U-Boat on the canal at Chorley

[ian531]

Yes, that's right a U-boat on the Leeds Liverpool Canal

I called in at Botany Bay yesterday as I saw the helicopter hanger was open, no luck with the helicopter but I did see this;









I was invited aboard and spent about 25 minutes talking to the 'captain' who explained the history of the boat. I was surprised to find out the boat was only launched in Oct 2010 and was built like this from brand new. The inside is unbelievable and includes a working periscope and the boat is driven from the inside using a system of cameras.

The owner told me his rater interesting life story which I won't repeat here, but he is well worth talking to!

You have got to go along and see this, just to appreciate the hard work involved - and he needs the donations!!

Here is a link to his website for more info.

www.u-boat.co.uk/

Ian

[Biggles]

I think I recall a press article on this sub/narrow boat, something like people had complained about the whole idea of it depicting a german u boat on a canal. I also think that the waterways licence issue was under review. Perhaps its been sorted.

[mooneyncp]

maybe it should be called "das barge"

[maverick]

Yes, I really wonder about the sensitivities of decency in having a mock U-Boat on a canal.

I really don't have a problem with the War or Germans (not a "Basil Fawlty") by any means and think the real U-Boat on display on Merseyside is a fine monument to those who lost their lives on both sides - it is history. However, the need for an almost mocking, tongue in cheek, canal boat is I think, not appropriate - what must our German visitors think of us still banging on about the war?

My Uncle, serving in the Merchant Navy, was killed in the Atlantic in April 1941 when his ship was torpedoed and sunk. I'm just glad that my mother isn't still alive to see such mockery of a machine that took her Brother's young life.

Also, and in reverence to those killed - so not said at the time, am I the only one to be appalled by the outpouring of grief for the Japanese nation during the recent earthquake and tsunami? People banging on about their suffering, humanity, dignity and humility seem to have forgotten of the barbarically horrendous atrocities and crimes inflected by that nation only a generation ago. Again, my mother would have been appalled that we even trade with the nation today given what her generation lived through.
How soon we forget.

Maverick

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2011 10:16:21 GMT 1 maverick said:

Also, and in reverence to those killed - so not said at the time, am I the only one to be appalled by the outpouring of grief for the Japanese nation during the recent earthquake and tsunami? People banging on about their suffering, humanity, dignity and humility seem to have forgotten of the barbarically horrendous atrocities and crimes inflected by that nation only a generation ago. Again, my mother would have been appalled that we even trade with the nation today given what her generation lived through.
How soon we forget.

Maverick

I could never, ever condone the atrocities committed in the Second War in SE Asia, or those committed earlier in Nanking.

I do, however, feel for the innocent lives lost in Sendai and the surrounding prefectures. I have travelled in Japan and found the people genuinely warm and friendly.

I'm sure most members here will have family lost in the Great War and WW2, I know I have along with close friends lost in the South Atlantic campaign and Northern Ireland. Equally I still have close German, Argentine and Irish friends.

I fail to see how support and feelings of sorrow for the survivors of the earthquake/tsunami is somehow tainted by earlier "sins of the nation"?

GC

[Cityflyer]

Well thats Different!! I have managed to Photograph the Augusta 109 and on Print I have shots of G-OBAY, the Jet Ranger that landed on one of the lakes & Sank!!

I also have shots of the BAC 1-11 that sat by the Motorway

Nice shots

[Biggles]

cityflyer.......... are you following this thread ?

[thetexpat]

silverback

I am in total agreement with you and your posting!

Also, I believe there are far more important things in this world that need our financial support than a bastardised narrow boat masquerading as a "U-Boat"!
What's educational about it anyway ?

And as for cityflyer, I assume the pubs have closed now 240154Z!
Or is it one hell of a party !

[groundhugger]

so does it submerge then ?

.Skipper "dive !dive !dive !"..

" helmsman to skipper --were at our maximum depth --- erm 4' 6" "

well I thought it was funny

[Cityflyer]

OK here is the altered post

Well thats Different!!



I have managed to Photograph the Augusta 109 "Well you did say that You had gone in to photograph the Helicopter !!

As Batany Bay has had a number of ""Preserved Airframes""

G-OBAY Jet Ranger As Noted that it landed on one of the lakes & Sank!!
A4830 SE.5A Replica
N5177 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter Replica
XN385 Whirlwind HAS.7
XP688 Jet Provost T.4
J-1712 Venom FB.50 Pod
XG540 Sycamore HR.14
5N-AOK BAC 1-11 320D Tgis was in Okadair Colours, and ast betweem the Mill & the Motorway, and YES I have Pictures but I will have to Scan them if you would like to see them!!!!

So that is the Basis of my posting, and I did not have access to the records that gave the above details of the other aircraft when I made the posting, thats why a Full log could not be posted.

[uboater]

To Maverick and the textpat.
Unfortunatly you just dont get it. The boat was built as a "big boys toy" replica submarine, it was the press that gave it the name u-boat. It cost me around 60K to make it.

When it got all the publicity I donated it and formed U8047 TRUST for the benifit of it's upkeep and the historical education for children.

Since then I have personaly spent around another 5k to meet the health and saftey and convert it more like a U-boat, (still ongoing) to alow visitors on board with their children.

These children are shown around, by volunteers and educated as to the history ot u-boat warfair. I have had around 100 visitors per week over 13 weeks, many of them Jewish familys from Manchester. Up to now everyone has been happy and I have had no complaints exept when I flew the curent German Flag, these 30 complains were about Football, which show just how shallow some people can be.

Please do not take any of this as a dig, I just feel that pehaps you were not fully aware of the whole story when you wrote your comments.

I would welcome you and your children/grandchildren aboard anytime to see for your self.
or please visit our web site at www.u-boat.co.uk

[maverick]

Thank you for the explanaition - don't think it changes anything though - as I said, I really wonder about the sensitivities of decency in having a mock U-Boat on a canal.

Interesting phrase used - 'more like a U-boat' - no, its a canal boat - unless you are offering to submerge it.

Maybe, I'll visit you and see if I change my opinion.

Maverick

[uboater]

'more like a U-boat' refairs to cuting off the american wings, adding a bandstand on the coning tower and removing and replacing all the high teck equipment and fiting in retro 1940s radio shack, sonar ect. PS. also painting her gray, not black.

[thetexpat]

I have to agree with maverick 100%!
And as for the price paid, I find it even more dismal than I thought initially!

[ian531]

Just to get people talking

Would people's reaction be different if someone spent 60k to build a replica Me109 or Stuka? - I know for sure that if a replica Stuka flew into Liverpool we would be lining up to photograph it.

Is it wrong that we have ex German airforce planes in UK museums?
Should we get rid of them in case it upsets people?

The Manchester Air & Space Museum has a Japanese suicide plane does it upset people that this is on show?

I don't know where we draw the line on things like this but we can't keep thinking 'it will upset people'

Does having a Lancaster flying in this country upset any Germans that live here? Particularly if they lived in Dresden, if it does upset them should we scrap it?

I don't know if i'm right or wrong with these comments but I will listen to other people's opinions on the matter

Ian