling Doctor? Gnomey's Avatar
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    Really interesting story. Very Gentlemenly of the Austro-hungarian airman to allow the French submariners to cling until help arrived and not a single life lost!


    "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
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