Kai gunto,UB178, Penang,Admiral Ichioka.

[Lindus]

Request for information and photographs.

 

I have a Kai Gunto aledgedly presented to Korvetten Kapitan Wilhelm Spahr of U178 by Admiral Ichioka at Penang naval base,1943.

 

Aquired from Angela bassett , widow of a British intellegence officer who followed the advance through Europe and retrieved this in the U boat pens at Bordeux late 1944/45.

The Uboat sailed from Penang to Bordeux May 25th,1944......my request is that if any of the German or Japanese members could supply details of the Penang and other far eastern Uboat stations,dates and photographs it would be most appreciated.

 

The kai gunto is fairly good with Sam'e saya etc, blade unsigned and obviously late in construction, it comes with a tachi style stand that has applied silver Mon in both German and Buddhist swastika type decoration and some Japanese characters in a white metal.

I will not publish photographs for obvious reasons, eg swastika and legislation etc.

 

The request is for information on the garden party held at the Japanese base prior to the sailing of the Uboat.

 

Thanks

 

Roy

[Brian]

Roy,

The Buddhist manji symbol predates the German use of it by many hundreds of years, and even those who are sensitive to it know that it is not used in a malicious way on Japanese swords. I think you are safe to post pics. I expect they were added to your item long before it attracted other meanings.

 

Brian

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

details of the Penang and other far eastern Uboat stations,dates and photographs it would be most appreciated.

 

Hi Lindus.

 

Assuming you're asking about U-178 stations only and not about all german submarines in the area, and hoping you've not already found it, hereunder a link to the

patrols U-178 made. Hope it helps.

 

http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u178.html

[Brian]

As Stephen will agree, this is about the best place to ask the question:

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/index.php

The collective knowledge there is impressive.

 

Brian

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi Lindus. A relative of somebody of the crew has given these pics from a personal album.

 

A lunch/dinner with Japanese personel. The presentation day ?

labeled Garden celebration in the Botani garden in Penang October 1943:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On board :

 

 

U-178 crew just back home. See the Swan insigna:

 

 

Seems they carried back rubber :

 

 

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

There is an italian that has dedicated studies to U-178 far East trip and that helped to label these pics. you should get in touch with him. I'm PMing you with details.

BTW the brother of my grandfather was in italian submarine fleet during WWII .

 

Hereunder an interesting pic. Translation (to be enhanched by Moriyama-san, Morita-san or somebodyelse).

 

Together with Wulf (???) a submarine fighter (belonging to?)

our ally armed force, both on Atlantic ocean and on Indian ocean

(fought?) aggressively on the way, we wish you luck and health.

 

in Penang,

Imperial Japanese Navy

Noguchi (??)

 

Wulf (if correctly translated) might be the name/emblem of another U-boot of the Monsun force as well as the name of a crew's member.

 

[Lindus]

Thats absolutely splendid gentlemen, I sold the sword and stand a while back on my set aside system but it was one of the most interesting finds of my collecting adventure.

I wish I had asked more questions at the time but dont we all now.....as the collection goes to various parts of the world I find a need to add where ever I can to the history even though the item is no longer in my possession....is that odd?.

 

Will pass onto the new owner whatever I can find out, great hobby is it not.

 

Roy

[Lindus]

Thought that I should have shown the sword as well....

 

Roy

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Thanks Lindus.

 

I whish my grandfather's brother had such a present to bring back.

[jason_mazzy]

Stunning!!!

[John A Stuart]

Great story here guys!!! I'm going to put in the Military section where more people can follow it. John

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Great story here guys!!!

 

I'm very touched by this story.

Italian submarines had the same task in the same period, but because of Italy surrendered in September, 8 1943 they were included in the "Monsun" german fleet and, after the Germany's

surrender, into the IJN. The crews were either integrated in the German (and then Japanese) Navy or interned, even by US army after Japan's surrender accordingly with their decision to

join the fascist Repubblica Sociale Italiana or not. A very, very few survived this modern Odissey.

There should be a survivor of one of the italian submarines (the "Cappellini", then U-IT-24, then, I-503) still alive in Japan, Raffaello Sanzio. He've got his wife's family name, Kobayashi.

It's not my relative, but might have known my grandfather's brother.

 

[Lindus]

As the whole German/Japanese submarine era was way out of my interest zone at the time I requested information on a German site, these photographs were emailed to me by Herr Ockart in the early/mid eighties.

 

Roy

[Aditi]

Hi Sir, 

 

I am writing with reference to the photographs of the German and Japanese officials posted on this site. I would like to use these photographs for a documentary I am currently working on. 

 

The documentary is primarily about the Indian National Army and World War 2, thus concentrates in South East Asia. There is a section dedicated to Penang and Ipoh in the film. I would like to use these photographs in that context. 

 

The film will credit the owner of the photographs acknowledging his/her support. 

 

I will be glad if I am directed to the person who owns these archival photographs. Looking forward to your response!

 

 

Regards

Aditi Chaudhuri

[BenVK]

Facinating story, are there any more photos of the sword and stand?

 

Here's some additonal information I found over on the WAF.

 

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420435

[Brian]

Carlo unfortunately is unavailable nowdays. Not sure who the original owner of the photos is. Perhaps a Google image search to see if they turn up elsewhere? Good luck.