The First U-Boat School

[Gordon Williamson]

One of the lesser known ships of the Kaiserliche Marine.

On 27 September 1910, Kaiser Wilhelm II signed an "Allerh?chste Kabinettsordre" which resulted in Marineverordnungsblatt Nr 219 of that year. In it Wilhelm stated that his "Spezialschiff "Vulkan" was to become the home of the first official U-Boat training school as well as its current role as a Lifting Ship (Hebeschiff) and Tender.

The first of the U-Boat flotilla ribbons to be introduced was authorised at the same time (UNTERSEEBOOTS=FLOTILLE). As "S.M.S. VULKAN" was already in existence, it became the first ever cap ribbon directly related to Germany's new U-Boat fleet.

[Chip]

Gordon,

Thanks for that information. I like your display. I collect navy sleeve rates, but have never owned a loose cap tally (I have two that are on caps). I can't remember what the silver thread means as opposed to the gold. Does it have the same meaning as the silver vs gilt buttons on the Affenjacke?

Chip

[Gordon Williamson]

Chip,

The gold wire ribbons are for "seem?nisches personnal", silver for "technisches personnal" and red thread letters for "schiffsjunge" or Boy Sailors.

[Gordon Williamson]

This shot gives a better idea of how she operated as a "Hebeschiff" or "LIfting Ship" before being designated as the U-Boat School. She effectively just sailed right over the sub, engulfing her completely then using the massive cranes to lift the sub clean out of the water.