The Octopus and The Military

[Clem]

The image above, previously associated with two different (and non-operational) German U-boats, has also been associated with a submarine that was verifiably operational: U-621. Does anyone have access to documentation pertaining to this boat? If she was the carrier of the Tintenfisch emblem, Greg might just have a new modelling project on his hands.



Clem

 

[cthulhu77]

Looks like it is going to a "go" on the submarine...thanks all for the info...I will be asking all of you for a ton of info soon!
Greg

 

[Clem]

I have found one other reference to a U-boat depicting an octopus but, unfortunately, no image. This is from the 'Navy Department, Report on the Interrogation of Survivors of U-595' :

"U-595 left Kiel for her first war cruise on Thursday, July 23, 1942. She was in the company of a 1600-ton supply U-boat said to be commanded by an Oberleutnant Vogel...This boat had an octopus painted on its c/t."

Guys,

I think I've found it:

That's U-462, a Type XIV "Milk Cow" re-supply boat built at Kiel, commissioned 5 March 1942. She displaced over 1600 tons above water. Though indistinct, the emblem on the conning tower does appear to be an octopus.

Can anybody pull more detail out of the photograph, or direct us to more images of U-462?

Clem

 

[Phil]

Clem,

With so little to go on, that's an outstanding find. Well done, sir!

I cannot find any more confirmed photos of the U-462, but here is a couple of images of a crewmans cap from U-462. I think, but am not sure, that this is a warrant officers grade Schirmmutze. Interesting to see the octopus logo repeated here, though it was common practice for U-boat crews to place an image of their boats' insignia on the left behind the peak.

The octopus appears to be of the same design as that painted on the exterior of the boat.

Schirmmutze from U-462

 

[tonmo]

Some one asked if anyone was enrolled in the navy...

I am currently enlisted, stationed at Shore Intermediate Maintenence Activity (SIMA) Pascagoula, Mississippi. I am really enjoying this thread.

Me too. And thank you for your service!

 

[cthulhu77]

Oh my god !!! Thank you Clem and Phil...that is absolutely fantastic!!! It is perfect! The 14's have a flak gun behind the conning tower, and I have been waiting for a project with that in it also (my favorite gun system...always wanted to do a superdetailed one)...AWESOME!!!!
You two are certainly founts of info...thanks! The client is extremely impressed too!
I will post pics as work commences, progresses...etc.
Greg

 

[Tintenfisch]

Been meaning to post this for a while; I think it's a badge from a Russian naval/dive unit. As for the source, well, if you say the name of a fuzzy stinging insect in pig Latin, you've got it.

 

[Clem]

Tintenfisch,

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. A parachute, SCUBA gear, and gladiator accessories...and a paddle. I've seen Russian SPETSNAZ (Special Forces) unit patches decorated with orcas and mantas, but never an octopus.



Clem

 

[WhiteKiboko]

the downward sword seems to be a common theme in soviet symbols.... included are pics of one of my soviet pocket watches (this one is MVD - roughly equivilent to fbi) and my business card holder with the kgb emblem....

it wouldnt surpirse me if it was spetsnaz, but the soviets/russians only had about 8k marines, so any emblem, particularly of the more obscure units would be hard to call...

anyone know cyrillic?

 

[Phil]

WK, this is a strange coincidence. My watch is a Vostok made Soviet military watch too. Oddly the design is very similar to yours with a sword laid across a steel shield with a Soviet Star containing a hammer and sickle and is a KGB issue. I suspect, but am not sure, that yours is the same, perhaps MBA is a commercialised version for the western market of 'KGB' (sounds silly, but my keyboard does not reproduce St. Cyrill's script). {I'm probably completely wrong, by the way}

Interesting, despite the lack of cephs.

Please everyone, don't let this become a watch comparision thread, unless they have octopi, teuthids or ammonites on them (or KGB!).

 

[Tintenfisch]

Hm, I guess I assumed that to be a dive knife... but it does bear a certain resemblance to the swords in the other designs.

 

[WhiteKiboko]

i found two patches....one is for the uss nautilus, the other for uss kraken.... i must admit the kraken patch is quite disappointing...

apparently the nautilus is a wwii or earlier version given that it lack the 'n' after the 'ss'

 

[Clem]

WK,

That Nautilus patch will raise some hackles: the artist confused the nautilus with a snail. Yes, that Kraken patch is disappointing. We could do better.

Pre-WWII, there were two United States Navy submarines named [/i]Cuttlefish,[/i] SS-11 and SS-171. I can't find insignia for either vessel, unfortunately.

Clem

 

[Clem]

Above is a patch worn by crews of the US Strategic Air Command's 43rd Bombardment Wing, assigned to Andersen AFB, Guam. This unit was one of two to field squadrons equipped with the AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missile, carried by the B-52G Stratofortress bomber. The "Giant Squid" on the patch is getting ready to toss a Harpoon.



Clem

 

[cthulhu77]

Very cool!!! I am still waiting on the delivery of the sub...delay,delay,delay...