Bordeaux Submarine Base

You knew there had to be a WW2 part to this WW,Too city we visited. The submarine base or bunker or pen was erected primarily for use by Italian submarines. These craft were prone to frequent breakdowns and had numerous issues so a base that was close to the Atlantic and under German cover worked great. The German U-boats also used this bunker. Commissioned in 1942, it became home for the 12th German flotilla and U-178, it’s first German customer. The Italian’s named their new base, “Betasom”, Beta for the “B” in Bordeaux, and “Som” meaning submarine in Italian. Pretty clever, huh! Guess if someone heard that on the street they’d never think it was a submarine base in Bordeaux.

Camo paint still visible inside

Armored door

Building of the bunker began in 1941 and was designed for both refit and servicing. The 11 docks were divided into 4 “wet” and 7 “dry”, with the total building being some 800′ long,  530′ deep and 60′ high. The roof is steel reinforced concrete 30′ thick in a “fangrost” design, large half-round beams that would “trap” or deflect a bomb between them so as not to allow a direct hit on a flat roof.

Fangrost roof

Edge of roof missing fangrost

OK, so one other interesting fact about, “Betasom”. This was one of the targets for Operation Frankton, the Cockleshell Heroes. During a off-to-a-bad-start commando raid, 10 British Commandos were sent to mine vessels in the Bordeaux harbor. 12 actually started but as they were unloading their canoe, yes a canoe, from the submarine, they damaged the hull so 2 commandos stayed back. The other 5 canoes were sent off and HMS Tuna (not making this up) submerged and headed back home.

The crew of the canoes paddled for miles, over 50, to reach their objective days later. In the process, one canoe sank and it’s crew lost at sea. Another sank but the crew managed to hang onto another canoe until close to shore. Approaching the target harbor, one more canoe got separated, lost, so the remaining 2 canoes headed into the harbor. The 4 men in 2 canoes placed limpet mines on cargo vessels then headed off downstream. They beached their canoes, sunk them then started off in separate directions for the Spanish border. Only 2 would make it. Major Herbert “Blondie” Hassler and  Royal Marine Commando Bill Sparks were the only survivors. 6 of the commandos were executed by the Germans and 2 died of hypothermia. Heroes all.

Steel door entering bay

Little “Fixer Upper” me and the misses are considering

Air raid shelter entrance

Supply bunker