LORIENT - SCORFF
25.09.1940. U-47 returns to dock at Lorient, France. (The process of transferring the 7th U-Flottille from Kiel to its new administration home in St. Nazaire began in September 1940. It was not until June 1941 that this move was completed. Until then, St. Nazaire did not have the support and storage facilities needed by U-boats and their crews. U 47 was based at Lorient, which had been used as a U-boat base since July 1940.
U-Boote moored in
Scorff river are very exposed to the air attacks.
Kriegsmarine decided to build a bunker on the river in order to
shelter four U-Boote: the bunker of Scorff is
145 meters long, 51
meters broad and 15 meters in height. It comprises two
cells, each
one of them being able to shelter two submarines, type VII or type IX.
Günther Prien leaves U-47 moored in river Scorff at the beginning of 1941. The life on board is tiring, and Prien seems to be older than ten years since the first photographs taken after the return of the triumphal adventure of Scapa-Flow.(Bundesarchives)
Sand is discharged from the barge "
Amsterdam VI ", whereas the
flagstone of the roof has just been cast.(Bundesarchives)
A few times later, an additional element,
perhaps decorative, was set
up at the top of the entry. (ECPA)
General sight of the building site not
finished. While waiting,
U-Boote are moored in Scorff. (ECPA)
Some time later, thick
lintels were cast at the top of each of the
two entries. (J-P Pallud)
U-47 leaves Lorient
for a new cruising on February 20, 1941. It is
its last mission, none of its men will not survive the shipwreck of
the submarine which will be sunk by HMS
Wolverine. (Bundesarchiv)