Description:

ARGENTINA INSPECTS A SALVAGED GERMAN U-BOAT
Argentine naval dossier, 38pp. 4to., containing letters and documents in Spanish related to the navy''s interest in purchasing a former German U-boat, the U-167, which had been scuttled in the Canary Islands in 1943, and salvaged by a private Spanish company in 1951. The dossier opens with a cover letter from the Argentinean naval attache in Spain, Jose Cordeau, explaining the contents. Next is a letter from the salvors, "Recuperaciones Maritimas S.A." ("Maritime Recoveries"), dated June 19, 1954, enclosing a general description of the U-boat and its current status. This letter also states the price the company would like to receive from the sale of the submarine, 47 million pesetas, with another 25 to 30 million pesetas required to restore it to full working order. Following this is a twelve-page report by the salvors, describing the submarines general construction characteristics, propulsion, armament, and other features as built. This report includes two 7" x 5" b/w photographs, purportedly of the U-167, as well as a 32" x 11" line schematic of a generic Type IX C U-boat. Following this is an eight-page report of the condition of the U-167 post-salvage. Next is a second typed letter from Cordeau, authorizing three marine engineers, Jorge Delucchi, Antonio Speroni, and Ruy Becerra to inspect the submarine and determine if it can be successfully refitted and taken into Argentinean service. Following this is the trio''s eight-page report, in which they conclude that the submarine can be repaired to regain all of its original functionality. They identify a shipyard in Cartagena, Bazan, which has already had experience in refitting an earlier Type VIII C U-boat, and which the engineers believe is capable of performing similar work on the U-167. Oddly, the dossier concludes with an inquiry as to whether the photographs present with these reports depict the U-167 following its salvage, or another, similar submarine. The Argentine navy was presumably unwilling to pursue this deal to its conclusion, as the U-boat was retained by Spain and used briefly as a film set, before being scrapped. Also present is an unrelated D.S., 3pp. 4to., Buenos Aires, Jan. 26. 1944, an official communique, acknowledged and forwarded by eight officers, announcing the severing of Argentina''s diplomatic relations with Germany and Japan. Both sets of documents bear chipping and small tears at the edges, else very good.

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February 18, 2017 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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