RE: strike the colors rule

All,
IIRC there was a standing order from ADM Doenitz that survivors were to
be
rescued. There was one incident that ended this practice. I forget the
U-Boot's number, but it was operating in the Southern Atlantic/Southern
Indian Ocean near South Africa. It sank a Brit ship, attempted to rescue
survivors by towing the life boats. The life boats were covered by
lean-tos/tents for shade and displaying the Red Cross. A Brit ASW plane
saw
fit to fire upon the sub and the lifeboats. Fratricide ensued. The sub
cut
the boats loose and submerged. The surviving survivors languished in the
lifeboats until rescued by other Brits. Hitler then ordered that
survivors
were not to be rescued. IIRC, Doenitz was brought to trial at Nuremberg
for
his follow on order to not rescue survivors. There may have been an
additional note about machine gunning them, I forget.
Jay

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Richard Bell
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 7:04 PM
To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Re: strike the colors rule

Laserlight wrote:

> In a recent battle, my Islamic Fed forces isolated and crippled an
> enemy capital ship (damage included FTL drive, of course).  I issued a
> surrender demand and added that if the enemy attempted to abandon ship
> and scuttle, we would fire on lifeboats.  NAC or others might not be
> able to use that approach, but it worked for me.

I am surprised that anyone would fire on a lifeboat, as that is
considered
an atrocity.
In WWI, the germans actually tried to recover survivors until
circumstances made that too dangerous for the U-boats.	In WWII, no
U-boat
attempted to recover survivors because there was nowhere to put them.  I
doubt the crews would fire on a lifeboat, for the simple reason that
they
may be on the other end of the stick some day; unless, none of the IF
ships have lifeboats and anyone who has ever abandoned ship has been
executed for cowardice, along with every fighter pilot that failed a