Operation Caesar
Encyclopedia
Operation Caesar was a secret mission carried out by Germany in World War II
to supply Germany's faltering ally, Japan
, with advanced technology to fuel their war machine. The operation was a complete failure.
The engagement that ended the mission is the only known instance in history of one submerged submarine
sinking another submerged submarine.
, on her maiden voyage, was dispatched on a secret mission to deliver supplies to Japan. U-864s primary cargo was advanced Messerschmitt
jet engine parts for use in Japanese aircraft and V-2 missile guidance systems. Her secondary cargo comprised 65 tonnes of mercury in 1,857 canisters for use in weapons production.
She left Kiel
and headed north. While going through the Kiel Canal
, U-864 grounded and damaged her hull. Her captain, Ralf-Reimar Wolfram
, decided to sail to the U-boat pen
s at Bergen
, Norway
. On 12 January 1945, while U-864 was still undergoing repairs, British bombers attacked the pens, delaying the repairs further. The repairs were completed in early February and Wolfram embarked on his mission once again. British code breakers at Bletchley Park
deciphered Enigma
encoded transmissions and were alerted to U-864s mission. To counter the German U-boat, the Admiralty
diverted the submarine HMS Venturer
, which had just left Lerwick
in Scotland, to the coasts of Fedje
, Norway to search for U-864.
arrived in Fedje and began searching for the U-boat. On 9 February, Venturers hydrophone
operator detected a noise that sounded like a diesel engine. Launders raised periscope and surveyed the horizon, he spotted another periscope and began stalking it, assuming that it was U-864.
As Venturer followed the German U-boat, it became apparent that they had been spotted due to the erratic, zigzag course U-864 began to take. After following the German submarine for three more hours, Venturer's crew made a calculated decision based on U-864's movements. At intervals of 17.4 seconds, Venturer fired all four of her torpedoes. Hearing the incoming torpedoes, U-864 took evasive maneuvers, successfully avoiding the first three torpedoes, but unknowingly steered into the path of the fourth. The torpedo struck the U-boat, splitting her in half and sending her to the ocean floor. All 73 of her crew perished.
The Germans lost U-864 and all 73 of her crew, including her captain, Ralf-Reimar Wolfram.
The British suffered no casualties or damage. For his actions at Fedje, Lieutenant Launders received the Distinguished Service Order
.
began searching for the wreckage. After searching for five years, the U-boat was located in October 2003 by the mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr
. After examining the site for two years, it became apparent that the mercury was indeed leaking into the ocean at increasing rates every year. Due to the hazards of mercury, fishing is now prohibited in the region. The Norwegian Coastal Administration has recommended entombing the submarine in 12 meters of sand and concrete, effectively sealing the mercury off.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to supply Germany's faltering ally, Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
, with advanced technology to fuel their war machine. The operation was a complete failure.
The engagement that ended the mission is the only known instance in history of one submerged submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
sinking another submerged submarine.
The operation
On 5 December 1944, U-864Unterseeboot 864
German submarine U-864 was a German Type IX U-boat of World War II. It departed from Kiel on 5 December 1944 on its last mission, to transport to Japan a large quantity of mercury and parts and engineering drawings for German jet fighters...
, on her maiden voyage, was dispatched on a secret mission to deliver supplies to Japan. U-864s primary cargo was advanced Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG was a famous German aircraft manufacturing corporation named for its chief designer, Willy Messerschmitt, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262...
jet engine parts for use in Japanese aircraft and V-2 missile guidance systems. Her secondary cargo comprised 65 tonnes of mercury in 1,857 canisters for use in weapons production.
She left Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
and headed north. While going through the Kiel Canal
Kiel Canal
The Kiel Canal , known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal until 1948, is a long canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.The canal links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau. An average of is saved by using the Kiel Canal instead of going around the Jutland Peninsula....
, U-864 grounded and damaged her hull. Her captain, Ralf-Reimar Wolfram
Ralf-Reimar Wolfram
Ralf-Reimar Wolfram was a German Korvettenkapitän during World War II. During his career he commanded two U-boats for a total of 118 days at sea spanning four patrols. During his third patrol he successfully sunk the , an American liberty ship...
, decided to sail to the U-boat pen
Submarine pen
A submarine pen is a bunker which is designed to protect submarines from air attack.The term is generally applied to submarine bases constructed during World War II, particularly in Germany and the occupied countries which were also known as U-boat pens .-Background:Amongst the first...
s at Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. On 12 January 1945, while U-864 was still undergoing repairs, British bombers attacked the pens, delaying the repairs further. The repairs were completed in early February and Wolfram embarked on his mission once again. British code breakers at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
deciphered Enigma
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
encoded transmissions and were alerted to U-864s mission. To counter the German U-boat, the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
diverted the submarine HMS Venturer
HMS Venturer (P68)
HMS Venturer was a Second World War British submarine.-Construction:Venturer was the lead boat of the British V class submarine, a development of the successful U-class...
, which had just left Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
in Scotland, to the coasts of Fedje
Fedje
Fedje is an island municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Fedje was separated from Austrheim on 1 January 1947.The main island of Fedje is surrounded by about 125 smaller islands and rocks mostly north of the main island, and the name Fedje applies both to the main island, and to all the...
, Norway to search for U-864.
Action of 9 February 1945
On 6 February 1945, U-864 began experiencing trouble with one of her engines, which began misfiring, greatly increasing the sounds the U-boat made. Wolfram contacted Bergen, informing them that he would be returning for further repairs. Wolfram was told that an escort would be waiting for them at Hellisoy on the 10th. At the same time, Venturer, commanded by Lieutenant James LaundersJimmy Launders
James "Jimmy" S. Launders DSO & Bar, DSC & Bar was an officer in the British Royal Navy during and after World War II. He retired from the service in 1962, but continued to serve in an unofficial capacity on training programs until his death in 1988...
arrived in Fedje and began searching for the U-boat. On 9 February, Venturers hydrophone
Hydrophone
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change...
operator detected a noise that sounded like a diesel engine. Launders raised periscope and surveyed the horizon, he spotted another periscope and began stalking it, assuming that it was U-864.
As Venturer followed the German U-boat, it became apparent that they had been spotted due to the erratic, zigzag course U-864 began to take. After following the German submarine for three more hours, Venturer's crew made a calculated decision based on U-864's movements. At intervals of 17.4 seconds, Venturer fired all four of her torpedoes. Hearing the incoming torpedoes, U-864 took evasive maneuvers, successfully avoiding the first three torpedoes, but unknowingly steered into the path of the fourth. The torpedo struck the U-boat, splitting her in half and sending her to the ocean floor. All 73 of her crew perished.
Aftermath
The operation was a complete failure for the Germans. Had it not been for the damage the U-boat sustained, or the British bombing of Bergen, U-864 would have had a month's lead on Venturer by the time the Enigma code was broken and she was detached, which would have made a significant difference to the outcome.The Germans lost U-864 and all 73 of her crew, including her captain, Ralf-Reimar Wolfram.
The British suffered no casualties or damage. For his actions at Fedje, Lieutenant Launders received the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
Environmental impact
After coming across documents listing mercury as one of the cargoes on board U-864, the Royal Norwegian NavyRoyal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
began searching for the wreckage. After searching for five years, the U-boat was located in October 2003 by the mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr
HNoMS Tyr (N50)
HNoMS Tyr is a mine control vessel used for underwater search and recovery by the Royal Norwegian Navy.-History:Tyr was built at Voldnes Skipsverft in 1981 and was used as an offshore standby-ship in the North Sea under the name MS Sandby Master...
. After examining the site for two years, it became apparent that the mercury was indeed leaking into the ocean at increasing rates every year. Due to the hazards of mercury, fishing is now prohibited in the region. The Norwegian Coastal Administration has recommended entombing the submarine in 12 meters of sand and concrete, effectively sealing the mercury off.