The IXD German submarines could carry over 250 tons of cargo. Germany built 30 of them in 1943 and 1944. The Japanese sub I-52 sank 850 miles west of the Canary Islands in March 1944 carrying 2.2 tons of gold bars. She also had over 120 tons of cargo destined for France.
Hola Salvor6
Your correct but only partially. In question not all the IXD submarines was converted to cargo boats.
In regards to the two Submarines fleeing to Argentina the U-530 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat. U-977 was a World War II Type VIIC U-boat.
Was involved both crews was fleeing seeking asylum in Argentina. While there was panic in the crew of U-530 that they would be accused of sinking the Brazilian cruiser after the war had ended. In effect a war crime. The Argentine navy inspected the u-530 and found no torpedos missing. later investigations by the Americans and British turned up nothing. Of course this did not stop wild speculations about the two subs.
Hans my father in law was just an ordinary seaman. Yet suspected the reason why the log was destroyed that his commander witnessed the sinking of the Brazilian ship through the periscope. And was afraid of being implicated in a war crime. But because of log being destroyed it sparked many conspiracy theories.
Old Hans he had this terrible gruff German accent. You know the type of voice that sounds angry? Yet he was the most happy go lucky guy you could met despite a lot of tragedy in his life. He had been married twice he had his first wife died in bombing of Dresden leaving him with a young son after the war and internment he returned to Germany and collect his son. nearly 5 year old he had never seen who had been looked after by his late wife's grand mother. Germany was shattered after WW2 so for him he remarried in Germany and with his new family returned South America to Chile. Even so his second wife was not so faithful and ran off with Chilean fellow leaving him to bring up 5 kids. He had four Sons and one girl. That girl years later became my wife. his youngest son only 16 was killed in a car crash. His oldest son was murdered by the Pinochet regime in 1970's. Even with all the family tragedy he always had a happy disposition.
He was almost totally deaf. He has lost most of his hearing as he was on a submarine in straits of Gibraltar where he was death charged. So his speaking was loud and with gruff accent. He was chain smoker all his life he died at ripe of age of 86. He always joked his doctor told him to give up smoking for 30 years. His doctor was fitness fanatic died of heart attract at 53 and Hans lived smoking to 86, go figure!
Later in his live as he got old he lived in my granny flat. I think he had soft spot for me as I was seaman myself. Hell on his rocking chair cigarette in hand told me many yarns. My wife doted on her dad. At Christmas he dress up as father Christmas. Toward the end of his life he even forgot to speak German. After 50 years being away he lost all contact on any surviving family in Germany.
He mentioned to on I think he said on the subs sixth voyage on the U-530 that met up and supplied a radar unit to an Japanese submarine mid Atlantic then returned to Germany. But as far as I am aware Hans was never privy to what was on the Japanese submarine? They was just happy to get back to port to rum and girls ALIVE?. It was the second voyage he sailed on U-530 which was for him his last voyage and good riddance he told me Das boot was nicknamed "Iron Coffins" to crews that operated them. The crew was made of various experienced and inexperienced crew members who had served on various boats. To the end of the war most was just scared kids.
As for stories of huge gold transfers to South America I suspect best to look at the account methods of the Vatican bank that through diplomatic banks transfers fleeing Nazis fund to South America. The Vatican bank does not operate in the capacity of banks as we know it. It operates as a clearing house.
Mal
